A 21-year-old Jewish American tourist was attacked late Saturday afternoon by a male German Shepherd dog in the Old City of Tzfat (Safed).

Medics from the Magen David Adom emergency medical service treated the young woman at the scene and then rushed her to Ziv Medical Center.

She was admitted to the hospital in fair condition.

Tzfat Police Chief Ofer Kantovitz made a special point of commenting on the fact that it had been a German Shepherd that had attacked the young woman, an unusual occurrence.

The dog's owners are under investigation and are suspected of negligence.

The dog's owners allowed him to wander around freely without a leash and without a muzzle," Kantowitz told reporters. "The dog has been removed and taken to a veterinarian. His owners have been taken into custody for questioning."

Police said the tourist had come to Israel as a participant in a special project connected with a Jewish organization.

While walking with friends during the afternoon down HaAri Street in Tzfat, she had noticed the German Shepherd and bent down to pet the dog.

In response, the dog leaped up and attacked her, sinking his teeth into her face, shaking her head and causing deep injuries.

A similar incident occurred in Petach Tikvah, later in the evening, when a Rotweiller dog attacked a 24-year-old woman. She was slightly wounded in the attack.