Previously released information on 6/20/2017

At about 1654hrs 19 Jun 2017, Lancaster City Police Officers responded to the 700 blk of Lafayette St for a reported Class 1 medical call.  911 callers indicated that a loose dog was attacking two young children.  When the officers arrived, they found the children, female age 2 and male age 5, had been transported to Lancaster General Hospital by their mother and the dog had been secured by its owner.

The children were treated at Lancaster General Hospital for serious injuries received in this attack and then transported to Hershey Medical Center for further treatment.

The Lancaster City Bureau of Police Criminal Investigations Division is actively investigating this incident.  Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Det Lt Phil Berkheiser at 717-735-3320.

**THE BUREAU OF POLICE IS RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE MEDIA LIMIT WHAT IS PUBLISHED TO THAT WHICH IS ON THIS NEWS RELEASE AND SHOULD THE MEDIA BECOME AWARE OF ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY THE NAMES OF ANY WITNESSES OR LANCASTER RESIDENTS IN THIS CASE, IT IS REQUESTED THAT THEY REFRAIN FROM PUBLISHING THAT INFORMATION SO AS NOT TO JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF ANYONE NOR THIS ON GOING INVESTIGATION**

Updated/additional information 1554 hrs. 06/20/2017

The children are still being treated at HMC in serious but stable condition.

The animal in this incident is a 66 lb., 5 year old male Pit Bull terrier. The dog had been in a fenced-in backyard of a home on the 700 blk. High St. At some point, the dog managed to break through the fence and was loose along the 700 blk. Lafayette St. 

At some point, the victims were in their minivan behind their home along Lafayette St. The dog managed to get inside the vehicle and attacked the children as they were still secured in their car seats. 

The children's mother managed to eventually pull the dog from the van. Several people in the area assisted the mother. The mother had scratches as a result of this and was later treated at LGH. 

The owner of the dog came out and was able to secure the dog after the mother left for the hospital and just as Police arrived on Lafayette St. The owner of the dog is cooperating with the Police investigation. This investigation is still on-going and is not complete. The identity of the dog owner is not being released as no charges have been filed. The dog is currently quarantined. 

We will publish additional updates as more information is learned.