despite the Magistrate admitting to the court he disliked all dogs.

Michael Edward DeCosta, 40, of Newman Lane, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to the charge that his dogs attacked another resident of the street early on June 10.

Crown Counsel Venous Telford told the court the dogs were Pitbull terriers but DeCosta, a single painter, later denied this.

Ms Telford said the dogs were not on the leash at the time and were startled by the passerby's sudden greeting to DeCosta.

The neighbour needed five stitches to his right forearm and left elbow after the attack -- which ended only after DeCosta called off the dogs.

DeCosta told Magistrate Edward King that the two animals were "much more than just dogs'' to him and he had only let them off a leash for five minutes because the street was usually clear at that time.

"Also the dog that bit the man is 13-years-old and this is the first time he has done this,'' he said.

Mr. King said he did not like any type of dog "whether it's like a pony or one of those little nippers''.

"I am afraid of absolutely all dogs. I do not have any dog. I don't trust dogs,'' he said.

He fined DeCosta $500 and said he would not order the "destruction'' of the dogs since he was satisfied DeCosta had made adequate provisions to keep them under control.