allegedly been left to starve by their owners.

Each was about 15 pounds below its correct weight and had protruding ribs.

The two animals are believed to have been deteriorating for months.

Inspector Charles Whited, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and Police animal protection officer Yvonne Ricca entered a premises on Old Military Road, St. George's, with a warrant yesterday morning.

They removed the two male dogs, each thought to be about 18 months old, and took them to a vet.

They will be checked over and slowly brought back to their correct weights, while officers investigate the circumstances.

Yesterday, the officers were still unsure as to who the owners of the dogs were, but Mr. Whited said if they found evidence of neglect, criminal charges could be brought.

"I received a complaint around March about two dogs that were barking all the time,'' said Mr. Whited.

"I thought then that something might be wrong. I came down here and saw the dogs were a little underweight. I thought it could have been a parasite infestation.

"I have been monitoring the situation since and have asked the person at the address to make sure the dogs were taken to a vet to be checked over.

"But the dogs have been losing more and more weight. I came back last night and made a decision then to get a warrant and seize the dogs.

"These types of dogs are supposed to be quite big built. These two simply aren't.'' Mr. Whited said the dogs would have been in danger of becoming seriously ill if they had not been removed yesterday.

He added: "I would say they have not been getting the care they should have had for the last eight to ten weeks.

"Their weight loss may be due to parasite infestation, but they should have been taken to a vet.

"By the end of July, these dogs would have been in a pretty critical condition.'' Mr. Whited appealed for people with information to come forward if they feared for the safety of any animals on the Island.

The SPCA can be contacted on 236-7333, and the Police can be called on 295-0011.

STARVING AND ABANDONED