Two American bulldog-pit bull mix dogs were killed, two men arrested and an animal control officer is recovering from nine dog bites stemming from a vicious Tuesday morning attack in a San Jose homeowner's backyard.

A San Jose police officer fired 11 rounds into the pets, named Sharky and Chief, after the two 80-pound, unneutered dogs attacked an animal control officer about 8 a.m., authorities said. Both dogs died, and two men, who have been cited five times before for their dangerous pets, were arrested.

San Jose police identified them as Lorenzo Garcia, 27, and Jesus Francisco Guzman 29, both of San Jose. The officer's name was not immediately released.

The animal control officer, Denise Friedrich, a five-year veteran, was released later Tuesday from the hospital, after being bitten on her arms, legs and buttocks, said animal care spokeswoman Julie St. Gregory. Animal care officers had been called out four other times since last December on reports about the two dogs, she said.

The attack erupted about 8 a.m. when homeowner Bikramjit Singh called authorities, hoping they could get rid of the dogs that had gotten into his backyard in the 2000 block of Pentland Way, said San Jose fire Capt. Barry Stallard.

Singh told authorities the dogs had strayed onto his property at least half a dozen times.

Friedrich arrived and started to enter the backyard. One of the dogs began attacking her, and she hit back several times with
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a baton, Stallard said. Just as she was whacking one of the dogs, a second dog began biting her, Stallard said.

A police officer who was in the front yard heard the animal control officer's screams and rushed to help. He didn't initially shoot, Stallard said, because both dogs were on top of her.

Then, Sharky and Chief began to lunge toward the police officer, Stallard said, and he fired at them 11 times. One dog, wounded in the gunfire, started to run away but was later found by animal control, where he was put down. The other dog continued to rush at the officer while his neck was bleeding, but he eventually died. Animal control spokeswoman St. Gregory was not sure which dog died at the scene and which dog was put down.

Stallard said this situation was horrific, but it could have been worse.

The owner of the home usually keeps his sliding glass door open to get fresh air through a screen door, Stallard said. Tuesday, Singh decided to keep the glass door closed and refrain from his usual morning fresh-air jaunt in his own backyard. Singh's children are 6 and 8 years old, and luckily, did not go out the back door, Stallard said.