N.C. Woman Was Mauled to Death by Stray Dog After Jumping In to Defend Her Own Pet

A North Carolina woman was mauled to death by a stray dog after she tried to protect her own pet, authorities say.

Deputies found 38-year-old Barbara Brewington deceased in the yard of her home on North Peavine Road near Bonnetsville on the afternoon of Sunday, Nov. 23.

According to Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton, she was attacked by a mixed-breed stray dog she had been caring for since May.

“She had her own pet dog,” Thornton said. “For some reason or another, the little dog got out, and she was trying to separate the stray dog from her pet. Apparently, the dog became overly aggressive and attacked her.”

Brewington, who was home alone at the time, managed to get her smaller dog back inside the house and out of danger, Thornton added.

The stray dog was later euthanized at the scene, according to the sheriff.

Brewington, a mother of three, worked as a dental assistant at Village Family Dental, according to her online obituary.

“If you knew Barbara, you knew what real love was,” her sister wrote on a GoFundMe page. “She was a ray of sunshine on a rainy day. She was the laughter in any room. You won’t meet a person who would tell you any different. Being a mother was her calling. She loved her children more than life itself.”