if they start reporting suspected dog fighting cases to the Police.

Dr. Maureen Ware-Cieters attacked Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson, who has responsibility for dog legislation, for making the suggestion.

Mr. Hodgson told the Mid-Ocean News last Friday: "By not reporting the owners they are enabling the fights to continue.'' But in a letter to The Royal Gazette , Dr. Ware-Cieters writes: "Once we start picking up the phone and acting as informants, no matter how strong our suspicions, it would only be a matter of time before we were nursing severe personal injuries at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.'' She said animal welfare would not be best served if vets become "vigilante law enforcers,'' and points out that dogs will only be protected if Police bring successful cases to court.

At that point, a subpoena to reveal medical records to a court would override a vet's duty of confidentiality to a client.

She writes: "Nothing is more difficult than keeping one's counsel when dealing with an apology of a human presenting a dog which one suspects is being compelled to fight (usually of the pitbull-type but not exclusively).

"However, our profession, and all those who work under our employment, must have the welfare of both the individual animal and animals collectively at heart.

"As paradoxical as it may initially sound, animal welfare is not served if veterinarians elect themselves to become vigilante law enforcers.

"The long-term welfare of these poor animals is best served when those engaged in such inhumane activity can be arrested by the proper authorities, brought to court, and concrete, credible evidence deposited before a judge.

"The duty of a veterinary surgeon who is subpoenaed by a magistrate to reveal all clinical records to a court of law overrides his duty of confidentiality to a client.'' Strong evidence through witness or Police statements must be produced to win a case. She said testimony of multiple bite wounds is not compelling evidence in itself.

"No one, and the Minister who is a lawyer should know this, can be convicted of fighting his dog merely on the basis of multiple bite wounds.

"It is highly probable that 90 percent of even the most severe bite-inflicted wounds we treat are in a sense `accidental' or defacto, caused by irresponsible ownership and often negligent care and supervision of a dog which is the victim of attack.'' Vets fear backlash from thugs The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has a code of conduct for members dealing with dog fight victims, which suggests Police obtaining evidence first and vets backing it up with expert testimony.

Dr. Ware-Cieters also disputes Mr. Hodgson's assertion that an Afghan dog his son imported from Paris had its throat slit.

She said she conducted the post-mortem on the dog and "it did not die in the manner which the Minister stated to the Mid-Ocean News ''. She could not release details of her report, however, unless the clients -- the Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals or the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries -- gave permission.

Dr. Ware-Cieters had earlier accused Mr. Hodgson of "loathing'' dogs and being "clueless'' about the problem.

Mr. Hodgson is off the Island and could not be contacted for comment.