vicious dogs on the Island.

And the man leading the campaign has first hand experience of two attacks on his dogs by the same Rottweiler.

Mr. Bob Nielsen, of Cavendish Apartments, Devonshire, was furious after the two attacks over a month.

In the first attack his dog Hooligan was badly hurt and he suffered personal injuries as he tried to pull the dog off.

But in the second attack last week another dog, belonging to his neighbour, was killed by the Rottweiler.

The Rottweiler has since been destroyed by the Dog Control Officer but Mr.

Nielsen is annoyed at the reaction of some dog owners.

He was particularly angry at the views of Rottweiler owner Mr. Charles Butterfield, in The Royal Gazette .

Mr. Nielsen said: "The story, as told by Mr. Butterfield, says that the owner of the Rottweiler did her best to come to him for obedience training.

This is total fiction.

"The dog's trainer, who showed up while the second attack was in progress, pleaded in vain for the owner to bring the dog up properly. He said that even as a young dog the Rottweiler was showing signs of being a problem animal and the owner did absolutely nothing about it, preferring to keep the dog locked in a cage.'' Mr. Nielsen also said that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks had received complaints about the dog.

He also denied reports that the attack by the Rottweiler was caused by him running away. He said: "It has already been made perfectly clear that the Rottweiler came rushing out of a driveway and launched into a savage attack.

My dogs and I did not have the luxury of running. I wish we did.'' Mr. Nielsen then listed attacks by Rottweilers in Bermuda including a 16-year-old girl who received a serious leg injury and a baby bitten on the head by a family pet.

He said: "Great family pets eh? Mr. Butterfield seems proud of the fact that Government Dog Control Officer Shinah Simons is in the Association. He arrived at the scene of the second attack and it was clear that even he was stunned by the carnage he saw.

"I am a bit weary of hearing about the few Rottweilers and Pit Bulls who have become ideal family pets in Bermuda. I know they exist but they are a tiny minority.

"They are potentially dangerous animals. How many more attacks on animals and children do we have to read about in the newspaper before we hear that a child has been killed?'' Mr. Nielsen describes the dead dog, Blue, as a "little human being'' because he was a popular dog with local people and, especially children.

He said: "I have the democratic right to walk my pet on a public road in peace and security. In modern Bermuda the criminal seems to have more rights than the innocent victim.'' As a result Mr. Nielsen is now calling on other dog owners to join him in forming an association to press Parliament for tougher controls of dangerous dogs.

He said: "I want to contact people with pets, that is four-legged pets, not monsters. I would like to hear from anyone who is concerned about their well being or anyone who has been the victim of an attack.

"People don't get Rottweilers because they want family pets. There are far too many people who train potentially dangerous dogs for security and there are too many people who just neglect animals.'' He can be contacted at PO Box 327, Flatts FL BX.