Police arrested a 35-year-old man yesterday in connection with the brutal knife attack on a Pitbull this week.

The man from Warwick was arrested at about 3.35 p.m. yesterday for questioning about the horrific stabbing of the dog, which caused it to lose an eye and suffer severe blood loss and injury all over its body.

It was attacked during the early hours of Wednesday at its kennel in Kings Court, Pembroke, and found close to death by its 17-year-old keeper, Joshua Hayward, at about 8.15 a.m.

Police and veterinary surgeons believe the dog was tied up and unable to move and then repeatedly stabbed from head to foot in an attack described as the "worst act of human depravity'' against an animal seen in Bermuda.

Vet, Dr. Maureen Ware-Cieters, operated on Max for six hours to save his life and was so upset by the torture he endured, offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the attackers.

She said she also believed more than one person was responsible for the sick attack and believed it could have been an act of revenge or warning against its keeper.

Mr. Hayward, however, said he had no known enemies and had no idea why his dog had been attacked.

Initial Police inquiries in the area surrounding Kings Court drew a blank on Wednesday as residents said they had seen and heard nothing.

But animal welfare workers said there was no way the dog would have stayed silent throughout the torturous attack and people must have heard something.

Dr. Ware-Cieters charged anyone with information to come forward.

She said: "Anyone who knows the identity of the individuals who did this, and remains silent, is equally culpable.'' Yesterday, the dog, who was only last year found starving and weighing only half his ideal weight by the SPCA, was on a slow road to recovery, but was expected to survive the attack.

But Police thanked members of the public for their calls of concern and for providing information through the CrimeStoppers hotline, which resulted in a speedy arrest of the man.

The suspect was detained at Hamilton Police station last night and is expected to appear in court early next week.

CRIME CRM