hundreds of domestic pets on the Island.

The plea came from visiting American animal rights campaigner Mr. Alex Pacheco who is here to boost awareness of the ill treatment of animals.

The chairperson of Washington D.C.-based People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) was invited to the Island by Miss Suzanne Ericsson of Ocean View stables and her fiance, local oil tycoon Mr. John Deuss.

Mr. Pacheco, who addressed the issue of animal protection on a ZBM television special on Thursday, also met with Bermuda's Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals to discuss ways of educating Bermuda's youngsters about the responsibility of owning a pet.

He also spoke last night at a public meeting at the Horticultural Hall in the Botanical Gardens in Paget.

"The long term solution to domestic cruelty is to get the message across to children that animals are not toys,'' Mr. Pacheco told The Royal Gazette .

"Owning them is a life-time commitment. They're like an extension of the family.'' Mr. Pacheco said about 70 animals a day are destroyed at shelters in Washington D.C.

SPCA president Ms Sue White said hundreds of stray cats are put to sleep every year in Bermuda.

She said the charity had to expand its Paget facility to house the increasing number of abandoned animals.

She said many of the animals at the SPCA have been left there by owners who left the Island or moved into accommodation where pets are not allowed.

She said people basically want to do what is right. But she said "there is a need to educate them about what is appropriate''.

"One of the things we're trying to do is set up a programme to physically involve more people in the SPCA,'' she said, adding that the SPCA is working on formalising its volunteer workers to be more effective in the community.

Ms White said a programme has also been set up for children to visit the SPCA on Saturdays.

Mr. Pacheco said he will leave behind plenty of literature and other materials to encourage residents to get involved in the SPCA.

"This can at times be emotionally hard,'' he said referring to working with animals who have to be destroyed. But he said it is very rewarding when an animal is saved from cruelty.