Action must be taken to address a growing pitbull “crisis” in Bermuda fuelled by illegal breeding and a perceived lack of consequences for abusers, a retired animal welfare officer says.

Debbie Masters, who previously worked with the Bermuda Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, told The Royal Gazette that she felt compelled to speak out after hearing of an “horrific” incident involving three pitbull puppies that she understood was under active investigation.

“It’s not a dog problem, it is a people problem,” Ms Masters said. “Now it has got to the point where we are in the middle of a crisis.”

Ms Masters estimated that there were as many as 2,000 unlicensed dogs on the island, in part because of the unlicensed breeding of pitbulls, and not enough homes willing and able to take in rescue animals.

While she said charities such as the SPCA work hard to help save as many animals as possible, they are struggling.

Part of the issue, she said, was a lack of consequences for those found to have abused animals, noting past cases in which those who were convicted of animal cruelty received conditional discharges.

Ms Masters said: “We have got to stop this because if you can do this to an innocent animal, what are you going to do to a human?

“We already have people shooting each other.”

While the Government said last year that it would table legislation to strengthen dog controls and a Canine Advisory Committee was formed to suggest amendments to the Dogs Act 2008, it was announced in June that the recommendations were still in “active review”.

The Ministry of Public Works and Environment was contacted for an update this week, but did not provide a comment as of press time last night.

April Augustus, the executive director of the SPCA, said the charity had not been made aware of the case described by Ms Masters, but that reports of animals suffering in the way described are “heartbreaking”.

“Thankfully, these days, we at the Bermuda SPCA see more cases of neglect than deliberate cruelty,” she said. “In most situations, we are able to offer resolutions through education and compassion.

“Common issues include inadequate housing or shelter, dogs appearing underweight, or animals not receiving enough exercise and social interaction. It can be challenging, as the law only allows certain standards to be enforced — for example, there is no legislation that requires a dog to be walked.

“This is why our first step is always to try and educate owners in cases that do not amount to outright cruelty.

“That said, we have dealt with cruelty cases in the past, and some have been quite horrific. Sadly, the outcomes have not always seemed proportionate to what the animal had to endure.”

Ms Augustus said that pitbull breeding was “underground” for many years, which has had a negative impact on the breed’s temperament locally.

“Pitbulls are meant to be people-friendly, but when bred for fighting, they can develop animal aggression,” she said. “Over time, we have also seen an increase in pitbulls displaying aggression towards humans.”

She said that the charity was concerned about people breeding pitbulls for the wrong reasons, reinforcing traits such as aggression, adding that puppies are often sold or given away before they develop essential social skills.

“This results in young dogs with poor socialisation, which can later lead to behavioural issues and, in many cases, eventual surrender,” Ms Augustus said.

“It is telling that although many people speak passionately in support of the breed, we have two pitbulls who have been with us for nearly two years without finding homes.

“This suggests that the public demand for pitbulls does not always align with the realities of providing long-term, responsible care for them.”

Ms Augustus said that the SPCA has limited space at the shelter, which forces the charity to make difficult choices about whether it can realistically find animals new homes.

“We have to strike a balance,” she said. “When our kennels are taken up with dogs that need extra time and support to find the right homes, we struggle to help the many other animals waiting for care.

“This is never an easy position to be in, as our staff and volunteers fall in love with every dog we care for. The reality is that if we had dozens more kennels, we could fill them with pitbulls alone.”

Ms Augustus added that issues of neglect often occur because of a lack of understanding or support.

“We believe lasting change comes when the community approaches these issues with compassion and a willingness to do better for all animals who deserve homes and to be loved,” she said.

“Even if someone is not an animal lover, kindness and empathy are values that benefit the whole community.”