Peter Garza found his daughter's Maltese dog named "Milo" under attack. It happened Thursday in the woods at his North Riverside home.
Garza chased the animals shouting at them to drop the dog. At one point, he was knocked to the ground. In the end, he shot and killed one of the coyotes, scaring off the others and saving Milo's life.
The dog suffered puncture wounds and a dislocated jaw.
"I'm surprised that they didn't just tear him apart. Usually one grabs him and the other one pulls him apart or just snap his neck. The veterinarians told me this dog is one of the luckiest dogs they've seen," said Garza, former Cook County Sheriff's candidate.
This was the first time in Garza's 17-year law enforcement career that he has needed to fire his weapon.
