Posted on 01/15/2023 9:05:28 AM PST by grundle
Burt Baker III, owner of three pit bulls involved in attack, is out on bond
GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - An 11-year-old was sent to Augusta University Hospital after being attacked by three dogs on Friday night in Grovetown, according to the family.
In an incident report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, it says the attack happened on Langston Drive. Deputies arrived at the family home on the same street around 6:30 p.m. Friday and found 11-year-old Justin Gilstrap being treated by fire crews for injuries.
Deputies say Justin’s scalp was halfway torn off, had deep puncture wounds on both legs, and half of his ear had been bitten off.
Ericka Stevens Gilstrap, the mother of the victim, says her son told her he was riding his bike when one pit bull started barking at him and then grabbed his leg. A second pit bull then came up and grabbed him on his bottom.
That’s when he fell off the bike and a third pit bull then came up and dragged him into a ditch.
The family says he was eventually rushed in for emergency surgery.
“There’s a possibility he could be missing part of his ear. They can’t see it was his other ear. He’s got cartilage hanging,” Gilstrap says. “They had to quit taking his blood pressure because there was nowhere good to do it. So they finally put it on his arm and he was screaming, but they’re giving him fentanyl and morphine and he’s been pretty calm. He’s been a trooper.”
Ericka says her 11-year-old nephew is the one who called 911 after discovering Justin in the ditch.
“He has not cried. He’s not. He said ‘I’m gonna be tough.’ I was like, ‘You’re tougher than me because I’ve probably been hysterical,’” said Ericka.
The family says they have reported these dogs to Columbia County Sheriff’s Office several times before. Ericka says she filed her first report last year and says neighbors have also made reports and complaints.
The owner of the three dogs, Burt Baker III, arrived on the scene and told deputies the dogs were his. He told officers the dogs like to chase people on bicycles.
After learning from animal control the owner has had previous reports and warnings in the past, deputies charged Baker with reckless conduct.
Saturday morning, the family told News 12 saying the child is in a medically induced coma. As of Sunday evening, they say 11-year-old Justin is out of his first surgery, but more have already been scheduled for the week.
Ericka Gilstrap says more of Justin’s scalp had to be removed down to his neck, his leg has two large wounds that could not be closed, and while his left ear was able to be repaired, it now has an infection.
She says Justin remains on a breathing machine and is sedated for the time being.
After a review of county records, Columbia County Animal Services has responded to various complaints concerning multiple dog issues in the Rolling Meadows subdivision over the last several years. Animal Services has had limited interactions with the owner of these particular dogs in the past and warnings for allowing the dogs to run free were issued. Columbia County Animal Services has no record of these dogs being aggressive towards humans until this incident. - Columbia Board of Commissioners
“Having my grandson almost drown and spending days in the PICU, I can totally empathize. My heart hurts for Justin and his family. No parent or child should have to endure a horrible situation like this. We will continue to pray for his recovery,” Chairman Duncan stated earlier Sunday.
The Board of Commissioners says the matter has been turned over to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and they have made an arrest. The incident is under further investigation.
Major Steve Morris with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office now confirms that Baker is out on a $1,100 bond.
put the dog to sleep. Owner too maybe.
Ditto
The dog of peace.
______________
Best post of the day!! The irony is that the ROP don’t like dogs. I hear that pigs are off limit too.
Jeez, really glad you’re OK!!
Oh, you don’t have to convince me, those are the dogs of hell.
I was really worked up.. almost sued the guy but refrained. He was a formerly homeless vet who had been gifted a house made out of shipping containers... a project by our local Habit for Humanity. He had left the gate open and his dogs had just roamed... the other dog was a German Shepherd but the pitt was definitely the aggressor...
SSS..
Whenever I walk a dog around the neighborhood or walk to the park with grandchildren, I always carry a concealed handgun in case of dog attack.
Low-life, chip-on-the-shoulder pit bull owners come in all colors, usually men. Brain-dead pit bull defenders/enablers are usually women. They like to post photos of their precious rescue pitties on Facebook.
The dog fancier community should crack down on the breeding of pit bulls as they did with the breeding of Irish setters in the 1970’s, when bad strains got into the breed as a result of overbreeding. Today, Irish setters are rare, and when you meet one, it’s likely to be well-behaved, since the bad strains have been bred out. However, it seems pit bull owners are not your usual dog fanciers.
Time for the SSS solution for both owner and dogs...
I hope they make the owner watch while putting a bullet into that piece of shit pit bull
Along with those who currently own them.
Agree!!!!!
Just read an interesting article about Leonbergers. Very interesting breed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.