More unlicensed dogs are being destroyed now than ever before.

The figure for the first seven months of this year has risen to an unprecedented 79 animals.

And Government dog warden Leonard (Shinah) Simons said the main reason for this was a recent increase in breeding.

He also attributed the rise in figures to the fact that "we live in a throwaway society''.

Last year, 104 dogs were destroyed and 56 were adopted from the Animal Husbandry office. Two were found dead and 181 were returned to their owners.

So far this year, 32 dogs have been adopted and 115 have been returned to their owners. One dog has been found dead.

Mr. Simons, who is just one of two dog wardens on the Island, said: "There are a lot of people who find it perfectly all right to keep and look after puppies but as soon as the dog gets older and bigger, they get rid of them.'' The saying "a dog is for life and not just for Christmas'' reverberated through the words of Mr. Simons who appealed to people to take care of their pets and not to abandon them when they become more of a responsibility.

And when asked if he thought people might be put off getting their dogs licensed by the hassle of it, Mr. Simons said he did not think so.

"It's possible to get a dog licence in any post office,'' he said, adding that it costs $80 for dogs which have not been spayed or neutered and $20 for those that have.

The dog warden explained that when an unlicensed dog is found the law dictates that it be held for four days during which the dog's description and location is broadcast over the radio in hope of finding any possible previous owners.

"If they are not found,'' Mr. Simons said, "the SPCA then comes around to the kennels and picks a certain number of animals to be housed in its shelters.'' He added: "Their choices are usually made according to what types of dog people have been asking for.'' However, this system means that there are still a lot of dogs without anywhere to go.

Their fate is sealed with a lethal injection of sodium pentobarbatol which puts the dogs "to sleep'' in about three to five seconds.

And although the law was made more than 20 years ago, Mr. Simons said he did not consider it to be out of date.

"Unfortunately space in Bermuda is limited and there are only so many people you can call,'' he said.

According to Mr. Simons, the laws controlling the handling of unlicensed dogs do not meet with any controversy or criticism because there are no strong animal rights lobbyists on the Island.

However, he added that this did not mean that the procedures did not take their toll on officials whose job it is to put the dogs to sleep.

"Such a job as this puts a very high level of stress on the workers,'' Mr.

Simons said. "When we're dealing with a dog that's old and sick it's not so bad. But when you have to put down a dog that's young, healthy and full of life, it does become difficult.''