Two young girls from Palmerton were injured after a pit bull attacked them on their way home from school Friday afternoon.

The girls, ages 10 and 8, were walking along Sixth Street and Alley G at around 3:25 p.m. when the pit bull attacked them, according to borough police Chief Randy Smith.Smith said the 10-year-old sustained dog bite wounds to the right side of her face and right ear, as well as several deep bleeding punctures in the area behind her right knee.The 8-year-old, who ran from the scene, was attacked by the dog after it ran after her, at which time it bit her in the right forearm, causing her to fall to the ground and scrape her left knee, Smith said. She sustained bleeding puncture wounds to the inside and outside of her right forearm, and a bleeding abrasion to her left knee, as well as small scrapes and a small laceration behind her right ear, he said.Smith said the girls were taken to Palmerton Hospital for treatment. Officers were assisted at the scene by a neighbor, and citizens who happened to be in the area, with corralling the dog, he said.The dog is owned by Melanio Dezzi, of 583 Franklin Ave., Smith said. It is currently housed in the Carbon County K-9 Shelter for the required 10 days, said Smith, who added police are awaiting the owner to bring in proof of inoculations for the dog.Charges are pending upon completion of the investigation, Smith said.