PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Authorities are still searching for three pit bulls involved in an attack Friday morning that left two men injured in Fairmount Park.
Officials say a man in his 60s was attacked by “a vicious pack” of pit bulls around 6:30 a.m. while jogging along Chamounix Drive. Another man, also in his 60s, was attacked when he got out of his car to help the jogger. Both were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The jogger is in critical condition. The other man was released from the hospital Friday and is expected to be OK.
Two of five pit bulls, including the mother of the pack, were captured Friday. The rest remain on the loose. Officials used thermal drones and set traps in the area of Chamounix Drive near Greenland Drive to find the remaining three.
Authorities are looking into the possibility the dogs were dumped in the park and picked up either by their owners or someone else and taken out of the area.
“We're not seeing any sign of them out there, which is a little bit strange. It could indicate that, you know, someone came and got them. It could indicate that they've passed away. It's really unclear,” said Sarah Barnett, executive director of ACCT Philly.
She says they want to make sure they do everything they can to locate all of the dogs involved in the attack or at least find out what happened to them so residents can feel safe and secure going outside.
“It also really helps the victims from a rabies perspective. They go through a very painful series of rabies shots and if we can get the animals and euthanize them and send them out for testing we can at least spare them at least some of the shots,” Barnett said.
If you see a stray dog or dogs in the park, do not approach. Instead, call ACCT Philly at 267-385-3800 ext. 1 or the police at 215-686-8477.