A Lawrence city prosecutor said Monday he would decide in a few days whether to file charges in connection with the death of Lancelot, a 12-year-old dog that was mauled by two pit bulls Nov. 11 in East Lawrence.

“We got the reports in late this morning,” Jerry Little, chief city prosecutor, said Monday afternoon.

Little said he would need to review the information before deciding whether to file charges against the owner or ask the municipal court to declare the dogs dangerous under Lawrence’s dangerous dog ordinance.

The dogs, Attila and Lucius, were still being housed at the Lawrence Humane Society’s Ise Memorial Shelter, said Midge Grinstead, the executive director.

“They’re acting really good toward people. One is a little nervous,” Grinstead said. “But they’re letting us get in their kennel with them and touch them.”

She said Lucius and Attila began barking when another dog was brought into the same area.

“It’s obvious that they don’t like other animals,” Grinstead said.

The two pit bulls were picked up by Lawrence Police animal control officers after they mauled Lancelot, the longtime pet of Rebecca Goodin and her four children.

This pit bull was one of two dogs that jumped the fence at their East Lawrence house and mauled a 12-year-old Labrador tied up in its own back yard. The Lab died from injuries in the Nov. 11 attack. The two pit bulls are now at the Lawrence Humane Society.

The dogs got loose from their owner’s home on Cadet Avenue, ran east across Memorial Park Cemetery and jumped over the fence into the Goodins’ back yard at 1615 Harper St.

Police have not released the name of the owner while charges are pending.

¢ Incident may push county to ban pit bulls (11-16-2002)¢ 6News video: Dog attacks bring talk of stricter regulations¢ Ordinance collars 6 dangerous dogs¢ Pit bull attack prompts flood of complaints (11-15-02)¢ 6News video: Family dog killed by pit bulls (11-13-02)¢ Pit bulls attack, kill restrained Labrador (11-13-02)¢ City ordinance on dangerous dogs

Grinstead predicted she would have to provide care for the two animals for a long while as the case goes through municipal court.

“The normal time for us to hold a dangerous, vicious dog is four to six months. Some have been longer. We’ve actually held some a year,” she said.