Dexter, the pitbull who mauled 95-year-old Janet D’Aleo to death in 2019, was put down on November 22, said both Annie Hornish and Colin Moll, the Town of Suffield’s First Selectman.

“Our only comfort is knowing that Dexter’s soul has gained more freedom in eternal rest than his body has had over the last six years of life,” said a statement by Annie and her husband, Neil Hornish, released after the dog’s death. “Dexter’s legacy will live on through our tireless advocacy.”

Moll viewed the euthanasia and Dexter’s legacy differently, and said other Suffield residents he’s spoken to share his view.

“The feedback I have received is that residents are relieved that the main part of the case is over, and I think we all look forward to being able to turn the page on this matter,” said Moll.

Dexter was confined at River Valley Hospital for six years, having been placed there shortly after the November 2019 mauling. While Suffield’s animal control officer originally ruled in favor of the dog’s disposal, Annie and Neil appealed the decision multiple times. Annie told Inside Investigator last month, after their final petition to the state’s Supreme Court was denied, that town officials intended to prevent them from seeing the dog one last time unless they agreed to sign a non-disparagement agreement. Refusing to sign the agreement, the Hornishes said the town “maintained its cold, callous, and punitive disposition until the bitter end.”

“Town leaders and River Valley did not even allow Dexter the dignity of being escorted across the Rainbow Bridge by those who loved him,” said the Hornishes’ statement.

They attributed their refusal to sign the non-disparagement agreement to several factors. The legal bar for disparagement is “much lower” than defamation, and would have “banned our family from writing this letter or saying anything that the town perceived to be negative,” they explained. Additionally, they claimed the agreement would have required them to “give up all pending and future legal actions,” and have prevented them from sending pictures or videos of Dexter’s final moments to family. Lastly, the agreement would have allowed the two “one restrictive hour of supervised time with Dexter just prior to his execution,” per their statement. Having declined the offer, Annie told Inside Investigator that she and Neil were allowed only to pick up Dexter’s remains after the fact.

Moll declined to comment on the content of the agreement, saying it would be “inappropriate to comment on confidential settlement communications,” but disputed Annie’s portrayal of its conditions.

“Without discussing the proposal, it is fair to say that the representations that were made by Mrs. Hornish in the press did not accurately reflect the entire discussion,” said Moll. “Ultimately, no agreement was ever reached.”

While the battle over Dexter’s life has ended, the battle over who will cover the costs of Dexter’s multi-year confinement continues. Moll said that Annie’s appeal of the Superior Court’s previous decision, which held her and Neil liable to pay $76,215 in kenneling fees, would likely be resolved “sometime in 2026.” Annie’s lawyer estimates it will be resolved next spring.

Despite Dexter’s death, the Hornishes insisted they would continue to “work to ensure no other family suffers the fate of politically motivated vengeful town leaders.” She called Moll “childish, petulant,” and “seemingly mentally damaged,” and the Hornishes’ statement reasserted their claim that previous FOIA requests revealed an attempt by Moll to craft a “false narrative and caricature of our family, depicting us as cold, soulless people who are callous to the loss of life.”

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” said the statement. They referred to D’Aleo as “our dear friend,” and said they “continue to send our deepest, longstanding condolences to the D’Aleo family as they undoubtedly grapple with their own emotions.” Despite this, the Hornishes remain steadfast in their belief that “no evidence indicates a mauling.”

Annie told Inside Investigator that she plans to write a book about the experience, and said she “will also be working on laws to prevent such abuse of power and cruelty to animals.”

“The town has only emboldened my family,” said Annie. “Their indecency, corruption, and lawbreaking is part of a pattern of behavior, and we will be exposing the town at every turn.”

Moll noted that “to date, no additional [legal] challenges have been made,” and noted that while “the public has a statutory right to file FOI requests and it would not ever be considered retaliation by the Town,” that he was not aware of any additional requests made by the Hornishes.

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