A man's barking dog drove a neighbour to call the Police, Magistrates' Court heard this week.

But the dog's owner - who was charged with allowing his pet to make noises to the annoyance of one or more people in his neighbourhood - claimed the woman was lonely and a neighbourhood nuisance.

And Juan Smith, 56, of Cheriton Lane, Pembroke told the court on Tuesday that his Dalmatian was terminally ill with a tumour and only had a year to live.

Smith told Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves: "This is a waste of the taxpayers' money. It's such a joke, your Honour - that's why this person is constantly laughing (indicating Crown counsel Wayne Caines)."

Between December, 2002 and January of this year the defendant's neighbour had called the Police repeatedly to report the barking of the defendant's dog, a terminally ill Dalmatian, Mr. Caines said.

Smith said that the neighbour was a retired woman who was "lonely" and "should take up community service" to fill up her time.

The defendant also said his neighbour had called the Police to her house and then asked them to wait to hear the dog barking.

Asked what his plea was, Smith replied: "I do not plead guilty to my dog barking incessantly because it doesn't, it doesn't," adding that several people in his neighbourhood had told him that "this lady may have a problem with me and may be unstable".

After talking with Crown counsel Wayne Caines, Smith returned to enter a plea of guilty with an explanation saying: "I don't want to waste any more time."

Mr. Caines said Smith also feared he would not be able to take off time from work for a trial.

Mr. Greaves, though, encouraged Smith to enter a not guilty plea for fear of further complaints from the neighbour, which could result in the dog being destroyed.

"Take your chances with the court," Mr. Greaves said.

The trial will be held on July 3 at Magistrates' Court. Smith was released on $500 bail.