Three shots rang out in the Hunter Street area of Tamaqua Sunday morning leaving one neighborhood dog dead and another hanging on for dear life.

Tamaqua police were dispatched to the rear of 73 Hunter St., at 10:13 a.m. where they found several people tending to an injured dog owned by Brock Harding. The pet had been savaged by two dogs owned by Andrew Harper of 71 Hunter St.During the course of the investigation officers learned the smaller dog was in a yard shared by the Harding and Harper residences. Harding’s dog was in the yard when a friend of Harper’s, Michelle Carbone, opened the door allowing the pit bulls into the yard. The two dogs almost immediately began attacking the smaller dog. Carbonne and other neighbors attempted to separate the animals but one of the pit bulls continued the attack.At that point Brock took out his Tanfoglio .45 caliber handgun, firing three shots at the larger animals. At least one of the bullets reportedly struck the dog that had the smaller dog in its jaws giving neighbors the chance the retrieve the badly injured animal.The pit bull reportedly died from its injuries while the smaller dog is in critical condition.The investigation is continuing with the help of the county dog warden.