Chicago mother survives pit bull attack

CHICAGO, April 12 (UPI) -- A Chicago single mother of four said she is grateful to a man who rescued her from being attacked by five pit bulls on the street.

Gabriela Munoz-Lopez, 32, was walking to meet three of her kids at Marquette Elementary School Thursday, when the five canines came running out of a nearby home and began attacking her, the Chicago Sun-Tribune reported Saturday.

Munoz-Lopez said she was unable to escape the dogs until a man, identified only as Mr. Rodriguez, allowed her to jump into his minivan.

"How do you tell him thank you? There's not enough words," Munoz-Lopez told reporters.

It is reported that the owner of the dogs, Cristian Hidalgo, 32, received four citations for each pit bull -- including citations for failure to control a dangerous animal, failure to maintain the animal under restraint, and not having a dog license or rabies vaccinations.

"I feel responsible and I wouldn't try to defend what happened in any way. It's a shame, and I'm extremely disappointed," Hidalgo said.