Prosecutors say they could be testing out new tougher "dangerous dog laws" in a Harrisonburg pit bull attack case.

The latest attack happened Monday night when a pit bull attacked a man on Ashby Avenue.

Last month there was another attack at the same spot by dogs of the same owner.

The Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney says this is the first time they've had to face a repeat offender like this in Harrisonburg.

Cases usually just involve either euthanizing a vicious dog or putting up signs and fences around the dangerous dog.

Laws passed recently take a tougher stance when owners aren't doing enough to keep their dogs from attacking people.

Rick Claybrook with the Commonwealth Attorney's Office says they'll be strictly enforcing laws to keep people safe.

"When a situation like this does come back before the court and someone's been injured theirs no question it must be treated very seriously, because again, the dogs going to do what dogs do, but the bottom line is that the owner of the dog is going to be accountable as well," says Claybrook.

Owners will now face harsher penalties after new laws were passed by the general assembly in the spring.

"Well the code has been toughened up so if a dog owner repeatedly allows an animal or willfully allows an animal to repeat this activity, the owner will face a felony, and that is the thing that does allow for penitentiary time."

For now these cases in Harrisonburg will be dealt with on a dog by dog basis.

The Commonwealth's Attorney says that they're looking for stricter options as they continue to investigate the case.

"After a point, when it gets to the point where he is just willfully ignoring any other control mechanisms that he may have; at that point, he'll be facing a felony," says Claybrook.

The Commonwealth Attorney's Office says it hasn't made a final decision on whether it will look towards the tougher laws in this case.

The first hearing for the latest attack will be heard next week.

There are charges pending from the attacks last month which depend on whether or not the dog owner pays the victim's medical bills.