EXCLUSIVE
A dog lover who was mauled by her Rottweiler shared a post on social media suggesting the breed is not aggressive and asking ‘when will they blame people’ – weeks before her husband was tragically killed by their dog.
Pensioner Noel Backhouse, 66, and his wife Karen ‘Maree’ Anderson, 64, were at their home in Allens Rivulet, a small rural community 25 kilometers southwest of Hobart, when they were suddenly attacked by their Rottweiler, Ruben, on Sunday evening.
A neighbor heard the commotion and called Triple Zero at about 10.40pm, but despite the best efforts of paramedics, Mr Backhouse died at the scene after suffering serious injuries to his lower legs.
Ms Anderson, a teacher, also suffered serious injuries to her lower legs and was rushed to the Royal Hobart Hospital where she remains in a stable condition.
Pensioner Noel Backhouse, 66, died on Sunday evening after being mauled by his pet Rottweiler
His wife Maree Anderson (pictured) suffered serious injuries and is in a stable condition in hospital
Ruben, who authorities say was a beloved pet who “turned” on his owners, has since been put down
Daily Mail Australia can reveal the couple, who also own a French Bulldog called Evie and a German Shepherd called Tori, were devout dog lovers who regularly took their pets to dog shows.
Ms Anderson also advocated for animal welfare online.
Just five months ago, she shared a post suggesting that some dog breeds are getting a bad rap for attacks when it’s their owners who should be blamed.
‘In the 1970s they blamed the Dobermans. In the 80s they blamed German Shepherds,” the post reads.
‘In the 1990s they blamed Rottweilers. Now they blame the Pitbull.
“When will they blame the people?”
The couple were dog lovers, with Mrs Anderson regularly exhibiting their pets at dog shows
In the photo: trophies and ribbons that Ruben won last year at a Tasmanian dog show
In June, Ms. Anderson shared the above post, suggesting that Rottweilers are not naturally aggressive
According to an online profile, Mr. Anderson has been exhibiting purebred dogs for more than a decade, including several Rottweilers.
In November last year, Ruben received two trophies and two ribbons after winning Best State Bred Dog and Best Opposite State Bred at the Rottweiler Club of Tasmania Specialty Show.
In a cruel twist of fate, Mr Backhouse was brutally attacked by a Pitbull 14 months ago while trying to save the life of the dog that would later take his.
In July 2022, the couple was walking Tori and Ruben on a hiking trail when the stray dog suddenly jumped on their pets.
“In an attempt to keep Ruben safe, Noel was badly bitten,” Ms Anderson wrote online, alongside photos of Noel’s bloodied hands and wrists.
‘The owner arrived on his bicycle and took off when police were called.’
Ms Anderson said Noel, Ruben and Tori were doing well and receiving antibiotics, but she was furious with the other pet owner.
“I’m just so angry that such an idiot thinks it’s okay to let his dog roam free while following him on his bike… without any control over the animal,” she said.
The couple also has a German Shepherd and a French Bulldog
In posts online, Ms. Anderson doted on the couple’s dogs and affectionately referred to them as “our boys.”
Mr Backhouse was left with bloody hands after protecting Ruben from a Pitbull in July last year
Following the attack, Ruben was euthanized on the couple’s property by a Kingborough Council animal protection officer.
The other two dogs were seized by the council while officers investigated the tragedy.
Daily Mail Australia understands a neighbor has since launched a community initiative to care for the couple’s other dogs while Mrs Anderson recovers.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Tasmanian Police Inspector Colin Riley said the attack on Sunday evening appeared to be random.
“This is a family that has had a beloved pet,” Mr Riley said.
“Unfortunately, that animal turned against them and that had tragic consequences.”
A report will be prepared for the coroner.