2 hurt in dog attack in Fairmount Park

WEST PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Police say two men were attacked by a group of dogs around 6:30 a.m. on Friday in the 2200 block of Chamounix Drive in Fairmount Park.

This all started around 2:22 a.m. after police received a call for vicious dogs in the 3600 block of Chamounix Drive.

Responding officers observed a pack of pit bulls and called for the Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT).

ACCT officers arrived on scene and attempted to contain the dogs with a dog noose, according to police, but the dogs began attacking the animal control officer knocking him to the ground. Police managed to secure one dog during the overnight hours.

"The other dogs they were trying to get, but the dogs actually tried to attack them, so the police fired a shot into the street to startle them which it did, which we’re grateful for, but the dogs then took off," said Sarah Barnett, Executive Director of ACCT Philly. "The dogs do appear to possibly be related. They look kind of similar and they keep coming back to the area as well, which indicates maybe they were dumped there."

Barnett said the dogs ran into the woods after the gunshot into the street and it was too risky to continue the search in the dark. Instead, officers made a plan to return during daylight.

A man told FOX 29 on the scene his coworker is one of the victims who was attacked. He said his coworker was driving to work when he noticed a person collapsed on the side of the road. We’re told he pulled over to help and noticed the man was pretty mauled up, and that’s when he himself was also attacked by the dogs.

According to Philadelphia police, a 61-year-old man was taken to Penn Presbyterian Hospital in critical condition.

Police said the man who pulled over to help is a 60-year-old man who was taken to Lankenau Medical Center in stable condition and has since been treated and released.

Darryl Shuler runs on this section of Chamounix Drive a few times a week and was warned by animal control officers.

"So, I was jogging down the street and ran right into them and the guy waved me down and said listen be a little careful. Dogs mauled two people," said Shuler. "It’s a little scary, right, in terms of a pack of dogs, in particular they’re pit bulls, seem to be anyway."

At about 2:30 p.m. ACCT and PPD located a second dog and secured the animal. The search actively continues for the remaining three animals as of Friday evening.

Police are urging people to stay out of the area and strongly advise against approaching the animals. Instead call 911 if you see them.

If you recognize the dogs and know who they belong to, contact ACCT Philly by calling 267-385-3800 extension 1.