Two dogs who appear to have been on the brink of starvation are recuperating at the Government kennels this week ? and they need a new home.

The dogs, who wardens suspect are brother and sister (though that has not been confirmed), were brought in about a week ago, and have been steadily putting on weight since.

They were about two-thirds the weight they should be when they were brought in. The male, who should weigh between 65 to 70 pounds, tipped the scales at 50 this week, Department of Environmental Protection compliance officer Maryellen Goodwin said yesterday.

It is unclear how much longer the female especially would have survived, she added. The mother of a litter of puppies, most of the nutrition the female was able to get went straight to keeping her young alive.

Both also had sores on their elbows and knees from lying stationary on concrete for too long.

Further details about the dogs and their previous owners could not be revealed as the Department of Environmental Protection are currently putting together a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions to inspect.

The dogs were enjoying the comparative freedom of the fenced-in grassy yard at the kennels when arrived yesterday, and the female ran over immediately to make friends.

?I have spent an hour with this dog,? Ms Goodwin said. ?She went from cowering in the corner to very loving ... They can recover from a bad situation really well.

?She deserves a good home, she?s very easy-going,? she added. ?I would hate to think we would ultimately have to put her down.?

The male is a little more reserved, she added, and would probably need more attention and socialising than the female though he, also, appeared to be rapidly recovering his spirit.

?We are going to be looking for homes for these dogs,? she said. With the Christmas season approaching, she hoped people would find it in their hearts to be more giving ? though she warned caring for a dog is a huge responsibility, not a whim.

Too often people adopt a dog on the spur of the moment ? and, when the initial excitement passes, ?this happens?, she said.

For that reason, the Department checks into the backgrounds of individuals and families adopting dogs to ensure they have the resources and the will to care for the animals properly.

?There are always dogs in Bermuda that need homes,? Ms Goodwin said.

?The SPCA has to turn people wanting to give up a dog away ... the space issue handcuffs us so much.

?I would beg people to call the SPCA first to see what?s available before getting a dog or a cat, or call our Department and we can pass it along.?

Aside from the obvious signs, dogs suffering from starvation or malnutrition may be very lethargic due to a lack of energy, she said. ?They won?t move, they?ll sit if they can.?

They will also bark ?incessantly?, both because they are hungry and because they need attention. They may cry, or chew on themselves.

Dogs who are neglected also suffer from severe boredom and will do anything to entertain themselves, often pacing to and fro or digging holes.

?You don?t have to take a stick to a dog for it to be an offence,? Ms Goodwin said.

The Department of Environmental Protection can be reached on 236-4201, and the SPCA can be reached on 236-7333.