Boy, 11, is left with 70% of his scalp missing after being attacked by three pit bulls
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An 11-year-old boy is missing 70% of his scalp after being attacked by three pit bulls who bit his leg and dragged him off his bike into a ditch a year after neighbors first complained about the dogs .
- Justin Gilstrap, of Columbia County, GA, was riding his bike near his home on Friday.
- The neighbor’s three dogs broke free and chased him, mutilating him in a ditch.
- Justin was in a medically induced coma for two days while doctors saved his life.
- The dog’s owner was charged with reckless conduct after police discovered that several complaints had been filed about the dogs.
- WARNING: graphic content
An 11-year-old Georgia boy who lost 70 percent of his scalp after being dragged into a ditch by three snarling pit bulls
Justin Gilstrap, of Appling in Columbia County, was riding his bike outside his home Friday when his neighbor’s three hounds broke free and gave chase.
One of the dogs grabbed his leg before the others joined in, pulling him off the road and into a nearby ditch.
There they proceeded to mutilate him, tearing off pieces of his scalp, ears, chest and legs.
11-year-old Justin Gilstrap was reportedly riding his bike in Appling when the animals attacked him and dragged him into a nearby ditch.
Justin suffered lacerations all over his body, losing 70% of his scalp and half of his ear
Doctors placed Justin in a medically induced coma while they struggled to stop the bleeding. They eventually managed to close his wounds.
The pit bulls savagely attacked Justin to within an inch of his life before running off.
Minutes later, his nephew found him lying helpless on the ground and alerted his mother Ericka to call 911.
Justin was rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma as doctors worked to save his life.
In a GoFundMe Page Dedicated to raising money to pay for Justin’s medical bills, Ericka wrote: “He is missing 70% of his scalp, he has several lacerations and staples, they couldn’t close the wound on his leg and now he has a fever.”
Columbia County deputies added that one of his ears was smashed in the attack.
Justin remained in a coma until Sunday morning, when Ericka offered an update on his condition.
“This morning she woke up and started crying. She told us about her bike and her Georgia boots. All of that is replaceable, isn’t it! It was unfortunate! I hope you don’t remember any of this. This has truly been a living nightmare.
Talking to a local media newsthe devastated mother said: ‘He was just being a little boy playing outside like all children do.
‘He should be home right now riding his bike, you know, not sedated in a hospital bed. It just kills me, absolutely kills me. My poor baby.’
Meanwhile, the pit bulls were detained by Animal Control shortly after the attack.
Their owner, Burt Baker III, had been the subject of several complaints regarding the dogs.
A statement from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office: It read: ‘About 7pm (Friday) we were called at 212 Langston Drive in reference to a dog attack on an 11 year old boy.
“When we arrived on scene, Animal Control was in the process of taking three dogs into their custody.
The three dogs attacked Justin on the side of the road in the ditch, causing substantial injuries to his body that appeared to be life-threatening at the time. Justin was taken to AUMC for emergency surgery.
The dogs’ owner, Burt Baker III, arrived on the scene and admitted that the dogs were his, later stating that they like to chase people on bicycles. After learning from animal control officer Dana Csira that Baker had received reports and warnings in the past, Burt was taken into custody and charged with reckless conduct.
In her GoFundMe post, Ericka herself noted that she had filed several complaints with local officials about the dogs, to no avail.
‘The sad thing is that we have reported these dogs several times before! Columbia County did nothing! It’s sad that this was necessary for them to finally do something,’ he declared.