A woman who starved and neglected her dogs because she was "scared of the brown one" was fined just $800 and is allowed to own pets again immediately.
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The RSPCA say the case, which concluded in the ACT Magistrates Court in January, highlights the frustrations they face in pursuing those who mistreat animals in the territory.
It paid thousands to board the two neglected dogs while waiting for the six-month long case to finalise, and RSPCA's overstretched team of inspectors spent hours investigating, pulling together evidence, and preparing for court.
The RSPCA found 'Piper' and 'Olivia' severely underweight when they went to the Spence home of Nicole Leah Weaver, 37, in June last year.
Piper's coat was extremely matted all over her body, her nails were overgrown, and faecal balls had been left to accumulate at her rear.
There was discharge coming from her eyes, suspected to be from irritation due to the lack of grooming.
Her right ear was infected, and her eardrum had ruptured.
Blood tests were consistent with starvation, and she was given a body score of 0.5 out of nine, or "extremely underweight".
Olivia, a brown mixed breed, was also underweight, her bones clearly visible through her skin.
When the inspectors asked Weaver about the poor condition of her dogs, she replied:
"Yeah I know, I haven't got around to it," she said, according to court documents.
"I don't go near them, I'm scared of the brown one."
Thankfully, she wanted to surrender the dogs, and they have since been re-homed.
Weaver was sentenced last month in the ACT Magistrates Court, receiving a $403 fine for each of the two neglect charges .
The RSPCA spent $3160 on boarding and treating the two animals. That cost is below average, because they managed to re-home the dogs quickly with Weaver's consent.
Often those convicted of animal-related charges are banned from taking on another pet.
But Weaver avoided that restriction, meaning she can obtain other animals immediately.
For RSPCA chief executive officer Tammy Ven Dange, the case shows the frustrations inspectors face when investigating such cases.
The organisation spends a large portion of its budget on inspectorate cases.
"Everybody here, especially the inspectors, it just kind of slaps them in the face," Ms Ven Dange said.
