An 11-year-old Georgia boy is recovering from 17 open wounds after three dogs attacked him near Axson, while his best friend stayed at the scene throwing objects, screaming for help and trying to drive the animals away, according to the boy's mother and the Atkinson County Sheriff's Office.
Banner O'Berry underwent about 3½ hours of surgery after the Sept. 13 attack near Wood Duck Road, his mother, Jessica O'Berry, said. Authorities said three dogs were involved and identified the primary attacking dog as a pit bull. The breeds of the other two haven't been released.
Banner had been riding a four-wheeler with his best friend, 11-year-old Karson Clayton, when the vehicle broke down around 3:30 p.m., Jessica said. The boys stopped to investigate the mechanical problem when they noticed three dogs running toward them from across an open field.
"Anybody who knows Banner knows he's going to try to fix anything with a motor, so naturally he got off and began trying to figure out what was wrong," Jessica wrote on Facebook.
The boys climbed onto the four-wheeler as the dogs approached, according to her account. That failed to put Banner beyond their reach.
"Once they realised what was happening, they climbed on top of the 4-wheeler," Jessica wrote. "One of the dogs grabbed Banner by his ankle and snatched him off. The other two joined in."
Banner fought back with a pair of pliers he had been carrying, his mother said. At one point, he managed to grab one of the dogs and hold it down while attempting to defend himself against the others.
Karson, meanwhile, didn't run.
"Meanwhile, Karson stayed with his best friend, throwing any and everything he could, screaming and doing absolutely everything in his power to get those dogs away from Banner and get help," Jessica wrote.
Karson eventually contacted his parents, who lived less than a mile away, Jessica said. Help arrived, and Banner was transported by ambulance to Coffee Regional Medical Center.
Doctors closed 17 open wounds on Banner's legs during surgery that lasted roughly 3½ hours, according to his mother. The extent of his injuries means his football season is over.
Even from the ambulance, Banner was thinking about football and belongings he had lost during the attack, Jessica said. He called his mother, who was in Utah, and asked her to tell his coach that he wouldn't be able to finish the season. He also wanted his father to find the Crocs that came off during the mauling.
Jessica described receiving the initial call about the attack as one of her most frightening experiences as a parent. "Today was quite possibly one of the scariest days I've ever experienced as a mama," she wrote.
The message she received was blunt: "Jessica, I'm so sorry, but Banner was attacked and he's hurt bad."
Jessica credited both boys with responding to an extraordinary situation but singled out Karson for refusing to abandon his injured friend.
"I can't put into words how proud I am of BOTH of these boys," she wrote. Addressing Karson directly, she added: "You were scared too. You're only 11 years old too. You could have ran, but you didn't. You stayed with my son."
ACMS Football also highlighted Karson's actions in a social-media post and said Banner's family was grateful for what he did. Jessica called Karson a hero and said Banner's determination to fight back may also have been critical.
"Today that fight in him may very well have saved his life," she wrote.
The Atkinson County Sheriff's Office has taken one of the dogs into custody for a 10-day hold and said authorities are taking additional steps to petition for the animal to be classified as dangerous. The investigation remains active, and no arrests or charges have been announced, according to WALB.
Jessica also alleged that the dogs' owner arrived after the attack and removed the animals without calling 911, providing aid or asking about Banner's condition.
"He looked at Banner bleeding and never asked if he was ok, never called 911, never administered aid, and only grabbed the dogs and left," she wrote.
That allegation hasn't been independently verified, and the sheriff's office hasn't publicly provided its own account of the owner's actions at the scene.
Georgia law establishes procedures for investigating and classifying dangerous dogs, including notification and hearing rights for owners. Any potential consequences for the animals or their owner will depend on the findings of the investigation and subsequent classification proceedings.
"Today three vicious mutts picked a fight with the wrong two 11-year-olds," Jessica wrote. "Those boys were brave. They were courageous. They fought for each other."
"And today, my baby is still here," she added. "He will have a courageous story to tell."
