Barbara Brewington: Mother mauled to death by stray dog after jumping to her own pet’s defence

A woman has been mauled to death by a stray dog after she tried to defend her own pet from harm.

Police found Barbara Brewington, 38, dead in the backyard of her North Carolina home on November 23.

The mother of three was left with horrific injuries after she was brutally attacked by a mixed breed stray dog that she had been looking after since May.

Jimmy Thornton, a Sampson county sheriff, said Ms Brewington also had her own smaller pet dog “and for some reason or another, the little dog got out”.

At the time of the attack she had been home alone.

“She was trying to separate the stray dog from her pet. And apparently the dog got overly aggressive and attacked her,” Mr Thornton told People.

Ms Brewington had managed to save her small dog and get it inside her house, but tragically she was so severely injured that she died at the scene.

The stray dog was euthanised at the North Peavine Road home later that day.

Ms Brewington studied at UNC Pembroke and worked as a dental assistant at Village Family Dental in Eastover.

Samantha Gomez, Ms Brewington’s sister, has set up a GoFundMe to support her three children.

“If you knew Barbara, you knew what real love was. She was a ray of sunshine on a rainy day,” Ms Gomez wrote.

“She was the laughter in any room. You wont meet a person who would tell you any different.

“Being a mother was her calling. She loved her children more than life itself. There is nothing that can bring her back to us but I would love to be able to give back to her family.

Tributes are flowing for Ms Brewington and her husband Bradley Brewington on social media.

“Condolences for the family. I wish you peace and harmony amongst friends and family. And the outside world as you mourn,” one Facebook user wrote.

“This is heartbreaking and so sad . She looks like she was a sweet and beautiful young lady. Sending my sincerest condolences to the family and friends,” another wrote.