Tough new measures to curb the pitbull menace have been called for after a man was savaged by one on Monday.

The 34-year-old Devonshire man was visiting a home in Boundary Crescent when he spotted someone trying to restrain their dog.

Scared, the victim ran back to his car but the dog leaped through the vehicle's window as he tried to secure it and attacked him as he and the owner tried to fight the dog off.

The victim needed hospital treatment for injuries to his hands.

Dog attacks on animals and people have rocketed in recent years with the naturally aggressive pit bull terriers -- by far the most popular of the Island's canines -- being at the centre of most of them.

Veterinarian and Bermuda Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Shelter chairman Andrew Madeiros called for a programme to gradually eliminate pitbulls in Bermuda.

And the UBP's Environment spokesman Gary Pitman called for the muzzling of pitbulls to curb attacks, which he said could end up with someone getting killed.

He said all dogs should be micro-chipped to keep tabs on nuisance dogs.

He said: "It could be phased in over a year and a half.

"It only costs $60 to micro-chip a dog.

"We can't continue to let this happen.'' He said the public needed to be educated on how they could assist the Island's two dog wardens, but Mr. Pitman conceded they were overstretched.

He said: "We need to encourage neighbours to report problems with pitbulls.

"I personally feel we need more than two dog wardens.'' Mr. Pitman said the amended Dogs Act, which ups fines for dog offences and makes it compulsory to leash dogs in public, had plenty of teeth but needed the Police and dog wardens to enforce it.