As family and friends try to come to terms with a “vicious” dog attack that killed a Sampson County woman Sunday night, a GoFundMe campaign had already raised nearly $13,000 of the $14,000 goal, showing an outpouring of love from the community.
And, just as the page was gaining momentum, new details have emerged about the attack.
Sampson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call from a residence on North Peavine Road around 6:25 p.m. Sunday, and discovered Barbara Hunter Brewington, 38, suffering from serious injuries from a dog attack. She was later pronounced dead, though first responders did try to provide aid.
“Evidence suggests the victim was viciously attacked by a dog whom the victim had been providing care to for several weeks,” Capt. Marcus Smith reported, adding that Brewington had been caring for the stray dog since late July.
Smith did confirm that the dog was a pit bull mix, though he was not entirely sure of its specific breed. He shared that Brewington was attacked while protecting her smaller dog from the larger stray dog. She was alone at the time of the attack, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
“Sheriff’s detectives and animal control arrived and processed the scene,” Smith stated. “The dog was located and euthanized on scene by deputies, and animal control will be taking the dog to Raleigh for rabies testing.”
He stressed that there is no ongoing threat to the public and the woman’s cause of death is pending the medical examiner’s investigation.
Though many might have assumed the canine might be part of an illegal dog fighting ring or otherwise therefore trained to attack, Capt. Smith said there was no evidence of that. “Dog fighting is completely unrelated to this incident,” he stated. “It is simply a sad and tragic event.”
In the wake of Brewington’s death, her sister, Samantha Gomez, has organized a GoFundMe to help the family. The campaign can be found on GoFundMe.com, under the title “Help keep Barbara’s legacy alive.”
“If you knew Barbara, you knew what real love was,” Gomez wrote on the 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.”
Brewington is survived by three children and her husband, Bradley. “Being a mother was her calling,” Gomez continued. “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.”
As of press time Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign had already raised $12,775 of its $14,000 goal.
Village Family Dental shared on Monday that Brewington had been an employee there since 2017. “Barbara had a gift for bringing warmth, laughter, and comfort to everyone she met,” a Facebook post from the practice reads. “Her kindness touched co-workers and patients alike, and her presence made our offices brighter every day.”
Funeral services were pending as of press time.