Pitbull-type dogs should remain on the banned list, according to more than half of the registered voters who took part in a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette.

However, the animal advocacy group petitioning the Bermuda Government to move the dogs to the restricted list has dismissed the poll's wording as “too arbitrary in nature”, and has vowed to continue fighting for change.

The poll by Bermudian market research firm Global Research questioned whether people supported or opposed pitbull-type dogs being on the prohibited breed list.

Of the 400 people surveyed, 54 per cent supported the ban, while 40 per cent opposed it and 6 per cent were unsure.

“Had the poll asked whether the general public is in favour of overhauling current policies in a manner advocated by the world's leading welfare experts so that the issues of animal welfare and public safety are brought to the fore, we are sure that almost all people polled would be in favour of making Bermuda a safer place for both humans and canines alike,” a spokeswoman for Punish the Deed not the Breed Bermuda said.

“Punish the Deed continues to advocate the removal of pitbull-type dogs from the prohibited list because dog experts all over the world agree that you cannot determine a dog's breed by its looks only and that temperament can vary greatly within any given breed of dog owing to important factors such as socialisation.

“The primary concerns that need to be addressed can only be done by means of a comprehensive reform of the dog welfare policies: those concerns are animal welfare and public safety, as you cannot neglect animal welfare without paying a price for it in terms of diminished public safety.”

Punish the Deed has been petitioning Jeanne Atherden, the Minister of Health, Seniors and Environment, to place pitbull-type dogs on the restricted list for about a year.

The group has also submitted information and legislative amendments to the canine advisory committee that was set up last year to look into the matter.

A spokeswoman for the ministry told The Royal Gazette that the last update, which said the committee would be discussing its report with Ms Atherden and a statement would be made when there was a material update, remained relevant.

According to the poll, more men than women supported the ban, with 57 per cent and 51 per cent supporting it respectively and 37 per cent and 42 per cent opposing it.

A breakdown by race revealed 69 per cent of whites and 47 per cent of blacks were in favour of keeping pitbull-type dogs on the prohibited list.

Meanwhile, young people between the ages of 18 and 34 were most likely to oppose the ban, with 69 per cent saying the dogs should not be banned, and those age 45 and over were most likely to support it, with 69 per cent for those age 45 to 54, 65 per cent for the 55 to 64 age group, and 64 per cent for those over 65.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 per cent.