A 27-year-old woman has been sentenced for animal cruelty to her eight-year-old dog Dharma.
The woman from McKail, near Albany, was ordered to pay a $3,500 fine and received a 10-year prohibition from keeping an animal.
RSPCA Inspectors were given a warrant to enter the property and seize the dog after concerns were raised by a member of the community in January 2019.
The woman had initially denied having a dog, but a search of the property found Dharma partially hidden under a pile of laundry and sadly, already deceased.
An autopsy revealed that Dharma had suffered from extreme thinness and severe breakdown of bone marrow and the pancreas.
The dog also suffered from suspected pneumonia, which was likely to have been caused by starvation.
RSPCA WA Chief Inspector Amanda Swift said it is "inexcusable" to let a family pet suffer so badly without seeking medical help.
“This poor dog’s last days would have been torturous," she said.
“This is a timely reminder to people to always ask for assistance.
"Nobody should ever let their pets down in this way – they rely on you for their every need.
“And if you see an animal that you think could be suffering, please report it immediately – you are our eyes and ears on the ground.”
Cruelty reports can be made to the RSPCA Cruelty Hotline on 1300 278 358.
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