LIHUE » Three Kauai pit bulls were euthanized after mauling a small dog.

The Chihuahua mix’s owner Lisa Serrano tells the Garden Island she and her 11-year-old daughter watched the deadly attack Thursday. She says one pit bull charged toward her daughter, who dropped their small dog named Lily.

Serrano says the pit bull attacked Lily as four more pit bulls ran from a nearby home and joined in.

"We saw our dog mauled to death right in front of us," she said.

Eventually, the owner ran outside and began hitting his dogs with a pipe to get them to release the helpless animal, according to Serrano.

She said she took the injured pet to the Kauai Veterinary Clinic in Puhi, where a vet told her nothing could be done. Lily’s injuries included punctured lungs, deep bite wounds to the throat and a torn off ear.

"This is something that my child will never forget," Serrano said. "This was her best friend."

Serrano says Lily was adopted from the humane society. She’s calling Lily an angel for saving her daughter.

County spokeswoman Sarah Blane says the Kauai Police Department cited the owner of the pit bulls with a dangerous dog violation.

Kauai Humane Society Field Services Supervisor Mana Brown says the owner chose to surrender three of his five dogs to be euthanized.