Mr. Tony Leader is appealing for his dog's life to be spared after it escaped from his enclosure and attacked the other dog which was chained in a nearby garden.

Mr. Leader says his dog, Assassin, would never have gotten free except for someone else's negligence in leaving a gate open at his Border Dell home in Devonshire.

And he claims the pitbull is a family pet which would never attack a human being unless they intruded on his property.

Assassin was taken to the Endsmeet Animal Hospital, with Rusty, Mr. Lenny Paul's German shepherd, after the fight. Both dogs had nasty facial injuries, although Rusty came off worse because he was chained during the fight.

Residents said the pitbull roamed into Mr. Paul's garden and attacked Rusty.

Dog Warden Mr. Leonard (Shinah) Simons had to free Rusty's snout from Assassin's vice-like grip.

After the incident Mr. Paul was so furious that he said he would attack Mr.

Leader.

Mr. Leader said he had not spoken to Mr. Paul, but he was just as angry about the attack. He said: "I got home and found the gate open with a block behind it to wedge it open. That gate had been closed and the dog tied up when I left earlier that morning.

"It was my tenant's daughter who left the gate wide open. After this trouble I have served them with an eviction notice. I am being blamed for someone else's carelessness.'' Mr. Leader is quick to point out that he has surrounded his garden with high fences to prevent Assassin getting out and burglars getting in.

Mr. Leader said Asassin had only fought other dogs when they came on his property.

He said: "My dog is always chained up unless it is in the house. It loves humans but it does want to fight when it sees other dogs.

"The only way it would chase someone is if they came into the garden. We have had a lot of trouble with burglars round here. All I am trying to do is protect my property.'' Mr. Leader has received a summons to appear in court about the incident after a Police investigation.