Cabinet Minister Kim Young last night praised The Royal Gazette for revealing the bloody backyards where cruel dog owners arrange pitbull fights.

And the Minister Without Portfolio urged Bermudians to respond by snitching on the bloodsport lovers and contacting Police.

The Royal Gazette yesterday listed seven prime locations where dog wardens and Police believe pitbull fights take place.

They are: the rubber tree near PHC Stadium in Warwick; Lagoon Park near Dockyard; Admiralty Park, Pembroke and 42nd Street, Pembroke; Abbot's Cliff Road, Hamilton Parish; Devil's Hole, Smith's and the old Club Med site in St.

George's.

Mrs. Young, Acting Minister for the Environment while Harry Soares is off the Island, added that Government dog warden Leonard (Shinah) Simons would attend a US conference next week on dangerous dog laws.

And she said that anyone found guilty of "fighting'' dogs could be jailed for a year and fined $1,000.

The Minister added: "Mr. Simons will pay particular attention to the problem of pitbull fighting when he attends the conference and look into what can be done here in Bermuda.

"But I think it's great that the locations have been highlighted so people can keep a vigilant eye out for anything that may be going on.

"We need people to report their findings immediately they see or hear of anything.

"It needs to be done straight away because otherwise the fights are stopped and broken up before anyone can get near.

"Now that The Royal Gazette has highlighted these locations, we will either see these activities dying down or getting rumbled.

"It really is despicable what is going on and something needs to be done about it. Dog fighting is a barbaric act. It is cruelty to animals which the public should be outraged by.'' Mrs. Young said anyone with information about the blood contests should call Police, dog wardens, the SPCA and dog kennel owners.

The fights, sometimes between gangs of pitbulls, are arranged in backyards or hidden clearings where hundreds of dollars can change hands in gambling money.

Dog wardens claim at least 600 pitbulls cannot be tracked down because they are not registered or are registered as crossbreeds.

That means there are at least 800 pitbulls on the Island, as 201 are officially licensed.

Mrs. Young reminded owners that not registering a dog could land them with a $1,500 fine, and recalled that Bermuda had suffered a series of biting attacks by pitbulls in recent months.

She added that anyone bitten by a dog should make a complaint so an investigation could be carried out by wardens or Police.

Owners found guilty can be fined $500, lose their dogs to the Government kennel or even see their pets destroyed.

The Minister added: "Any dog can be dangerous but the problem is often with the owners and how they train their dogs.

"Dog wardens go into schools and teach good care of dogs to children. This is where we have to start.'' GOVERNMENT GVT