Giovanni and Diana Russo appealed their original fine in the Bendigo County Court on Monday, and had a number of charges withdrawn.

The two dogs were classified as dangerous in 2013 after an attack the previous year, and were required to wear special collars, be muzzled when taken off their property and be kept in a secure enclosure.

At 6.30am on March 19, 2015, a resident of Mount Gisborne Road spotted two German Shepherds chasing sheep in their paddock. A third dog was seen near a dam.

The owners shouted at the dogs and called the council.

Two of the dogs ran from the property and a third was captured.

They found an alpaca dead in the dam, and two sheep with deep wounds to their neck and hind legs. A third sheep suffered minor injuries.

A second alpaca was in a “visibly distressed state”, the court was told.

Officers from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council search the Russo property later that day, and found the enclosure had been left unlocked.

The Russos visited the Mount Gisborne Road property the same day and promised to pay costs.

They were charged with four counts of having a dangerous dog attack animals and one count of not keeping the dogs in the required enclosure. The charges were brought by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council.

The two dogs, named Diesel and Tess, were euthanised following the attack. The third dog was not involved in the attack.

Giovanni Russo was ordered to pay a $2500 fine and $5000 in compensation. Diana Russo must also pay $5000 in compensation.

The final figure was significantly less than the original fine handed down in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court in November 2015.