Prosecutor/police-reported incident record · 2024-09-11

22-month-old boy suffered severe ear and torso injuries in 2024 South Lebanon Township dog attack

Lebanon County prosecutors say two dogs known as Chip and Zeus pulled a 22-month-old boy from his babysitter’s grasp on September 11, 2024, causing a partially detached ear and torso wounds that required emergency surgery.

Nonfatal · 1 bite victimBreed: Not reportedSouth Lebanon Township, PA

Date2024-09-11 · Early morning; South Lebanon Township Police dispatch documented by prosecutors

LocationSouth 14th Avenue residence area, South Lebanon Township; exact private residence was publicly reported by authorities but BiteDB generalizes the map marker

Victim(s)1 child, age 22 months

Dogs involved2 dogs identified by authorities as Chip and Zeus; seven large dogs were present at the household

Injury severitySevere: partially detached ear plus bite wounds and lacerations across the torso; emergency surgery at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Breed attributionNot reportedThe Lebanon County District Attorney and South Lebanon Township Police identified the two attacking dogs by name but did not report a breed in the reviewed primary release. BiteDB does not infer breed from photographs, size, or later social-media material.

What the record currently shows

Incident summary

Lebanon County prosecutors said a 22-month-old boy was attacked on September 11, 2024 while being babysat at a South Lebanon Township residence. Debra Hresko told police she carried the child outside near seven large dogs; two dogs, Chip and Zeus, began nipping at the child, knocked her down, pulled the boy from her grasp and attacked him. He suffered a partially detached ear and torso bite/laceration injuries and required emergency surgery.

Legal-status note

The District Attorney said police initially attempted summary offenses related to owning a vicious dog after the 2024 attack, but a magisterial district judge dismissed those charges after the victim’s mother did not appear despite subpoenas. After a second child attack in August 2026, prosecutors filed new criminal charges against three family members; those later charges are allegations and do not establish guilt.

Media & source coverage

Video, reporting and source material

BiteDB embeds media only when a source-hosted player is suitable for embedding. News photographs and footage remain with their publishers unless reuse rights are clear.

↗Primary incident reportingLebanon County District Attorney / South Lebanon Township Police — Hresko family charged following two child dog attacksPrimary prosecutor/police release; BiteDB links the source rather than reproducing private-residence imagery.

Source provenance

Primary record used by BiteDB

Lebanon County District Attorney / South Lebanon Township Police — Hresko family charged following two child dog attacksPrimary prosecutor/law-enforcement release · Published 2026-08-19 · Accessed 2026-09-06

The Lebanon County District Attorney’s August 19, 2026 release states South Lebanon Township Police were dispatched to the residence on September 11, 2024. It says Chip and Zeus knocked down the babysitter, pulled the 22-month-old child from her grasp, and inflicted a partially detached ear, lacerations and bite marks over his torso. The child was transported to Hershey Medical Center for emergency surgery and treatment.

Open original source ↗

Additional sources

South Lebanon Township Police — District Attorney announces charges following dog attacks — Primary local law-enforcement posting / attachment context · 2026-08-19
LebTown — Three S. Lebanon Twp. family members charged in dog attacks on children — Independent local reporting / prior-incident chronology · 2026-08-19

Data-quality notes

What BiteDB does not infer

Breed is recorded only at the provenance level shown above. Missing injury details, dog history, ownership facts or circumstances remain unknown unless a reliable source establishes them. This record may be updated as police, animal-control, medical, court or follow-up reporting becomes available.