On the afternoon of January 6, 2023, 11-year-old Justin Gilstrap climbed on his bike and rode through his neighborhood in Appling, an unincorporated community in Columbia County, Georgia, just outside Augusta. Within minutes, local news reports say that three pit bulls escaped from a nearby property and attacked him, pulling him from his bike and dragging him into a roadside ditch. The mauling caused severe injuries; a responding sheriff’s deputy described Justin’s scalp as “halfway torn off,” and his face covered in blood, according to The Augusta Press. Doctors performed emergency surgery, Justin lost part of an ear, and he now faces a lifetime of scarring and reconstructive procedures.
Justin’s case has not ended with his hospital discharge. The case has proceeded through both Georgia’s criminal and civil courts. In criminal court, the dog’s owner pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and received probation—a sentence some people criticized as too lenient. In civil court, Justin’s mother filed a lawsuit seeking compensatory and punitive damages. Together, these legal paths illustrate the experiences personal injury victims across Georgia often face. Criminal and civil justice systems serve very different purposes. A criminal conviction (or lack of a severe one) rarely concludes the story for badly injured victims and their families.
SUMMARY
On January 6, 2023, 11-year-old Justin Gilstrap was brutally mauled by three pit bulls while riding his bike in Appling, Columbia County, Georgia. The attack caused severe injuries, including the loss of part of his ear and significant scalp damage, requiring emergency surgery and resulting in long-term physical and psychological effects. The dogs’ owner, Burt Baker, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor reckless conduct charge and received probation, a sentence considered too lenient by some. Justin’s mother filed a civil lawsuit seeking compensatory and punitive damages. This case highlights Georgia’s dog bite laws—particularly the modified “one-bite” rule, leash ordinances, and the Responsible Dog Ownership Law—and the challenges victims face in criminal and civil courts. It underscores the importance of legal counsel in navigating claims for compensation and holding negligent owners accountable.
WRDW-TV, the CBS affiliate serving Augusta and the Central Savannah River Area, reported that Justin was riding his bike on Langston Drive in the Appling area on January 6, 2023, when three pit bulls—later identified in court documents as belonging to a neighbor—escaped and chased him. The dogs pulled Justin from his bike and dragged him into a ditch beside the road, where they continued their attack.
A Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy who arrived at the scene described finding Justin with his scalp torn loose and his face covered in blood, according to The Augusta Press. Fox News, citing local reporting, described how Justin lost part of an ear and most of his scalp in the attack, along with deep puncture wounds to both legs. Emergency responders rushed Justin to a hospital, where medical staff operated on him. Justin’s family attorneys later stated in court filings that Justin will suffer permanent physical and psychological injuries, including scarring and disfigurement, despite receiving medical care.
The attack received significant local and national attention. Fox 5 Atlanta, Fox News, WRDW, and WJBF all covered the mauling and its aftermath. Atlanta’s 11Alive (WXIA) reported on a community back-to-school event organized to support Justin’s recovery. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office identified and arrested the dogs’ owner, Burt Baker, charging him in connection with the attack.
In Georgia, families facing dog attacks often ask when they can hold the dog’s owner legally responsible. Georgia law involves several overlapping layers and insurance data showing how costly dog bite claims have become.
The Insurance Information Institute reports that nationwide, homeowners insurers paid about $1.86 billion in 2025 for over 28,000 dog bite and dog-related injury claims, a 25.6 percent increase from the prior year. Although Georgia’s average dog bite settlements tend to fall somewhat below the national average, legal industry estimates show that cases involving serious injuries, permanent scarring, nerve damage, or psychological trauma—like what Justin endured—regularly settle for much higher amounts. Attacks causing disfigurement or severe PTSD have produced settlements and verdicts reaching six figures and beyond.
Georgia’s dog bite law, O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, requires injured persons to prove that the dog displayed dangerous or vicious tendencies before an attack. Injured parties also must prove that the owner knew or reasonably should have known about those tendencies but failed to control the dog or allowed it to run at large.
Georgia does not require that the dog bit someone before to fulfill this “knowledge” requirement. Growling, snapping, lunging, serving as a guard dog, or prior complaints to animal control provide evidence the owner knew or should have known the dog posed a danger.
If a city or county enacts a leash law or “at heel” ordinance, Georgia’s statute provides another liability path. When a dog owner violates such an ordinance by letting the dog run loose, injured victims may not have to prove the dog was dangerous. Violating a documented ordinance alone can establish liability. Therefore, investigators and injury attorneys check whether a leash law applied and whether the owner had restrained the dog at the time of the attack.
