on the Island.

Jerome Eugene Dublin, 20, was charged with encouraging, aiding or assisting in the organisation of the dog fight in Pembroke on Tuesday evening.

Dublin, of Glebe Road, Pembroke, was also accused of obtaining a dog from an unlicensed source, contrary to the Dog Act 1978, and owning a pit bull terrier between August last year and Tuesday this week without obtaining a licence. He denied each of the three charges.

Ricardo Alphonsus Tucker, 22, of St Monica's Road, Pembroke, pleaded not guilty to the accusation that he had encouraged, aided or assisted in the organisation of the fight.

Several police units arrived at St Monica's Mission Road shortly before 6.30pm on Tuesday after two dog wardens requested help to deal with a dog fight.

Police said there was a large crowd gathered at the scene and both Dublin and Tucker were arrested under the Care and Protection of Animals Act. They were detained at Hamilton Police Station and the pitbull dog was placed in the care of the dog wardens.

Yesterday Magistrate Edward King released each of the men on $2,500 bail, and like surety. They are to re-appear before the Magistrates Court for trial on June 13.

Dublin, a fisherman, also pleaded not guilty to a further charge of using an unlicensed motorcycle in February last year. For that charge he was released on bail to the sum of $300 and asked to return to the court on Tuesday of next week.

Tucker was also ordered to immediately pay $2,560 in unpaid fines accrued since early 1998 or face 242 days default in jail.

ANIMALS ALS