have to be put down if no one comes forward to claim them, Government's veterinarian said yesterday.

Dr. Neil Burnie said the dogs were found opposite Mr. Norman Terceira's stables on Jubilee Road.

"We believe they were dumped,'' he said.

Dr. Burnie speculated the dogs' owner may have rid himself of the animals to avoid paying the new, mandatory $50 licensing fees which came into effect on Tuesday.

The veterinarian expressed concern that a possible backlash against the licensing fees could lead to a rash of dog dumping.

He suggested owners think of the licences not simply as a $50 up-front payout but as something that will cost them 15 cents a day for the year. The new dog laws include: recognition that persons keeping or taking a dog -- the keeper -- is liable for any offence involving the dog that may occur; stipulation that dog licence holders must be 18-years-old or older. Anyone keeping a dog without a licence tag is guilty of an offence; penalties for obtaining a dog from an unlicensed source, and for not keeping the dog under proper control. For example, it is an offence if one's dog causes injury or damage to another person or animal, crop, plant or vegetation.

Dog laws remaining in effect require dogs to wear their licences at all times.

Bitches in heat are required to be secured to prevent accidental breeding.

Licences must be obtained from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks for breeding. Failure to get one is an offence.

The new laws also state that "no person shall leave a dog on premises where there is no responsible person unless the dog has access to drinking water, is able to move freely and has reasonable shelter from the sun and rain.'' HOMELESS -- Animal husbandry officer Mrs. Lisa Palfrey of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department holds two puppies dumped by their owner on Wednesday. The two females -- one less than four months, the other about five months old -- are in need of a home.