organised than before, Senators heard yesterday.

Government Senator Calvin Smith said no figures were available because of the secretive nature of the barbaric contests but dog wardens had a "gut'' feeling that they were becoming more frequent.

He said more fights were being held at short notice, but they were not as well organised, and the dogs were not being as well cared for as in the past.

Dog wardens were making repeated visits to those suspected of keeping animals for fighting.

Owners invariably said it was other dogs in the home that caused injuries to their animals.

Sen. Smith said wardens were prosecuting those owners who did not get their animals' injuries treated.

He was speaking as Senators passed a new law to increase penalties against owners whose dogs were out of control.

Dog wardens were overworked and Government was planning to increase the number from two to four, he said.

The legislation also means every dog will have to carry an identification number at all time.

It will be the responsibility of the owner to notify the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries if he sells the animal or transfers ownership.

Fines for offences will increase from $5,000 to $10,000 with the option of a six-month jail sentence.

Microchips costing $50 will be injected into dogs confiscated by wardens but will not be mandatory for other dogs.

United Bermuda Party (UBP) Senator Kim Swan said a major problem was that owners were training their dogs to be aggressive. Children should be taught how to look after animals. Fellow UBP Senator Maxwell Burgess said owners should have to meet certain criteria before they were licensed to have dogs.

"The day has come when we need to put the onus clearly on the owner and be crystal clear in what we do to the owner if he does not perform to those standards.'' Sen. Smith said he agreed with holding owners responsible, but the problem being addressed was ensuring the authorities knew who the owners were.

Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes said 95 percent of dog owners were responsible and only five percent of animals were a problem.

"By having a system that is onerous to the 95 percent of owners we are approaching it from the wrong end of the problem. The tail is wagging the dog,'' he said.

ANIMALS ALS