ATLANTA -- An Atlanta man and his son were recovering Tuesday after both were attacked by a pit bull. The son was hurt trying to save his father.

The family said the dog attacked Harvey Jones, 64, around 3 p.m. Monday as he was putting up Christmas decorations at his home on Baywood Drive in southwest Atlanta.

Jones’ son Michael rushed outside, where the dog attacked him as well.

Harvey Jones’ wife Elizabeth said the attack was the most horrifying event she’s ever witnessed.

"I thought my husband was going to die or my son was going to die," Elizabeth Jones said. “It was a full nightmare like I'd never experienced before in my life. If my son had not been home, my husband would've been dead."

Michael Jones, who was still covered in blood and shaking after the fight, told CBS 46 that the dog seemed intent on mauling his partially disabled father, who uses a cane to walk.

“This dog was trying to kill my daddy. That's all I could think about. I wasn’t going to let no dog take out my daddy. I'd rather be attacked than let a dog take out my daddy," Michael Jones said.

The son grabbed a hammer and began hitting the dog, but he said the pit bull was relentless. Michael Jones eventually wrestled the dog to the street.

Pictures of the fight showed the son, father, and a neighbor holding down the dog.

CBS 46’s Christopher King asked some people at the home next door about the incident.

"Do you have any idea why the dog attacked the man?" King asked.

"I don't know nothing about no damn dog," the neighbor responded.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Jones said both her son and husband are brave men.

"I'm extremely proud,” she said.

"That's my pop, I don’t have but one," said Michael Jones.

Both the father and son were taken to Grady Hospital. Both men are expected to be fine.

Fulton County’s animal control is holding the dog. Officials said it is sedated and is being quarantined.

Atlanta police haven’t said whether the dog’s owner will be charged.