UPDATED: Owner of Dogs in Toddler Attack No Stranger To Richmond County Animal Services

***3:15 p.m. Update July 14***

WJBF News Channel 6 has learned the owner of the dogs, Shirley Barnes, is in court in Aiken County. WJBF News Channel 6’s Paige Tucker will have more during our Tuesday evening newscasts.

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***2:00 p.m. Update July 14***

Mother Of 2-Year-Old Dog Bite Victim Arrested

Augusta, GA—According to Lt. Scott Peebles, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, at about 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, arrested Jessica Lynn Chavous on a charge of Cruelty to Children in the 2nd Degree. Chavous was committed to the Richmond County Jail on no bond.

The charge stemmed from a July 10th dog attack that occurred at Chavous’ home, on the 3600 block of Belair Road, in Augusta, when her unattended 2-year-old climbed into the back yard of a neighboring residence. Chavous’ son, Damien, remains in critical condition at a local hospital.

During the investigation, officers learned that just one week prior, on July 3, 2009, the same child was nearly struck by a passing motorist on Belair Road, in front of the home. The motorist, who called the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, stated that no adults were outside with the child, and that no one in the home knew the child was outside. The motorist took the child to the front door to return him to the mother. 

Officers also obtained statements which acknowledged that family members and Chavous knew that the 2-year-old could not only successfully manipulate the gate to free himself from the deck, but that he could also climb the gate to escape, and had done so multiple times before.

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***6:30 p.m. Update July 13***

Augusta—Bill Swint is the great-grandfather of 2-year old Damien (pictured in our story as an infant). Four dogs attacked him Friday in his neighbor’s yard. At last check Monday, the child was in critical condition with swelling in his brain.

Monday, Swint showed us several places he says his neighbor has tried to fix her fence over the years. Five dogs from this home are now here at Richmond County Animal Services.

According to Swint and Animal Services, his neighbor, Shirley Barnes, considers herself an animal rescuer, even though the county says she’s not licensed with the state to do that. “You look at this backyard. This is not a backyard where you would really worry about your animals,“ says Swint.

For two years, Animal Services has gotten periodic complaints about animals at Barnes’ home, enough that Barnes is on the agency’s radar. The most recent was for animal cruelty in December of 2008. Animal control stepped in when they found twenty dogs in this yard. County code allows for a maximum of seven animals. Animal Services Director Diane Downs says the owner has been cooperative in correcting that issue. “She’s been in compliance with that for several months and vet records thus far are up to date.“

Although there are four cases pending in court against Barnes, she is in compliance with county code when it comes to her animals. She has not been cited for any violations involving the child’s attack.

The owner of the dogs tells WJBF News Channel 6 she is sick over this attack and is worried about little Damien. Shirley Barnes also says she can’t help but be concerned about the fate of her dogs she says have spent time with her grandchildren and never been any problem.

We should get word about whether the dogs all had their rabies shots Tuesday.

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Augusta, GA—A 2-year old child was attacked Friday at a home on Bel Air Road, in Richmond County. Animal Control Director Diane Downs tells WJBF News Channel 6 the toddler somehow got over the neighbor’s fence, where there are five dogs.

The dogs attacked the child, who is reportedly covered in dog bites.

The child’s great-grandmother says there are more than a 100 bites on the child’s body.

Downs says the owner of the dogs is in not in violation of any code, because the dogs were on private property, in a fence. More from the family at 11 on News Channel 6.