CLEVELAND -- A man was attacked by a pitbull on the city's east side Thursday morning before a gas station owner shot the dog.

The attack happened at East 55th Street and St. Clair Avenue.

Gas station owner Steve Daymut said he saw two pit bulls were walking unleashed near the busy intersection and one of the dogs got hit by a car.

He wanted to help the dogs, but when the uninjured dog seized a passerby, Daymut ran back to the station and grabbed his 9 mm handgun. He shot the pit bull as it started to come toward him.

The passerby was taken to an area hospital with injuries to his arm. His condition is not known.