Irresponsible pet owners could face jail, warned Environment Minister Marc Bean as he vowed to tackle Bermuda's dangerous dogs problem.Speaking after an American bulldog bit a man during a frenzied attack on two Yorkshire Terriers at LF Wade International Airport, Mr Bean said he plans to toughen up enforcement of dog laws to make owners responsible.The Minister also revealed he's not committed to a controversial proposal to take pit bulls off the banned list, but questioned how else he could deal with 1,300 unlicensed pit bulls currently on the Island.“Do we round them all up and have them put down?” he asked.“All right, we have a ban on pit bulls and other breeds. But the question for the public is not the emotional side of it, but what do we do with 1,300 illegal pit bulls in this Country?”He said outdated policies on dogs will be modernised under guidance from the Canine Advisory Committee, which will deliver its report on the issue imminently.Asked about likely punishments for irresponsible dog owners, Mr Bean told The Royal Gazette: “I'm sure there will be varying degrees of remedy, ranging from fines to imprisonment if, God forbid, a dog really harms someone and causes real physical damage.“We need to ensure there's adequate legislation, and adequate enforcement, for those who flout the law and put people and their property in danger.Mr Bean also said he regrets how his handling of the pit bull issue sparked the resignation of Advisory Committee chairman, and old friend, Leonard (Shinah) Simons earlier this month.Eyewitnesses reported screaming from terrified families as an American bulldog jumped from a truck window to attack the Yorkshire Terriers outside the airport's arrivals section on Wednesday at about 6.50pm.One of the small dogs' owners tried to intervene and was badly bitten on his hand before dog trainer Fabian Minors stepped in and helped pull away the larger animal, which weighed 80 or 90lbs.Mr Minors, a former dog warden and long-serving Bermuda Dog Training Club member known as 'The Dogfather', told this newspaper: “The dog jumped through the back window of the truck, jumped past my car and ran towards the two dogs on leashes.“It had no collar and just ran and attacked the Yorkies. I jumped on top of the dog, and put my arms on the neck, while the owner of the Yorkie got bitten on his hand. People were screaming and there was blood everywhere.”He said the animal was restrained after a few seconds when a third person assisted, with the small dogs suffering minor scratches. A dog warden was called but it's thought the victim did not wish to press charges.In a radio interview last month, Mr Bean said he was willing to add pit bulls to the list of dogs which are no longer banned, prompting the resignation of Mr Simons and urges of caution from pet owners and vets.Clarifying his position yesterday, the Minister said: “When I became Minister, for the first two months the majority of issues from the public were revolving around dogs: dogs being put down, whether something is illegal or not.“I decided it's time a report had been done and to take a look at the whole situation.”Mr Bean, who said he is not a dog lover having been bitten by his aunt's Doberman Pinscher as a child, said he will lean on experts in the Advisory Committee. They will give recommendations on whether dogs such as pit bulls, Doberman Pinschers and American bull dogs remain on the banned list, while introducing a new framework for licensed trainers, breeders and owners.Wardens will be given more power to enforce responsibility, he said, noting current flaws in the system.“The law has to be amended,” he said. “I have noticed over the last few months a few cases before the courts where they have not been able to get a successful prosecution. Something is amiss.“We now only have a staff of five or six dog wardens. They do their best on a daily basis but they are only humans.“It could be much easier for them if people take responsibility for their animals. I have enough trust and faith in the people of this Country that I think the responsibility should be on them, not the warden.”It's understood several members of the Committee are against releasing pit bulls from the banned list; Mr Simons resigned as chairman after reading about Mr Bean's remarks on the radio.Mr Bean, who appointed Mr Simons as chairman, reflected yesterday: “As a Minister, if that was the case I have to take responsibility for it.“Mr Simons is a very humble man. We never had words or disagreement. But I can look back and think why he felt it was time to move on.“I think it was part and parcel of the way my words and remarks through talk radio were taken out of context, and possibly other administrative issues.“It's something as a Minister I have to learn whether I could have done better. Mr Simons is a valuable asset.“My comments were taken out of context but, in that regard as a Minister I have to be more careful about what I say.“It's unfortunate because I hold Shinah Simons in the highest regard. That bond goes way beyond dogs.”SPCA chairman Andrew Madeiros has previously urged Government not to rush into relaxing its ban on pit bulls, warning many have temperament problems as a result of poor breeding.Mr Minors said yesterday: “If you are to have a breed like a pit bull, or American bulldog, or even sometimes a boxer, it's common sense for dog owners to know what their dogs are capable of, or to seek guidance from a dog training club.“But a lot of people are in denial. They just tie it up on a chain, or put up invisible fencing, and the dog doesn't leave the yard.“So when the dog leaves the yard he's like, hey, freedom, and gets up to something inappropriate.“I have nothing against big dogs, I train a lot of these dogs. But there's no way this American bulldog owner could even control his dog.“Before we relax the ban on dogs like pit bulls, we need to test the waters with the other breeds and learn to enforce the laws that we have.”