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Two people have been fined over separate dog attacks in Co Antrim.

The cases were brought by the Mid and East Antrim council in recent weeks.

Ian McCaig, 40, of the Aghill Road area in Cullybackey, pleaded guilty at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Wednesday February 28 of being the keeper of two dogs, a Belgium Shepherd and a German Shepherd type dog, that attacked two people and their Dogue De Bordeaux while walking in the Aghill Road area.

Mr McCaig was ordered to pay a fine of £600 plus costs totalling £212.

In a second case, Laura Gardiner, of the Greenland Parade area in Larne, also pleaded guilty at Ballymena Magistrates Court on the same date, to being the keeper of a Staffordshire Terrier type dog that attacked a Yorkshire Terrier in the Inver area of Larne.

Ms Gardiner was ordered to pay a fine of £100 plus costs of £135.

In addition, Ms Gardiner was ordered to pay compensation of £350 to the owner of this dog that was fatally wounded.

A Mid and East Antrim Borough Council spokesman said: “Mid and East Antrim Borough Council gives a high priority to the investigation of any dog attack.

“Complaints are investigated thoroughly and where necessary formal action is taken, such as prosecution for offences as in these cases.

“I hope this serves as a warning to anyone who does not take appropriate care to prevent their dog attacking another dog or indeed other animals or persons.

“Council would ask that dog owners are responsible and ensure their dogs are under control at all times when in a public place.

"When their dogs are not in a public place, the keeper of the dog must ensure that their dog be securely confined in a building, yard or other enclosure from which it cannot escape.”