A man who allowed his Pit Bull dogs to roam unsecured, resulting in the a Schnauzer puppy almost being ripped to shreds, was ordered to pay $1,700 in compensation to the injured dog's owners.

Gerald Bean, 33, of Crown Lane Warwick, pleaded guilty to a dog offence - causing injury to another dog on July 7, 2001.

Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves heard that around 7.30 p.m., a couple were walking their two one year-old Schnauzer puppies in Devonshire, when Bean's two black Pit Bull dogs came barrelling out of a yard, aiming for the Schnauzers.

The couple managed to pick up one of the Schnauzers, however, the two Pit Bulls grabbed the other before it could be rescued.

The court heard that one Pit Bull grabbed the neck of the little dog, while the other dog sunk his jaw into the Schnauzer's hind leg.

The two dogs mauled the Schnauzer pup before retreating back into the yard.

Eventually Police and a Dog Warden attended, conveying the injured little puppy to Endsmeet Animal Hospital, where it required emergency surgery to repair gaping holes in its neck and leg. The Schnauzer spent 13 days recovering from the rips and tears.

Bean apologised for the dogs' actions, but told Mr. Greaves that his two Pit Bulls were just six-month-old puppies.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines said since the incident, one of the dogs had been destroyed.

However, after Mr. Greaves was shown photographs of the attacked dog's injuries, he told Bean: “Your dog was trying to make a meal out of these people's dog. Look, they chopped up his neck - you're lucky they were six months and not six year's old, because those kinds of animals can do all kinds of things.

“It's best that you buy some health insurance for these dogs.”

Mr. Greaves ordered Bean to pay $1,700 in compensation to the owners of the injured puppy for the damages done by his Pit Bulls.