There will be a review of animal control processes after mother-of-three Kayla Stewart said the family's pet ridgeback, four-year-old Dexter, was put down by staff before the family could collect the dog from a shelter.

Dexter went missing on August 19 and staff at the centre and RSPCA officers told Ms Stewart the dog had not been found.

On August 28 she received an eight-day-old letter notifying her that the dog was at the animal shelter in Symonston. The letter warned the dog would be sold or put down if unclaimed after seven days.

When Ms Stewart's partner and son went to collect the dog, they were told Dexter had been put down.

''We have had a bit of trouble with our neighbours and they do complain about our dog so we keep him in a pen, but the gate was left open for some reason,'' she said.

''The staff were rude to my partner and didn't explain why they had put him down or anything. 'Everyone that knew my dog said he was like a big teddy bear … so I don't understand why he was given the needle.''

She said Territory and Municipal Services staff said the dog's body could not be returned to the family for burial ''because it had been taken to the tip''.

A services spokeswoman said on Friday that a male dog, registered as a bull mastiff, was impounded on the morning of August 20 and staff tried to contact the registered owner by phone. She said the dog had been previously impounded and the subject of several complaints.

A letter was sent to Ms Stewart on August 20 when the dog was determined not suitable for re-homing, and eight days after it was impounded the dog was put down.

''While it is unfortunate that the dog was euthanised one day before the owner made contact with DAS, and we are very sorry for the owner's loss, staff followed procedure,'' the spokeswoman said.

Domestic Animal Services will review a number of processes for future cases, echoing calls from Ms Stewart for other family pets not to be put down.

The spokeswoman said staff will consider posting photographs of all impounded dogs on the TAMS website and will attempt to contact registered owners by phone on the afternoon before putting down impounded dogs.

Staff will also consider ''contacting the RSPCA and checking the TAMS website to see whether a lost report has been lodged that matches the impounded dog,'' she said.

Ms Stewart warned other dog owners that their pets could face the same fate as Dexter.

''It shouldn't have happened like this. We are just so upset,'' she said.