'Put the dog on a leash': Pit bull severely injures Rocky Mount couple, police officer bit in thigh

ROCKY MOUNT, NC (WTVD) -- One couple and a police officer had to be taken to a hospital after a dog attack in Rocky Mount. According to Rocky Mount Police, the attack happened Sunday.

Officers were dispatched to reports of an animal bite on Nelson Street. When they arrived they found a dog attacking 82-year-old Bobby Joyner and 78-year-old Annie Joyner.

The responding officer was bit in the thigh by the same dog.

The officer fired her service weapon twice and hit the dog. The owner was then able to get control of the dog before animal control took custody of it.

Julie Proctor, 62, said she is not the dog's owner but was keeping it for her grandson. Proctor tells ABC11 the dog just went into attack mode.

"And first he just grabbed Anne's shoes and I thought I could keep him away long enough for her to get up, And the dog went into attack mode," Proctor said. "And now they are suffering because of a dog bite."

The Joyner's were taken to ECU Health with severe injuries. The Rocky Mount police officer was treated at UNC Nash Healthcare and released.

Proctor said she did everything she could to get the dog off the couple, "I was beating the dog in the head and beating him in the head and trying to get to him."

Neighbor Bobby Joyner who witnessed the attack and tried to help said he was also bitten by the dog.

"When he went next door to his wife screaming, the dog had already bit her. Part of her foot. Then I tried to reach up and he bit me. It happened quick. Real quick."

Joyner said he has warned his neighbor at least once about putting the dog on leash.

"And I told them you better put the dog back on a leash because he might bite somebody and sure enough he did."

The dog has been euthanized, Proctor said.