NATCHEZ — Johnny Rodriguez is a mad, mad man.

On Wednesday morning his boxer, Duke, was mauled to death by his neighbor’s pack of pit-bulls.

After killing Duke, the same dogs then tried to attack construction workers at the home across the street from Rodriguez’s residence on Marquette Street.

Surprisingly, Rodriguez said, a very similar incident happened approximately three weeks ago.

Rodriguez said a few weeks ago he heard barking outside; when he investigated he saw the same dogs attacking his other boxer Angel.

Rodriguez said Duke defended Angle and was then attacked.

For the next 25 minutes Rodriguez fought with the dogs in an effort to release their grip from Duke’s throat.

Rodriguez said it took several minutes of beating and choking the attacking dogs before they released Duke.

Rodriguez was also bitten in the fight.

After filing charges Rodriguez said he felt confident the matter would have been rectified and the dogs killed.

“This should not have happened,” he said.

In fact after he filed charges against the dogs owner, Harold Brunston, he also spoke with the Judge Jim Blough who would have signed Brunston’s arrest warrant.

On Wednesday afternoon Blough said he did not know why the warrant went unsigned for so long.

Blough said when he heard of Wednesday’s incident he immediately signed the warrant for Brunston’s arrest.

Just hours after the attacks Brunston was arrested as Rodriguez and his neighbors stood dazed in the street.

Even though Brunston was arrested, Rodriguez is still mad.

“This is nothing new,” he said.

Rodriguez said since Brunston took ownership of the three pit-bulls, he has been taunted by them.

Rodriguez said Brunston would routinely allow the dogs, while leashed, to provoke his dogs at their front gate.

“They fight those dogs,” he said.

Rodriguez said he has seen Brunston and others fighting dogs in the front yard of their home.

Two of the three dogs bore scars both new and old.

One dog had numerous cuts and what appeared to be an eye infection, while another, with tightly cropped ears, had scars both new and old on its face.

An animal control officer at the scene said the dogs will be killed by the end of the day.

Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said Brunston was charged with a violation of the leash law and arrested for the warrant originally issued on Nov. 4.

On Wednesday evening Mullins said Brunston was released on $237 bond.