Kristen Ludwig says she was driving along Patchogue Avenue when she saw a dog attacking multiple people at a bus stop, including a young girl.

Ludwig says she immediately ran from her car and used her cardigan to choke the dog until it released its grip on the child.

"It was really just a mother's instinct that kicked in when I saw the girl being dragged on the ground," said Ludwig.

A nearby resident also described seeing Ludwig rush into the chaos from her car at a stoplight to help.

"What I saw was a door open, a car door open at a stoplight in the ongoing lane, and I was kind of confused," Robert Wood said. "But then I saw a woman running down the street."

Police say the dog, a 9-year-old American Bully, had escaped from a yard down the block. All four victims, including the child, suffered minor injuries.

Neighbors say the incident is a reminder that pet owners must properly secure their animals or watch them closely to prevent dangerous situations like this.