A Pasco County couple is recovering after the family dog attacked them Thursday morning.

The incident occurred in the 4300 block of Otter Way in New Port Richey around 9:45 a.m.

The dog attack left neighbors living nearby stunned.

“Their dogs are very quiet. They’ve been very pleasant. We haven’t had any problems with them,” said neighbor Cheryl Mullen.

Mullen lives two doors down from where the attack happened.

She snapped a picture of the dog lying in the backyard after a deputy was forced to shoot it.

Mullen didn’t realize there’d been an attack.

“There were probably three or four police cars and ambulance and it looks like they were taking the gentleman away,” she said. “That’s when I realized he had got bitten by the dog.”

Corey Dierdorff, with Pasco County Fire Rescue said, “Apparently they were having a conversation when the dog started attacking the man and she tried to intervene and it escalated from that point.”

The man’s girlfriend tried to help. She dialed 911.

“The girlfriend was actually laying on the dog in the backyard, trying to prevent the dog from continuing to attack,” said Dierdorff.

Detectives said she begged authorities to shoot the dog and put him down.

Both victims were taken to Bayonet Medical Center.

“We have a lot of children that play on this street. We have a lot of people with animals on this street. So it’s a shame. I’m very sorry to hear that happened to them. I’m glad they’re both okay though,” said Mullen.

Officials said the couple have two other pit bulls, but they were caged during the attack.

The man suffered a fractured arm.

The girlfriend has minor injuries.

The incident remains under investigation.