Georgia’s Responsible Dog Ownership Law (O.C.G.A. Title 4, Chapter 8, Article 2) allows animal control to classify dogs as “dangerous” or “potentially dangerous” following documented attacks or aggressive incidents. After classification, owners must meet specific legal requirements, such as secure enclosures and liability insurance, and may face criminal penalties for violations. Such classifications can serve as crucial evidence in later civil injury claims.
A dog attack can be a traumatic and physically damaging experience. For victims in Georgia, knowing the right steps to take immediately following an attack is crucial not only for health and safety but also for protecting legal rights. Taking prompt and informed action can help ensure proper medical care, gather necessary evidence, and preserve options for compensation.
If you are a victim of a dog attack in Georgia, following these important steps can significantly impact the outcome of your case. From seeking urgent medical treatment to documenting the incident and consulting with a personal injury attorney, taking decisive action helps protect your health and legal interests. These measures lay the foundation for holding the responsible parties accountable and obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Columbia County authorities arrested and charged Burt Baker, the dogs’ owner. According to The Augusta Press, Baker pleaded guilty via a “blind plea” to one misdemeanor reckless conduct count in October 2023. A Columbia County judge sentenced Baker to 12 months probation—a sentence some community members deemed too lenient given Justin’s injuries. Georgia’s criminal statutes often impose misdemeanor penalties for dangerous dog offenses unless aggravated by felony factors, so even severe injuries sometimes result in modest criminal sentences.
In early 2023, Ericka Gilstrap, Justin’s mother, filed a civil lawsuit in Columbia County Superior Court against Baker and others. She seeks compensatory damages for Justin’s medical expenses, pain and suffering, and future care, plus punitive damages to punish egregious conduct and deter negligence, according to Fox 5 Atlanta and other reports. The civil case remains active in Columbia County court.
This distinction matters: a criminal conviction, even a light one, does not cover medical bills, lost wages, future surgeries, or emotional trauma. Only a civil claim against the dog’s owner (and possibly others) can recover the financial damages the victim and family need.
Authorities charged Burt Baker III with reckless conduct after his pit bulls allegedly attacked 11-year-old Justin Gilstrap. The 2021 mugshot and 2020 Facebook photo show Baker with one of his pit bulls.
Severe dog attack cases like Justin Gilstrap’s involve overlapping legal, medical, and insurance issues. These are difficult for any family to navigate alone, especially while caring for a badly injured child. A Georgia personal injury attorney who handles dog bite and premises liability claims can help in several concrete ways:
The Jewkes Firm represents families in the South Atlanta area to ensure dog owners and insurers cannot avoid responsibility after maulings like Justin Gilstrap’s.
Three pit bulls attacked Justin Gilstrap, an 11-year-old boy, while he rode his bike in Appling, Georgia. The dogs dragged him into a ditch, causing severe injuries such as scalp lacerations and loss of part of his ear. He required emergency surgery, and the injuries resulted in permanent scarring and psychological trauma.
The dog owner pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor reckless conduct charge and received a sentence of 12 months probation. Additionally, Justin’s mother filed a civil lawsuit seeking compensatory and punitive damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and future care.
Georgia’s dog bite law requires proof that the dog showed dangerous tendencies and the owner knew or should have known about them. Leash law violations can establish liability without proving the dog's dangerousness. The Responsible Dog Ownership Law allows classification of dangerous dogs and imposes requirements on owners.
Victims should seek immediate medical care, report the attack to law enforcement and animal control, document injuries and the scene, identify the dog and owner if possible, inquire about the dog’s prior history, and consult a personal injury attorney before talking to insurance adjusters.
Attorneys help investigate ownership, prior incidents, and insurance coverage, calculate damages including future care, coordinate with criminal cases, and negotiate or litigate to secure fair compensation for victims.
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Justin Gilstrap’s case reminds us that an ordinary bike ride on a quiet street can turn tragic in seconds. Georgia’s legal system treats the aftermath in two distinct ways: criminally, a severe mauling often leads only to misdemeanor convictions and probation; civilly, the law provides a separate path for accountability and compensation through dog bite statutes, leash laws, and dangerous dog designations.
The case also highlights ongoing public safety concerns in Georgia: loose dogs with aggressive histories pose recurring dangers to people. Whether or not lawmakers enact new laws, families affected by dog attacks can use existing Georgia laws to hold negligent owners accountable with help from experienced personal injury attorneys.
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