Today, we remember Trina Sandlin. She was a loving 👩 mom, grandmother, and friend who lived in a pitbull area. Studies show pitbull maulings can be tracked based on geographic location and other demographic factors so we do often see patterns in fatal cases.
According to Trina’s grandson, Austin, the pits that fatally mauled her were well known. This is another common pattern. Most normal citizens are unaware that a heavily funded pitbull lobby and enthusiast community exists. These pit owners are not only vocal, but often use intimidating and violent behavior to get their way. This leads to a predictable pattern where local authorities and media companies are scared to take action.
In Trina’s case, not only did authorities ignore escalating violence from the dogs that killed her, but the media attempted to cast an ambiguity around her case despite authorities and relatives knowing what happened from the beginning. The news did not strongly correct that or add to her case once the investigation was completed. The pitbull owners remain shrouded in privacy and protection.
Trina’s grandson desperately spoke out on social media:
“It was Carlos Bentley’s dogs that killed my grandmother. The police were called months before this to put his dogs down after they attacked a little boy and he had to be sent to Lexington but the police were too scared to do anything alongside with the dog warden. Now my grandmother Trina Sandlin is dead because of the dogs.” 😡
Those who monitor dog attacks are not surprised. It is common to uncover a history of near misses, attacks, rehoming, and apathy from local authorities after the final escalation. The dogs 🐕 are given more chances than many human offenders these days. It’s infuriating and part of the reform we need to enact immediately. If the police or animal control had addressed this clear risk, Trina would be alive right now.
Regardless of your position on BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) or your love/hate for pibbles, we can all unite on the common sense, basic decency behind immediately addressing dangerous dogs. Nobody in a just and healthy society should be comfortable with dogs continuing to escalate to fatal attacks while police and animal control look the other way. This is a profound violation in a so-called civilized community.
RIP Trina. 🪦 You did nothing but love and care for others. Yet your last moments were spent in unspeakable agony, alone and in the dark. Even our worst criminals don’t face such a sentence. May we remember you every day as we continue to advocate for safe household pets.
Respectfully,
-JL DBA Editor ©
The news article:
Do you know about the pitbull lobby?
Parents for Dog Bite Awareness 
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