Three charged after 6-year-old mauled by two dogs in Lebanon County, police say
By Rachael Lardani
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SOUTH LEBANON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WGAL) — Three people are facing charges after a 6-year-old girl was mauled by two dogs in Lebanon County, according to detectives.
Police said the girl was attacked by the dogs at a home in the 800 block of South 14th Avenue in South Lebanon Township on Monday, Aug. 10.
According to detectives, the following three people were charged:
Rebecca Hresko, 31 Debra Hresko, 61 Andrew Hresko, 70 Investigators said all three individuals live at the home and were present or on the property when the attack happened.
Child’s ear bitten off, police say According to the affidavit, the girl was attacked by two dogs, named “Chip” and Zeus.” She suffered injuries to her upper body and torso, and the lower portion of her ear was bitten off, officials said. She was transported to Hershey Medical Center.
Police said the missing portion of the child’s ear was found inside the home and taken to the hospital so medical staff could attempt to reattach it.
Child not related to suspects, police say According to detectives, the girl is not related to any of the suspects and was being supervised by Rebecca at the time. Police said Rebecca picked up the girl that morning and was supposed to take her to Hersheypark.
The girl’s mother told investigators that she knew Rebecca had to stop at her house to pick up some things but did not know her child would be there for an extended time, according to the affidavit. Police said the mother stated that she warned Rebecca not to allow the girl near the dogs.
Before the attack “Rebecca gave statements to Ofc. McCarrick on scene stating she was inside the address with the victim child, and the dogs were outside of the address,” the affidavit stated. “She saw the dogs anxiously watching the victim child through a glass door as the victim child was running around inside and the dogs became increasingly excited. She closed a set of blinds covering the glass door in attempts to settle the dogs down. She, at one point, cracked open the mentioned door with the glass window when ‘Chip’ and ‘Zeus’ rushed through attacking the victim child.”
According to police, investigators reviewed surveillance footage in the home that showed the dogs acting aggressively toward the girl. Detectives said the footage appeared to be before the attack because the child was not visibly injured or crying.
Rebecca, Debra and Andrew were all charged with recklessly endangering another person, according to police. Rebecca was also charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children.
Same dogs attacked baby in 2024 According to police, the same two dogs had attacked and severely injured a 22-month-old boy at the same home in September 2024. He was transported to Hershey Medical Center to be treated.
Authorities said the investigation ended in that case after the mother declined to continue working with law enforcement.
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