pets after The Royal Gazette revealed Bermuda had 600 unregistered pitbulls.

And Environment Minister Harry Soares has promised Police will investigate the latest savage dog attack -- after the victim was told officers were off duty for the weekend.

He added that Bermuda's dangerous dog laws were still under review, weeks after this newspaper revealed Bermuda only had 200 registered pitbulls.

The real number is estimated at around 800. And dog wardens have opened files on suspected handlers whose dogs fight in backyards as part of cruel, illegal gambling matches.

Officials from Agriculture and Fisheries have now issued warrants against a group of dog owners suspected of cruelty or flouting existing registration laws.

They will all appear in Magistrates Court this week and more action is being promised.

"Things are being done,'' added Mr. Soares. "And new initiatives will be announced very shortly.'' Bus driver Dennis Robinson was severely bitten by two pitbulls as he walked to work on Spanish Point Road at 6.30 a.m. last Wednesday morning.

He reported the attack immediately and his wife rang Police to ask when a statement would be made on Friday afternoon.

But an officer at Hamilton Police station told her the matter could not be investigated during the holiday weekend because nobody was on duty.

Mr. Soares told The Royal Gazette the case file had already been passed to the Parish Sergeant in Pembroke.

And he said the Sergeant was on duty during the weekend.

"It was a breakdown in communications somewhere,'' he added. "When I read of the attack in The Royal Gazette , I was stunned and horrified. It is just a terrible thing.'' Mr. Robinson, a 50-year-old father-of-two, said he felt "a shock wave'' pass though his body when the pitbulls savaged his arms.

One arm needed five stitches and was covered in deep bite marks. The other's skin was so badly chewed that doctors said Mr. Robinson would have to wait for it to heal naturally.

Mr. Robinson, of Newman Lane, Pembroke, could be off work for weeks.

He said: "I went to hospital and my wife and I reported it to the Police later that day.

"But nobody had come to take a statement. And my wife rang Hamilton Police station on Friday, only for them to say the people who would be dealing with it didn't work on the weekend. That really isn't good enough. This is a serious matter.'' Mr. Soares added: "I fully support the Police service in investigating these incidents with a view to taking severe appropriate action where necessary.

"In this particular case, the incident took place on June 10, a case file was opened and it was sent to the Parish Sergeant on Friday. I understand that it is being fully investigated by the Police right now.

"A Chief Inspector at Hamilton Police Station also told me that the parish officer was working all weekend so everybody was a bit surprised about what happened.'' He also said his wide-ranging review of dog laws was now "on the front burner'', as well as a plan to overhaul laws surrounding wild animals.

ENVIRONMENT ENV GOVERNMENT GVT