Three dog owners whose pets attacked people appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Two men were fined $500 after their animals attacked public servicemen while a woman who was also charged, received a lesser fine of $250 because the victim's injuries were deemed minor.

Yusef Outerbridge, 30, of Warwick Park was first to appear before Magistrate Will Francis and pleaded guilty to charges that a pit bull terrier he was looking after bit a Bermuda Electric Light Company (Belco) maintenance man.

Crown counsel Graveney Bannister told the court of how April 18 attack which left Belco maintenance man Michael Simons with wounds to his arms and legs.

Police heard of the incident after interviewing Mr. Simons while he was at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital being treated for his injuries.

Outerbridge said in court: "It is not my dog I'm just looking after it for somebody. Belco was warned not to come to the back yard, I told them I would meet them out front. It was on a chain but it broke loose."

Outerbridge added that he had learned after the dog was taken away, that it had attacked people before. He said the dog was never aggressive when around his children.

The dog was later taken away and returned to the owner.

Ricardo Tucker, 23, of Orchard Road, Pembroke appeared on charges that his dog attacked postal worker Margaret Pitt.

Mr. Bannister told the court that on April 15, Ms Pitt was putting mail into the mailbox when `a light coloured pit bull type dog' grabbed a hold of her left hand.

As she tried to get the dog to loosen its grip she and her bike fell to the ground. Then the dog released its grip and moved to her left foot.

A member of the public heard Ms Pitt's screams and came to her aid. The dog soon ran back to its own yard where an unknown person secured it.

Authorities informed Tucker about the attack after the dog was seized and had been taken to the Government Dog Kennels. He later signed the dog over to be humanely destroyed.

Mr. Francis noted said the attack was particularly upsetting because it involved a postal worker - someone who was just doing their job. He fined Tucker $500.

Jill Marie Simmons, 41, of St. Michael's Road, Paget appeared on a charge that her dog attacked a neighbour who was out for a morning walk.

Mr. Bannister told the court that at about 6.30 a.m. Judith Wilkes was walking her dog on St. Michael's Road when a male American bulldog rushed to the fence barking. The dog soon slid under the fence and attacked Mrs. Wilkes and her dog.

Mrs. Wilkes received minor cuts to her left shin and torn pants. Neither of the two dogs was harmed.

When asked if she had anything to say by Mr. Francis, Simmons said: "I'm very sorry, this is my neighbour. It was an accident. Before I could blink an eye the dog went outside over to the fence.

"It was an accident. I offered to pay the bills."

Mr. Francis fined her $250 for the offence, noting that "the injuries were minor".