A pit bull mix which viciously attacked its owners when they tried to put a sweater on has been put down.

Scarface mauled its owner Brenda Guerrero on Monday when she tried to dress him at her Tampa, Florida, home.

The dog bit her by the arm before lunging at her husband, Imanuel Guerrero, when he tried to help.

It was stabbed in the neck by Guerrero's son 22-year-old son Antoine Harris and later survived being tasered and tranquilized by animal control.

A pit bull mix attacked three in Tampa, Florida, after owner Brenda Guerrero (right), 52, tried to put a Christmas sweater on him. The dog, called Scarface, was shot with a Taser and tranquilizer before it was caught

Hillsborough County officials confirmed on Wednesday the dog had been euthanized because it posed a risk to the public.

Police were called to the family home on Friday after the attack.

Brenda Guerrero had been trying to dress it when it lunged at her. Her son and husband intervened and the dog was stabbed in the neck and head but survived.

Police were shocked when their attempts to subdue it with a Taser gun and tranquilizer were unsuccessful.

'Officers responding said the dog was pretty aggressive,' Eddy Durkin with Tampa Police said to WFTS.

Brenda Guerrero and her husband Ismael Guerrero, 46, were both taken to hospital for their injuries. Mrs Guerrero's injuries are considered serious, but not life-threatening

Hillsborough County Animal Control currently has the dog. Eddy Durkin with Tampa Police said: 'When they Tasered the dog, it was still pulling away and was able to release the prongs from the Taser'

'When they Tasered the dog, it was still pulling away and was able to release the prongs from the Taser.'

Eventually it was calmed down after being shot a bean bag gun.

There were two young children inside the family's home at the time of the attack on Friday.

The dog was for the most part outside in the back yard but was able to break in to the house shortly before it was captured.

Brenda and Ismael Guerreros, who have at least one other dog, were both taken to hospital.

Brenda's injuries were considered to be serious but not life threatening.