The brutal torching of a dog this week has sparked a renewed call for tougher action against those who mistreat animals.

The Bermuda Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is more determined than ever to see legislation amended so cases of cruelty can be dealt with more appropriately, its president said yesterday.

Joanne MacPhee was outraged by the killing of a Pembroke pit bull which was burned to death on Tuesday.

She said: "This has got to stop! We can not bring this poor dog back but we can use its cruel and unnecessary death to make ourselves heard.

"We want, no, we demand that the recommendations of the Government commissioned Animal Control Committee be revisited and their excellent guidelines and ideas be endorsed and put into law by this Government.'' To date nothing has happened, she continued, but maybe now it would.

"What a pity though that it will come too late to deal with this case,'' she added.

Ms MacPhee also launched a blistering attack on Magistrates for their leniency citing a recent case where a Warwick man was given "a slap on the wrist'' after he failed to properly care for animals he tended.

"What he actually did was allow a number of innocent animals die of starvation while keeping others caged and tied beside the dead animals.'' The SPCA shelter was there to help, she exclaimed, so the man's claim of unemployment was a "lame excuse''.

While she acknowledged that Magistrates did not have the legislative support they needed, "I can not forgive the Magistrates for being so lenient,'' she added.

Ms MacPhee said the SPCA wanted to see the latest unnecessary death become a "catalyst for action'' and the public had to get involved.