City officials look into pet owner responsibility after 11-year-old attack by 3 dogs
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Modifications could be coming to maintain pet proprietors in Columbia County extra dependable following an 11 calendar year-old was attacked by puppies irrespective of earlier complaints.
In accordance to county records, three prior incidents involving the pet dogs that attacked Justin Gilstrap ended up documented to Columbia County in 2022.
The initially report arrived in January from Justin’s aunt boasting her Yorkie was attacked by the pet dogs and despatched to an animal hospital.
Her sister, Justin’s mom, tells me they didn’t adhere to up with the county after the report.
“We didn’t observe through with it,” says Ericka Stevens, Justin’s mom. “My Daddy got ill and unexpectedly died, so that was just like the minimum of our problems at that position.”
A couple of weeks later on, Justin’s aunt made a different phone after observing the pet dogs loose in the community.
Ultimate notices of violation were issued to the operator for: failing to confine his animals, the Yorkie assault and vaccinations.
Justin Gilstrap Timeline:
“We do spot accountability on the pet entrepreneurs in Columbia County as it relates to leashes or holding your dog within your fenced yard,” claims Scott Johnson, Columbia County Manager. “We do not make it possible for canines to operate at significant.”
Documents demonstrate two other grievances from neighbors about the puppies in July 2022.
On the night of Friday, January 6, Justin was attacked by the similar owner’s 3 canine when using his bike home.
Johnson says the canines are now considered “vicious”- as per point out regulation- and have been compounded.
“We issued 15 citations,” claims Johnson. “Now, the Sheriff’s Business is also conducting an investigation and they have manufactured an arrest that is parallel to the instances that we have built and the citations that we have written.”
Johnson claims that, when the state has its personal rules, county ordinances about pets could transform.
“We have an animal advisory board that’s built up of citizens, that fulfills on a typical foundation, that will make recommendations to Animal companies- and, in the end, to the Board of Commissioners,” claims Johnson. “I assume you could maybe see some thing there. There’s no guarantee that something’s going to occur out of that.”
Justin’s mom reported that, right after a run-in with the similar dogs, Justin’s late grandfather concerned this would happen.
“He stated, ‘the future time it’s likely to be a single of my grandkid’,” states Stevens. “Well, he passed absent and he was right…it was just one of his grandkids.”
“Our hearts go out to the loved ones and to the kid,” says Johnson. “And, again, no kid ought to at any time have to go by any type of trauma like this. We are continuing to investigate this, the sheriff’s business is actively associated in it, our district attorney is actively involved in it. And this is a little something Columbia County intends to see via to the end.”
Justin’s mom shares on her Fb site that Justin is now sitting up. He also mentioned in a movie to his supporters: “Hey most people, I love y’all. And I’m just permitting you know I’m okay”.
