Government animal wardens were stunned and horrified on Monday after the discovery of five dead dogs over the course of one terrible day.

The wardens found dogs which were drowned, dogs which succumbed to injuries received in dog fights, and one dog which may have been poisoned. With the addition of a sixth dog found tied down with weights and drowned on Friday afternoon, the wardens were visibly shaken when they spoke with yesterday.

Now they are appealing for anyone with any information on any of these six cases to come forward, either to the Department of Environmental Protection or the anonymous CrimeStoppers hotline.

On Friday, Environmental Protection received a call about a dead dog floating off North Shore near Ducking Stool, animal wardens Allison Thomas and Harry Bean and Police animal protection officer Yvonne Ricca said yesterday.

Marine Police had to be called in to retrieve the dog's body, which was bloated and floating tail up. When it was pulled from the water, six or seven weights were discovered holding it down.

The brown pit bull looked to be about one year old, and had a purple collar but no other identification. The body had already begun to decompose, and was estimated to have been in the water for two or three days. It did not appear to have suffered any injuries.

But Monday ? or "Hell-day" as it was dubbed by the wardens ? was far worse with five more dead dogs discovered.

The first call came in just after 8 a.m. from a woman in the Spanish Point area whose terrier-type dog had died under suspicious circumstances. An investigation is ongoing but it is suspected the dog was poisoned. "Due to problems she had in the area, we cannot rule that out," Mr. Bean said.

The dog was around four years old and had been owned by the woman since it was a puppy. A second terrier-type dog she owned had to be sent for tests also, but appeared to be in good health.

Around 9.30 a.m., the wardens received a second call about the decomposing body of a dead dog in Smith's Parish.

"It sure was," Mr. Bean said of the depressing state of the dog.

The body of the terrier-type dog, found in an enclosed area, was bloated and infested with maggots. A vet said that given the state of the decomposition, it had likely been there for around three days. An investigation into how the dog died, and why it was left in an enclosed area for three days, is underway.

By lunchtime on Monday, a third call had come in. "No one was really hungry," Mr. Bean said. "Every time the phone rang it was like the Twilight Zone."

That call related to a pit bull which had been reported missing on Friday. The dog, a pet, was reported missing from its owner's yard near St. Monica's Mission. On Monday, the owner found the body of his pet in the trees across from the house.

Injuries and bite marks to the brown, Brindle pit bull's face were consistent with a dog fight, the wardens said, adding the incident was still under investigation.

The body appeared to have been in the trees since the pet went missing on Friday. Wardens and Police are appealing for anyone who may have heard or seen anything suspicious in the area of St. Monica's Mission on Friday night, or in the early hours of Saturday morning, to come forward regarding this incident.

At 5.30 p.m., the fourth call of the day came in regarding a dog attack in the St. George's area.

It is understood that someone was cleaning the dog kennel of two pit bulls when the dogs escaped, making a beeline for a neighbour's terrier.

The terrier 'Pepper', who was given as a gift to the owner's granddaughter seven years ago, was tied to the porch. "They came and one of them just grabbed him, and the other one came and tried to join in," the owner said yesterday.

Though Pepper was rushed to the vet, and "they really tried everything to save him", Const. Ricca said the terrier later succumbed to the injuries.

"It was a pretty horrible experience," the owner said. "Life has its cruel side sometimes."

The incident, while unfortunate, does seem to at least be proceeding in a civil manner, the wardens added. Both owners are currently attempting to resolve the situation.

The final incident on Monday was "very strange", Const. Ricca said.

That evening the wardens received a report of a dog being drowned on Harbour Road close to Spithead, just past Mizzentop. "The problem is," Mr. Bean added, "we have no dog ? no body."

Initial reports suggest a man was swimming in the water off Harbour Road when the dog, a pit bull, leapt into the water to attack him. The man claimed he drowned the dog in self defence. "Circumstances are sketchy at this time," Const. Ricca said.

The wardens are now asking for those in the area to look out for a dog's body, which could surface soon. They are also appealing for anyone with any information in these incidents to contact either the wardens on 236-4201 or the anonymous CrimeStoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.