A mother who ran a boarding kennel and animal rescue home has been attacked and mauled to death by a bull mastiff in the Perth suburb of Southern River.

Sue Lopicich, aged in her 50s, was attacked on Tuesday afternoon at the property on Terrier Place, which also serves as Barko's Boarding Kennel.

Police said she was declared dead by paramedics a short time later.

The City of Gosnells said rangers were called to the property about 1:45pm to collect a dog that was preventing police from accessing the woman's body.

Sue Lopicich had been living in the area for the past four years. ( Supplied: Facebook )

A council spokesman told the ABC that two dogs — a bull mastiff and a Staffordshire bull terrier — had been seized and impounded by rangers.

It is believed the bull mastiff caused Ms Lopicich's death, and the council said it would be euthanased.

"The police have advised that they believe the bull mastiff, currently being held by the city at the request of police, caused the death of Mrs Lopicich," the council said in a statement.

"The police advised the Staffordshire bull terrier was not involved, and he will be returned to the family.

"The city extends its sincerest sympathies to Mrs Lopicich's family and friends."

Director of governance Grant Bradbrook said it had been distressing for council workers who attended the scene.

"We've provided counselling for the two rangers that attended," he said. "It wasn't a nice job to have to attend, so they've been supported."

He said the dogs were registered to the owner of the property and no previous complaints about them had been received.

The Southern River property, which doubles as a boarding kennel, where Ms Lopicich was mauled to death by a dog. ( ABC News: Sarah Collard )

'Body found by daughter'

Neighbour Greg, who did not give his surname, said he did not hear any signs of a struggle at the property.

He said Ms Lopicich's body was found by her daughter, who came to check on her mother after concerns were raised when she did not turn up for work at a local childcare centre.

Greg said the dogs were very aggressive and had to be locked away when anyone came to visit the property.

He said one of the dogs had been living with the woman for four years, since she first moved to the neighbourhood.

Neighbour Kerrie Pearce said there had been a number of dog fights at the property and Ms Lopicich had been injured in the past trying to break them up.

"I never liked what she did down there, she used to just mingle them in together and you can't mingle them together, you've got to keep them separate," she said.

"She liked to have them as like a pack, but you can't have rescue dogs as a pack."

Another neighbour, who did not provide their name, said Ms Lopicich was passionate about dogs and dedicated her life to their care, especially rescue dogs.

Police have told the ABC her death was not being treated as suspicious and a report would be prepared for the coroner.