A husband and wife each received a hefty fine in Magistrates' Court yesterday after their pit bull attacked a neighbour's dog.

Stuart and Kerry Aubrey of Dock Hill, Devonshire pleaded guilty to not properly restraining their pet, Buddy.

Such offences carry a maximum $10,000 fine and can result in having the offending animal euthanised, Crown counsel Larissa Burgess said.

Defence lawyer Richard Horseman told the court a storm knocked over a section of perimeter fencing around the Aubreys' property last month.

The same storm also knocked out power to an invisible fencing system the couple had installed to keep the dog from escaping, Mr. Horseman added.

As the pit bull had attacked another dog before, the Aubreys kept him inside until both methods of fencing could be repaired.

Despite the effort, the dog managed to push past Mrs. Aubrey when she opened a door.

Buddy ran onto a neighbouring property and attacked a German Shepherd. The dog required veterinary attention which the Aubreys paid for.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said he wouldn't order Buddy to be put down as the dog did not appear to be a threat to humans.

He ordered the Aubreys to pay $2,500 each and warned them to keep their property and dog secure in the future.