Bermuda's NFL star Antonio Pierce has been accused of neglecting one of his dogs in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.

Pierce, whose father Cleo Burrows lives in Southampton, was one of the New York Giants' heros in their upset victory over the previously unbeaten New England Patriots in the season's finale earlier this month.

But this week the Middlesex County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Massachusetts issued a summons.

The group said Pierce's two pit bulls escaped from a fenced enclosure in his yard on January 30 — just days before the game.

Pierce was issued the summons because one of the dogs was found to be underweight and suffering from a respiratory illness, officials said.

SPCA chief Walt Mychal stressed that Pierce was not charged with anything related to dogfighting and could face only a fine, not jail time, if convicted. In New Jersey, the SPCA have authority to bring charges in animal cruelty cases.

Pierce and the team would not comment, Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said yesterday.