THE dog that horrifically mauled its owner to death in Canberra early yesterday morning was known to the authorities and had attacked before, it has been revealed.

Tania Klemke was killed by her dog, while trying to save a male visitor the animal was attacking, around 4am in the suburb of Watson in the city’s north.

Police were forced to shoot and kill the dog after it attacked them when they were working to save the life of the woman aged in her 40s.

A man who was visiting the house is being treated in hospital for bite wounds sustained in the rampage.

The revelation of the dangerous dog’s history comes as the son of Ms Klemke paid tribute to his mother, describing her as a beautiful and honest person.

Cody Baker told 7 News: “She had the biggest heart and always did anything that she possibly could for the people she loved and cared for.”

The family also defended the dog which the mother-of-three had described as her best friend, saying it never would have intended to hurt her or take her life.

ACT City Services Minister Meeghan Fitzharris yesterday told the ABC the dog was known to the Territory Government.

“On one previous occasion (Domestic Animal Services) did attend that household at the request of ACT police,” Ms Fitzharris said.

The previous attack reportedly happened in August.

“I understand that someone may have been injured, and I also understand that the dog may have been injured in that attack as well ... Clearly the dog was dangerous.”

There are reports the breed was a pit bull, but ACT Police has yet to confirm the dog type.

DOG HAD ‘TRUST ISSUES’

Fairfax reported that the dog’s owner may have been “a little afraid of the dog.”

However, she kept it close because it had defended the family during a home invasion in March.

“He took a bullet for us,” his owner is reported to have said in a text.

She is said to have told friends, “the last person who tried coming in ... ended in hospital with 42 stitches”.

Neighbours have said they often heard the dog “growling” — one said “it almost got my boys.”

Ms Klemke had sent text messages only this month describing the dog as her best friend.

She had also reportedly warned friends not to visit her home as the dog “had trust issues” and could attack.

Detective Acting Superintendent Tony Crocker said “this was a tragic death. Police were called at 3.40am after reports from neighbours of someone calling for help.

“Police were directed by a male in the backyard into the premises towards a female lying inside. A dog was also inside. While CPR was being performed on the female victim, the dog moved to attack the police officers, and in order to protect themselves there was a necessity to discharge the fire round.”

Det Corker said the man had a bite to the inside of his leg. “He doesn’t appear to have life-threatening injuries and is in a stable condition.”

“Fortunately the officers were not injured. This is a very tragic event for the family, and our thoughts go out to the family for what is quite a horrific incident,” he said.

AFP Forensic Services and ACT Policing Criminal Investigations attended and were investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. A report will be prepared for the ACT Coroner.

It’s understood the man was a visitor to the home.

Neighbours said they had often heard the dog growling and barking and were afraid the dog might attack.

Dieu Do told Fairfax she feared her two children’s safety. “A dog, jumped over my back fence a few times last year and almost got my boys. I often hear [a dog] growling near my window, so I always lock up.”

UPDATE: Police believe the dog which mauled a woman to death at her #Watson home, was likely a pit bull. Vets are now on-scene.#WINNews6pm pic.twitter.com/GyaxFtHBTz — WIN News Canberra (@WINNews_ACT) October 25, 2017

The ACT Opposition is pushing for legislation to make it easier to punish owners of dangerous dogs following a series of maulings in the territory.

On August 5, two puppies survived after three larger dogs jumped over a fence and set upon them. The next day, two pit bulls off-lead repeatedly bit a poodle.

A Change.org petition calling on the ACT Government to better manage dangerous dogs has been signed by more than 800 people.

In 2013, 84 people presented at ACT public hospital emergency departments as a result of a dog attack; in 2016, the number was 155. “This means there is on average a dog attack on a person every second day,” said Renee Dean who started the petition.

Canberra Liberals’ urban services spokesman Steve Doszpot said he suspected dog maulings were even more common.

“The number of attacks on humans is actually larger [than official figures] and there is also a large number of attacks on animals,” he told the Canberra Times.

“If the dog you have attacks another dog or a person there’s got to be some recognition of that. You’re responsible for the dog, you’ve got to handle the dog safely and if anything happens you’re liable for the physical damage and the property damage that occurs.”

In August, Sue Lopicich who ran a boarding kennel in Perth was mauled to death by a bull mastiff.

A neighbour of Ms Lopicich told the ABC the 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.

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.