A mother-of-three has been tragically killed in her own garden by a stray dog she had been caring for, after heroically intervening to save her smaller pet.
A Fatal Intervention in the Garden
Barbara Brewington, aged 38, was discovered with severe injuries in the yard of her Bonnetsville, North Carolina home by officials at approximately 6:30pm on November 23. According to Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton, the horrific incident unfolded when Brewington's own small dog escaped into the garden alongside a 'mixed breed' stray she had taken in six months earlier.
"She was trying to separate the stray dog from her pet," Sheriff Thornton explained. "And apparently the dog got overly aggressive and attacked her." Despite the vicious assault, Brewington managed to get her smaller dog to safety inside her house before she ultimately succumbed to her wounds.
A Life of Love and a Community in Mourning
The stray dog was euthanised at the scene following the attack. In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign organised by Barbara's sister, Samantha Gomez, has raised close to $25,000 to support her grieving family.
In a moving online tribute, Gomez remembered her sister as "a ray of sunshine on a rainy day" and emphasised that "being a mother was her calling." Brewington worked as a dental assistant and was a devoted wife and mother to her three children.
The online fundraiser has been flooded with condolences from friends, former classmates, and colleagues. One mourner wrote: "I knew Barbara we went to high school together... So sad such a sweet girl. She will be missed." Another added, "She was a very kind dental assistant," highlighting the profound impact she had on her community.
A Disturbing Pattern of Pet-Related Attacks
This devastating event follows another recent, similar tragedy in the United States. Just one day prior, on November 22, 23-year-old Madison Hull was fatally mauled while pet-sitting three pit bulls in Tyler, Texas. Hull, who was six months from graduating college, had gone to let the dogs inside after they escaped, at which point they turned on her.
These consecutive incidents underscore the unpredictable nature of animal behaviour and the potential dangers involved in caring for dogs, particularly those with unknown histories or in stressful situations.
