An east Belfast man has denied a string of charges linked to animal cruelty, including being present at four separate animal fights in one month.
Neil Pinkerton, from Clandeboye Street, will be standing trial next month on a total of 13 offences involving animals.
Last week the 29-year old appeared at Belfast Crown Court where he denied two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog, and a third count of cruelty to a fox.
He faces a further ten offences, and yesterday he was back in court to deny all the charges levelled against him.
He has been charged with, and denies, four separate offences of being present at an animal fight. The dates in question are January 2, 7, 15 and 21 of this year.
Pinkerton entered 'not guilty' pleas when he was charged with two counts of keeping or training an animal for a fight. He denies keeping or training a lurcher-type dog for a fight on January 15, and a black and tan terrier-type dog for the same purpose on dates between December 27, 2016 and January 26, 2017.
The accused also denies publishing photographs and video clips of an animal fight on December 28 last year.
And in addition to the three animal cruelty charges he has already denied, Pinkerton replied 'not guilty' when a further three charges of a similar nature were put to him by the court clerk.
He denies causing unnecessary suffering to a black and tan terrier-type dog and a fox on January 15, and causing unnecessary suffering to a terrier-type on January 21
All the offences have been brought under the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
After denying all 13 charges he faces, Pinkerton was told to return to the same court for the start of his trial, which is due to commence on December 12.
