Officer, Mr. Leonard (Shinah) Simons.

The process is painless and gentle. A needle is inserted into a vein in the dog's leg. The dog can die quickly, although some hold on to life for many minutes.

On Friday, Mr. Simons carried out this heartbreaking task on four dogs at the Animal Shelter in Southampton.

The doors were closed before the process began. Shelter official, Mr. Jeffrey Benevides brought the dogs from their cages to Mr. Simons.

Each one had bright eyes and a wagging tail as if expecting a treat on being released from its cage. Two died immediately.

A small long-haired, brown-eyed dog, suffering from a broken leg, had been at the shelter for three weeks. She desperately clung on to life, still struggling to walk even when she was too weak to use her legs. Mr. Simons stroked her head for nearly five minutes before she finally passed away.

Mr. Benevides said that the fact that they get to know the dogs, often over weeks, makes the "euthanasia'' all the more difficult.

Mr. Simons said: "Regardless of the training, the act of killing is not pleasant. The job comes with a degree of psychological stress.

"Euthanasia is acceptable when it involves an old, ill or injured animal. The animal is suffering and it is kind to the animal to euthanise.

"Unacceptable euthanasia, putting it mildly, is seeing the destruction of hundreds of healthy animals.'' Mr. Simons believes that in cases of neglect he should destroy the dog in front of its owners. He even asked his employers, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks for permission. They refused.

"People who have unwanted puppies or just release their dogs to stray should come along and see them destroyed,'' he said.

There was a happier moment at the shelter when a woman turned up desperately keen to adopt a puppy. Three of four young German Shepherds from the same litter will be going to good homes. The other should also have no problem in finding a place.

Work at the shelter is all part of a demanding job for Mr. Simons, a former Police officer.

In just one morning, he attended three houses to check on dog problems, visited a school, the Animal Hospital in Devonshire and carried out his sad duties at the shelter. And then there was the paperwork.

He carries out his official duties in a friendly manner which people appear to respond to. And he claims he rarely gets an aggressive response to his inquiries.

Responding to complaints that a man was not taking care of his three dogs properly, Mr. Simons explained the law to the owner, pointing out what would be best for his pets. The man agreed to follow his advice in time for a return visit next week.

Earlier he had spoken to children at Devon Lane School after an invitation from special education teacher Miss Shanda Simmons.

Said Miss Simmons: "We have noticed all the publicity about dogs in The Royal Gazette recently. We know many of our children have dogs and we wanted Mr.

Simons to tell them how they should treat their dogs.

Mr. Simons stressed the word `responsibility' to the children, something he believes all dog owners should display.

"I speak to schools quite often. I am hoping that it will teach them to look after their pets.

"A lot of the job is about psychology and counselling people. It is better to educate people. I have talked to a lot of people in my five years in this job.'' Later that day the Animal Control Officer laid traps for dogs that had been killing chickens in St. George's and visited a brownie troop to work on their animal badges.

"I do get busy days but today has been easy because everything has been happening in the same area,'' he added.

Mr. Simons keeps in touch with his headquarters by radio which gives him access to the Department's impressive computerised list of licensed dogs on the Island. A dog can be identified by type, colour, owner and house.

And there is his pager which means he is on call 24 hours a day, even if he has been on the road for 10 hours in the normal course of his work.

"That doesn't bother me. I see this job as a hobby which I enjoy. There are ups and downs like everything else but I get a great deal of satisfaction.'' DOGGIE POWER -- Special education teacher Miss Shanda Simmons hitches a ride to the delight of her pupils at Devon Lane School. The Rottweiler, Francine, and cart belong to Animal Control Officer, Mr. Leonard (Shinah) Simons, who uses the cart to demonstrate how dogs used to work.

DOG FACTS -- Animal Control Officer, Mr. Leonard (Shinah) Simons, with his Rottweiler, Francine, explains about dog ownership to the children of Devon Lane School.