Banner O’Berry required hours of surgery after the Sept. 13 attack, while his best friend stayed nearby and called for help.
AXSON, Ga. — An 11-year-old middle school football player is recovering after three dogs attacked him near a rural south Georgia road, leaving him with 17 wounds and requiring about three and a half hours of surgery, according to his family and the Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office.
The attack happened at about 3:30 p.m. Sept. 13 near Wood Duck Road in Axson. Authorities identified the boy as Banner O’Berry, an Atco Middle School football player. His mother, Jessica O’Berry, said Banner was riding a four-wheeler with his best friend, Karson Clayton, when the vehicle developed a problem. The boys were near the four-wheeler when three dogs approached from across an open area.
Jessica O’Berry said the boys climbed onto the four-wheeler after noticing the dogs coming toward them. One dog pulled Banner from the vehicle and the other dogs joined the attack, she said. Karson remained nearby, tried to drive the dogs away and called for help. His parents, who lived less than a mile away, responded after he contacted them. Banner’s family has credited Karson’s actions with helping save his friend.
The Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office said one of the dogs left its yard and went toward the area where children were playing before the attack. Authorities identified the primary attacking dog as a pit bull but have not publicly identified the breeds of the other two animals. Officials have not released findings explaining why the dogs attacked.
Banner was taken to Coffee Regional Medical Center, where his mother said doctors treated 17 wounds on his legs during surgery lasting about three and a half hours. She later said his injuries made walking difficult during physical therapy and that he would initially need a wheelchair. Reports in the days after the attack said he was recovering and had been able to attend a football game from the sidelines.
Jessica O’Berry said her son had been worried almost immediately about missing the rest of his football season. Banner also plays baseball, according to his mother. Friends, teachers, coaches and other members of the community contacted the family as he recovered. His mother has publicly thanked Karson for refusing to leave Banner during the attack and for seeking help.
Authorities said all three dogs were taken into custody for a 10-day hold. The sheriff’s office also began the process of asking a court to have the animals declared “vicious dogs.” Local reporting said there were two owners associated with the three dogs and that authorities served notices related to the court petitions.
A vicious-dog proceeding can determine what restrictions or other legal measures apply to an animal after a serious attack. The sheriff’s office described the case as an active investigation. The reports reviewed did not establish that either dog owner had been convicted of an offense related to the attack, and authorities had not publicly announced a final court disposition for the dogs.
Jessica O’Berry has also criticized the response of people associated with the dogs after the attack, alleging that no one connected with the animals offered immediate assistance to her son. Those comments reflect the family’s account of events. Authorities have not publicly released a complete independent account resolving every detail surrounding the response at the scene.
The investigation remains active as Banner continues his recovery and authorities pursue the legal process involving the three dogs. No later public disposition of the animals was confirmed in the sources reviewed as of Tuesday.
Author note: Last updated September 22, 2026.