A neighbor who was also an LAPD officer shot and killed a pit bull as it was attacking a 4-year-old boy at the child’s home in Fontana, authorities announced Tuesday.

It happened around 3:30 p.m. on Monday at a home in the 7600 block of Honeysuckle Street.

When the child’s mother began screaming for help, two off-duty officers with the Los Angeles Police Department who lived nearby ran to help, according to a news release from the Fontana Police Department.

Officer Jennifer Aguila shot the dog as it was attacking the child, the release stated.

The dog died as a result of its injuries.

The boy was taken to Loma Linda Medical Center with a severed left and right ear and numerous puncture wounds to his head and face, according to the release.

“The entire community is supportive and praying for a speedy recovery,” said Fontana police spokeswoman Martha Guzman-Hurtado. “Our hearts go out to this child and his family during this traumatic time.”

The dog was not neutered despite a city ordinance requiring owners of pit bulls and pit bull mixed breed to spay or neuter their dogs before the age of 4 months old, police said.