handlers after two vicious Pitbull attacks.

Michael Dunkley, the United Bermuda Party's Public Safety spokesman, is urging Government to tighten up restrictions on dog owners.

He wants Minister Paula Cox to sanction a clampdown on dog registration, to make sure every Pitbull terrier is licensed.

And he has also called for more staff in the dog warden's department, so officers can concentrate on tracking down irresponsible owners.

Mr. Dunkley's call for action comes as Police probe two New Year Pitbull attacks which left their victims with severe bite wounds.

In the first incident, a 29-year-old Warwick man was bitten on the hand after two men set their dog onto him.

The two handlers, who also beat the man with a crash helmet, released the Pitbull on Ord Road, Warwick, around 5.30 p.m. on Saturday.

Police opened a second Pitbull file when a 45-year-old man from Sandys needed 19 stitches in his leg after being attacked on Court Street around 2 a.m. on Sunday.

Officers said the dog was roaming free and the man suffered wounds to his arm and leg.

Ms Cox is off the Island and was unavailable for comment last night.

But Bermuda suffered a string of Pitbull attacks in 1998, with wardens warning hundreds of the dogs were unregistered and could not be tracked down.

Mr. Dunkley responded to the first 1999 attacks by saying: "The PLP mentioned some new dog acts in their Throne Speech.

"But I don't have any idea what the contents of that legislation will be. I'm very concerned about the number of Pitbull attacks we have, based on the fact that we are a small society with a large number of animals.

"We have this problem because owners don't exercise due care and caution.'' The Devonshire South MP did not propose all Pitbulls should be banned -- even though the French government has just passed a law to make Pitbulls extinct within ten years.

But he added: "People call Pitbulls vicious dogs but that will only happen if they are not taught how to act or how to be controlled.

"I'm an animal lover. I don't think it's fair that they should just be outlawed.

"But it's obvious that we do need to look at the registration laws and other legislation governing the handling of pets. We need to be tough.

"We are not efficient enough in that area. The dog warden is also very short-staffed so that is a department which should be beefed up so he can get his job done.'' Last summer, The Royal Gazette exposed Bermuda's backyard fighting dens, used for illegal backstreet Pitbull fights.

Wardens told how they were worried that the dogs were being bred specifically to fight in behind-closed-doors gambling matches that can rake in thousands of dollars for cruel owners.

Handlers are known to have forced their Pitbulls to tread water or run along the road, chained to bikes, to build up their strength.

Michael Dunkley Graphic file name: DUNK Michael Dunkley