VISTA, Calif. -- A Vista boy is recovering from 40 dog bites after being attacked by two Rottweilers, 10News reported.

The incident happened last Friday while the boy was walking to school when he came face-to-face with the dogs.

Keely Garcia said she was driving with her daughter when she saw the sixth-grader screaming and running from the dogs. She got out of her car and, along with another woman, tried to shield the boy.

Garcia told 10News she screamed for help as people were passing by, but no one helped her for several minutes.

"It was just horrible," said Garcia.

Eventually, a young man came and helped pull the dogs away.

The boy's mother said he is recovering well physically, but is still emotionally traumatized.

The owner of the dogs voluntarily surrendered them to the North County Humane Society.

Authorities said the dogs will be put down because of the severity of the attack.