An army veteran and "good Samaritan" who took in a stray dog but failed to treat it for serious illness has been convicted under the territory's animal cruelty laws.
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Shane Van Duren, 41, knew of the wolfhound cross that wandered around his Deakin neighbourhood before it became entangled in his hedge one day in late 2015, the court heard.
He brought the dog into his secure backyard, but the RSPCA later seized it, following a call on November 11 from a concerned member of the public.
On examination, the dog was found to be severely underweight, flyblown, riddled with lymphoma and suffering terminal illness.
It was humanely euthanised by the RSPCA.
Van Duren appeared at court on Monday for a hearing after pleading not guilty in relation to two charges, of failing to seek veterinary treatment and failing to provide appropriate shelter. He pleaded guilty to the first, and the second charge was withdrawn by the prosecution.
In the sentencing hearing, Van Duren's defence solicitor from Legal Aid said Van Duren thought the dog had been at the house for at most a week.
He said Van Duren, who was supporting a partner and two children on a Veterans' Affairs pension, could not afford to get the dog treatment.
Van Duren had been diagnosed with PTSD in 2004, following service in the Australian Army and a posting to East Timor, where part of his duties included digging mass graves, the lawyer said.
He said the 41-year-old's own dog, a companion animal to help in treating his PTSD, had since been taken from him by the RSPCA, and proceedings were under way to get him back.
Van Duren's attempts to have the dog returned had been frustrated by a protection order preventing him from contacting the RSPCA, he said.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Wren said there were other options available to the man rather than leaving it to suffer in the backyard. It was well known the RSPCA was available to help with stray animals, she told the court.
She argued against a non-conviction order, saying Van Duren's actions had prolonged the animal's suffering. She said although he was not the dog's owner, he took on obligations under the law by taking charge of the dog.
In sentencing, Magistrate Glenn Theakston said that in keeping the animal in his backyard, Van Duren had effectively prevented other people being able to help the animal.
"[Van Duren] did the right thing, but in doing so failed to meet additional obligations" that came with taking charge of the dog, Mr Theakston said.
Mr Theakston sentenced the man to a 12-month good behaviour order. He did not impose a ban on Van Duren owning animals.
He also decided not to order Van Duren to cover the RSPCA's costs of caring for and euthanising the animal, and a post-mortem examination.
The magistrate had considered ordering Van Duren pay for the euthanisation, but he said if the man had contacted the RSPCA when the animal came into his care, the organisation would have had to, in any event, bear those costs.
