over and callously set him on fire.

The corpse of the burned Pitbull terrier was removed from a trash can on Footbridge Lane in Pembroke around 11 a.m.

Residents contacted the Bermuda Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after they found the dead puppy among some charred garbage.

SPCA inspector Louis Ray and his assistant Tracy Bean took the male dog to the Hannover Veterinary Hospital where an autopsy revealed he had died before being burned.

The dog was aged between seven and ten months old.

Veterinarian Jan Cieters explained: "He definitely died before he was burned.

There was bruising on his hind legs, bleeding around the skull, and his neck was broken.

"We suspect it was probably run over and then someone tried to dispose of it by burning it. It was well looked after, though. He had just had a meal. There were no signs of neglect or abuse.'' Mr. Ray added the matter has been turned over to Police who are expected to launch an investigation.

"If someone burned the dog to get rid of the carcass, then that was a stupid thing,'' Mr. Ray said. "I don't know what they were thinking to burn a dog in the open like that. It's really awful.

"I have seen so many things during my work and every time the cruelties sadden me more and more.'' Anyone with information should contact the Hamilton Police Station on 295-0011.