household contacted The Royal Gazette to set the record straight.

Ms Felicity Cole disputes statements in Monday's paper that the Hortons' dog is a Labrador Retreiver, saying it is more Rottweiler than anything else, coloured black and brown with a "thick'' head and was short-haired.

She added that anyone who knows anything about dogs would know that it would be very unlikely for a Labrador to act in such an aggressive manner.

Ms Cole also said all of her communications regarding the dog had been with Mr. Horton, not Mrs. Horton and that Mr. Horton had never said that the dog was not his or suggested that she talk to his wife about it.

Ms Cole explained that she moved into her current home in January this year and within three weeks, the first of the attacks by the Horton dog took place.

The dog ran onto the public road, Callan Glen Rise, as Ms Cole was walking her leashed English Setter early one morning, attacking her dog.

She managed to pull it off and went directly to the Horton home and spoke to Mr. Horton, explaining to him that she had moved in next door and that his dog had just attacked her dog.

During this conversation, Ms Cole says that she asked Mr. Horton to consider putting in fencing to contain his dog and she says he told her he would not get fencing because it cost money.

Ms Cole said Mrs. Horton's comment that the problem could have been eliminated if she had introduced herself so they could introduce the dogs, is completely untrue.

Ms Cole said even during this conversation with Mr. Horton, the Hortons' dog came from behind the house and again attacked her dog whilst Mr. Horton looked on and did nothing until she screamed for him to get his dog off of hers.

Ms Cole said that she did not report these incidents to the authorities because she felt sure that after witnessing the second incident Mr. Horton would do something about the problem.

But he did not and three or four days later, again when Ms Cole was walking her dog on Callan Glen Rise on a leash, the Horton dog attacked.

Ms Cole said that on this occassion she managed to get the dog off of hers and took her dog home before going to the Hortons' home to discuss what had happened.

PLP MP unable to control his dog, charges neighbour This time when she told Mr. Horton what had happened, he said he would think about getting fencing. Again Ms Cole did not report the incident because she felt sure that Mr. Horton would do the right thing.

He did not and two months later while Ms Cole was driving down Callan Glen Rise with her dog in the back of the car, she saw the Horton dog standing in the middle of the road and Mr. Horton by the side of the road.

Not wishing to run the dog over, she stopped the car. The dog then ran to the side of her car and tried to climb in the window to get to her English Setter.

She shouted for Mr. Horton to get the dog out of her car which he did. She says that she told Mr. Horton that he had to contain his dog to which he called her a bitch.

Ms Cole asked Mr. Horton what he thought would be achieved by calling her names and she says he told her, "Drive on bitch.'' Ms Cole then drove to St. George's Police Station and made a statement to Police. She understands Police spoke to Mr. Horton and told him to contain his dog, which he has still not done, she said.

Two weeks ago Ms Cole was running with her dog on leash on Callan Glen Rise and the Horton dog again attacked.

Ms Cole screamed for help and two other neighbours came to her assistance with sticks and beat the Horton dog until it released its grip on the Setter.

After it let go, it immediately attacked again, Ms Cole said.

She then went to the Police with her clothes covered in blood and made a second statement to Police. Her dog had to be taken to the vet.

Even after this incident, Ms Cole says that the Hortons made no real attempt to contain the vicious dog.

The Dog Warden visited the Hortons' home and Police took statements and are still investigating the incident.

But last Thursday, when Ms Cole tried to take her dog out, the Hortons' dog was standing in front of her home and she could not get past it.

She therefore put her dog in her car and drove it to a location where she could walk it.

Ms Cole told The Royal Gazette her dog had been wounded on his ear, chest and neck in the attacks and that she had to pay numerous veterinary bills.

Mrs. Dwinnell, Ms Cole's landlord, reports Mrs. Horton came to her home on Friday to discuss the situation. Mr. Dwinnell made it clear to Mrs. Horton that the dog had to be contained as the dog had charged at him too.

The Dwinnells said they were very concerned about the situation because they have two children, aged three and five, who play outside.

Ms Cole was also present at this meeting and she and Mrs. Horton tried to work out an agreement. Mrs. Dwinnell and her husband said that at no time was Ms Cole haughty, rude, aggressive or hostile, as Mrs. Horton claims.

Quite to the contrary Mrs. Dwinnell said; Ms. Cole had been traumatised by these repeated attacks and was moved to the point of tears during the discussion.

Mrs. Dwinnell said it was Mrs. Horton who became heated and was unable to understand why she should have to restrain the dog.

Ms Cole said that she has never had any aggression problems with her dog which had been through the Dog Training Club's obedience classes.