An escaped dog inadvertently led to its owner being busted for growing marijuana in his backyard.

Jeremy Adam Griffiths, 39, of Commercial Road, Koroit pleaded guilty this week in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to using and cultivating cannabis. He was not convicted and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond for growing 11 cannabis plants.

A stray dog led to the discovery of a marijuana crop.

Police said that in late August last year Griffiths planted the cannabis plants to support his own long-term addiction. The cannabis was planted near his back door, under geranium bushes and around his backyard.

On the evening of November 17, Koroit police set up an alcohol preliminary breath testing site in front of Griffiths' home, where at 7.20pm his dog got out of the backyard.

It was caught by police, who noticed the cannabis plants when they returned the dog to its owner.

Thomas Gill, 48, of Blackwood Court, Portland, was also convicted and fined $500 with $75 costs after being found in possession of 432 grams of cannabis in his car after being stopped by police in Dennington.

Warrnambool Standard