Two American bulldog pitbull mix dogs are dead, an animal control officer is recovering from nine dog bites, and two men have been arrested after a vicious early morning attack in a San Jose homeowner's backyard.

A San Jose police officer fired 11 rounds into "Sharky" and "Chief'' after the two 80-pound, unneutered dogs had attacked an animal control officer about 8 a.m., authorities said. Both dogs are now dead, and two men, who have been cited five times before for their dangerous pets, are now in custody. San Jose police have not yet identified them.

The animal control officer, Denise Friedrich, a 5-year- veteran, has been released from the hospital, after being bitten all over her arms, legs and buttocks, animal care spokeswoman Julie St. Gregory. Gregory added that animal care officers had been called out four previous times since last December on reports of the dangerous dogs.

The vicious attack started today about 8 a.m. when homeowner Bikramjit Singh called authorities, hoping they could get rid of the American bulldogs 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 on his property at least half a dozen times before.

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

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began biting her all over, 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, still rushed at the officer while his neck was bleeding, but eventually died. Animal control spokeswoman 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, allowing fresh air to enter through a screen door, Stallard said. Today, 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 also 6- and 8-years-old, and luckily, did not go out the back door, Stallard said.

Contact Lisa Fernandez at 408-920-5002.