KEEP your dogs under control or be bitten by tough penalties.

That's the warning from the Fermanagh District Council after four attacks on livestock at the start of the month.

Director of Environmental Health, Robert Forde said the courts were punishing irresponsible pet owners with penalties that would surprise some offenders.

In March, the owners of a dangerous dog had to pay nearly £600 in fines, compensation and court costs after their pet attacked.

And that's not including the cost of a likely civil claim.

Barking is viewed as 'pollution' and treated just as seriously.

In January this year, an owner was fined £750 (plus £94 court costs) after their neighbour complained that they couldn't sleep due to their barking dogs.

The person had 16 dogs living on a rural property near Fivemiletown.

It's likely it won't be the last court case of its type. The council receives at least two complaints a week about dogs barking.

Last year, 18 dogs were reported for attacking people, another 17 for attacking livestock.

Sheep farmer Norman Read's flock fell victim in late 2009. He said losses were not limited to the killed or injured.

"If you have four or five lambs killed that's not the end of it. An attack will put lambs back six weeks to two months and you could miss the higher prices. They won't thrive. If it happens during pregnancy, between 10 and 30 per cent can abort." He describes gruesome scenes following a dog attack. The carcases of the victims are mutilated by the canines.

"They are wrecked. (Dogs) kill to play, not to eat. It's the animal instinct to kill and they don't do it quickly," he said. He said the number of attacks had fallen on his farmlands in the past 12 to 18 months, a trend he puts down to a free spaying project.

Mr. Forde said the number of animals put down at the Council dog pound was still "higher than we would like it to be".

Last year, 89 dogs which were not claimed by their owners and unable to be re homed were put down. Another 107 dogs were put down at the owners' request, either because they were sick, old or dangerous.

Mr. Forde said the council was not "anti-dogs"."We don't want to bring anyone to court," he said. "It costs us time and money to do that. We would rather people control their dogs.

"They don't realise the courts are taking this sort of attitude." Dog warden Robbie Cranston is a dog lover, who competes with his labradors in gundog tests. He gets satisfaction from re homing strays. But he has had to deal with a rising number of complaints of fouling this month as more people and pets take to the footpaths in the warm weather.

"All they have to do is carry a plastic bag and clean it up," he said.Those who don't could be fined up to £500.

Consider yourself warned.