woman $450 in Magistrates' Court.

Alfreda Alexander, 45, of Spice Hill pleaded guilty to a number of offences which occurred on June 5.

She admitted keeping more than two dogs without permission and keeping a bitch on heat in a place permitting a male dog to approach it, and allowing them to breed without the permission of the male dog's owner.

Alexander also admitted a further charge of keeping a dog that caused injury to Monique Richardson -- a child living in the area.

Explaining that one of Alexander's unlicensed dogs was on heat, prosecutor Sgt. Kenrick James said: "That caused a problem with other dogs frequenting the area. The accused did not keep her dogs on a leash. They were roaming freely.'' One of Alexander's dogs and another attacked a neighbour's child, Sgt. James added. The child sustained bites to her back and left leg.

Alexander admitted she did not keep the dogs secured.

But she told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis the assault on the child was "very minor''.

"She was just frightened,'' Alexander said. "It could have been worse. I was surprised by the attack because the child is normally outside playing with my dog.

"Her mother said it was probably the other dog that instigated the attack.'' Alexander also said she no longer had the dog that attacked the youngster.

But fining her $50 for each offence, Mr. Francis said: "Many people like to keep dogs, but we're getting to be a crowded island now and keeping dogs, and some other things, is going to be a problem more than it used to be.''