OMAHA, Neb. -- A pit bull is being held at the Nebraska Humane Society after a 10-year-old girl jumped on the dog, which was attacking her 4-pound dog, Omaha television station KETV reported.

Teghan Hert, 10, was rushed to an emergency room but only suffered a couple of minor scratches. She said she was just taking her 2-year-old Chihuahua for a walk when a pit bull came charging at them. She said her instincts took over from there.

"She's my best friend," Hert said of her dog. "I don't know what I would do without her."

Hert said that during a late afternoon walk, the pit bull broke free from its leash as it walked along the same street with its owner. The big dog jumped on the Chihuahua, then Hert jumped on the pit bull.

"I was just trying to pull him back with all my might, but it was impossible. He was so strong," the girl said.

Hert's mother and a neighbor helped pull them apart.

"I was just screaming, hoping that someone would come out, and luckily, that guy did come out. It was so scary," Hert said.

"Even myself, as an adult, would not reach into the middle of that," said Teghan's father, Ralph Hert. "I don't think she thought anything. I think she wanted to save her puppy's life."

Ralph Hert considers his daughter pretty brave. He's just glad she wasn't seriously injured.

"The Chihuahua weighs 4 pounds and it would have been over pretty quick. So without what Teghan did, the Chihuahua wouldn't be here," Ralph Hert said.

The Chihuahua suffered superficial wounds.

The owners of the pit bull told the station that the dog is a household pet and was most likely trying to play with the Chihuahua, not hurt it.

The owners have been ticketed for lack of restraint, having no license and no vaccinations.

The pit bull is under quarantine at the Humane Society for 10 days to see if it has rabies. The dog can then be returned to the owners.