DELAND, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Josh Swanson sat on his porch with friends Saturday night when a Pit Bull came into his fenced yard through an open gate. The dog started following his 14 month old Lab-Beagle mix, Lucy.

Swanson said the two looked like they were playing, until the pit started to attack his dog. "My blood was pumping instantly. I was just like, I've got to save my dog," said Swanson.

He said he grabbed an aluminum push broom and took a few swings at the pit bull, hoping it would let go of Lucy, but Swanson said that didn't work. He was desperate, so he grabbed a borrowed weed eater that was sitting on the lawn.

"Luckily, I borrowed my friend's equipment to trim up the bushes. I jabbed him right in the thigh, and he let go," he said.

DeLand Police said the dog's owner lives just around the corner from Swanson. Craig May didn't know where his dog went after he said it escaped its cage.

"I was missing him for a whole day, and I'm trying to call the dog people, but it's the weekend. And they are telling me I've got to wait until Monday. Come to find ou,t he's at the animal clinic," said May.

May said his dog isn't vicious and has no idea what caused him to attack. The fight led to injuries to both dogs. Lucy has numerous puncture wounds, but the Pit got the brunt of it.

Both men apologized to each other for what happened.