HOUSTON -- A 62-year-old man was injured when he was attacked by two pit bulls on Tuesday, officials told KPRC Local 2.

Harris County Precinct 4 deputy constables said the Salvador Cervantes was attacked as he walked along Autumn Mill Drive near Appleridge Drive at about 6:30 a.m.

"He was attacked by one male and one female pit bull that were running loose through the neighborhood," Lt. Larry Finley said. "The man was knocked to the ground to his knees."

A neighbor said he saw the attack and immediately called 911.

"He got his hands around its throat and got it down to the ground," neighbor Ralph Boehm said. "He was choking it out, and I guess he took a lot of the fight out of the dog and it finally gave up."

Cervantes was transported to Willowbrook Methodist Hospital to get treatment for several injuries.

"He received several bite marks to both arms and his chest area and also some bruising to his knees where he hit the ground," Finley said.

Investigators said the dogs, who are current on their vaccinations and were wearing tags, escaped from a back yard on Peachridge Drive.

The 8-month-old and 2-year-old dogs were placed in a 10-day quarantine. Their owners, two brothers who were given citations, can claim the dogs after the 10 days have passed.