A Georgia boy is fighting for his life after three dogs attacked him while he was riding his bike. On January 6, three dogs attacked 11-year-old Justin Gilstrap while he was riding his bike. He fell off and was pulled into a ditch. When his cousin heard him screaming so loudly, he ran away to find help. Reports say that Justin was found with injuries that could have killed him. He was taken to the hospital right away.
Ericka Stevens, Gilstrap’s mother, said in a Facebook post from Friday night that her son had emergency surgery as soon as he got to the hospital. He has deep cuts on both of his legs, and a piece of his head and his right ear are missing. As of Monday, January 9, Stevens’ Facebook post said that Gilstrap was still getting care for his wounds. WRDW said that he is still unconscious and on a ventilator.
Ericka wrote on a GoFundMe page that her son had to have emergency surgery and lost 70% of his scalp. Justin had several cuts and a leg wound that couldn’t be stitched up. Gilstrap said that Justin also had a fever. Pictures posted on the fundraising website show that Justin has several cuts on his face and bruises all over his body. A goal of $100,000 was set to pay for his medical bills, and as of Monday night, more than $77,000 had been given.
This has truly been a living nightmare,
Ericka wrote in an update on Sunday.
This morning he woke up and started crying. He was mouthing to us about his bike and his Georgia boots. All of that is replaceable he’s not! It was pitiful! I hope he doesn’t remember any of this.
He didn’t ask for this. He was just being a little boy playing outside like all the boys do. He should be at home right now riding his bike, you know, not sedated in a hospital bed. Just kills me, absolutely kills me. My poor baby,
she said. Ericka, a single mother of four, said that her son would need more surgery to treat his wounds and any infections that might have come from them.
Just keep the prayers coming. We love you all and are just completely overwhelmed by the support,
she said.
Deputies in Columbia County said that the dogs’ owner, Burt Baker III, had been warned before about his pets, and Baker told investigators that his dogs had chased bikers in the past. The Augusta Press says that he was accused of being careless.
WRDW says that after the event, the owner was arrested but has since been released on bail. Her child is expected to be in the hospital for about a month after being attacked by what Ericka said were pit bulls.