HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. -- A man rescued his daughter from an attack by a 90-pound pit bull, which then bit the man several times Wednesday, police said.

Steven M. Hehr, 31, of Gladstone, and his daughter, Jayda Kempas, 7, were recovering Thursday as she waited to go into surgery for her injuries after the attack that left them both injured and the dog dead, Detective Jim Strovink said.

Hehr was inside a home on Southeast 172nd Street in Happy Valley when he heard Jayda's screams outside, Strovink said.

The staff sergeant with the Oregon National Guard immediately ran outside to find the 90-pound dog with its jaws latched onto his daughter's leg as it attempted to pull her off the tire swing on which she'd been playing, according to the sheriff's office.

Hehr said he ran to Jayda's aid and used his hands to pry the dog's mouth open and turn its attention to him, allowing the girl to run to safety.

"I thought my fingers were gone. It was life or death to me, because my daughter is so small and the dog was so big. If he had got my daughter off the swing, it would have been over. If I wouldn't have been out there it would have been over," Hehr said.

Witnesses said the dog then began to attack Hehr, biting him on the thigh and attempting to attack his torso as he tried to wrestle it to the ground, Strovink said.

Three other men were also there and helped Hehr with the rescue effort: Ian Tovar, 27, of Clackamas; William Bahler, 47, of Happy Valley; and Alan Clinansmith, 44.

Tovar grabbed Jayda and carried her inside the home, wrapped her leg in his T-shirt and called 911, Strovink said.

911 Call: Father Fights Pit Bull To Save Daughter

While the girl was being taken to safety, the dog tore apart Hehr's pants, biting him on the leg and then the chest before he managed to get the dog in a headlock and use his body to pin the animal to the ground, Strovink said.

The dog continued to try to attack Hehr and fought to free itself as he tried to hold it on the ground, causing Hehr to yell for someone to kill the dog, Strovink said.

Bahler grabbed an aluminum baseball bat and began to beat the dog on its legs and back as hard as he could with no effect, according to deputies.

"It would not stop," Hehr said. "He wanted to kill. That's the way I took it."

Clinansmith then took the bat and continued to hit the dog until Clackamas County sheriff's Deputy Greg Martin arrived, Strovink said.

As the dog continued to resist being restrained and tried to attack, Martin realized he had no other choice and shot the dog, eliminating the threat, Strovink said.

"Had it not been for the father being present and pulling the dog from the child, that girl most probably would not have survived the attack," Martin said.

"I still like dogs, but I won't like them as much." - Jayda Kempas

American Medical Response arrived and provided medical attention to the father and daughter, and both were taken to Kaiser Sunnyside Hospital for treatment.

View Photos Of The Aftermath Of The Dog Attack

Jayda suffered severe lacerations to her lower right calf and puncture wounds on her upper left thigh. She was later transferred to Doernbecher Children's Hospital, where she had surgery Thursday to repair the damage.

"I could've gotten really, really hurt," Jayda said. "I could've lost one leg … I still like dogs, but I won't like them as much."

Hehr had his arm in a sling, having dislocated his shoulder in the fight, and also suffered bite wounds to his hands, chest, legs and arms.

The dog's carcass was kept for forensic examination to confirm that it was properly vaccinated and no threat of rabies is present.

The dog's owner was identified as Rick Harrison, 37, of Gresham. Deputies said they don't expect criminal charges to be filed in this attack but wouldn't rule out civil action.

Father Fights Pit Bull To Save Daughter