Woman banned from owning animals for seven years after pleading guilty to animal cruelty in Tasmania

In short:

A woman has been convicted on two counts of animal cruelty after her emaciated dog was rescued by the RSPCA last year.

Kristy Williams pleaded guilty and has been banned from owning animals for seven years.

What's next?

The RSPCA said the dog had made a remarkable recovery in their care and would be rehomed.

A woman has been banned from owning an animal for seven years after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges in a northern Tasmanian court.

WARNING: This story contains images of a malnourished animal, which may cause distress.

The Devonport Magistrates Court confirmed that Kristy Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty on Tuesday.

In a statement, the RSPCA Tasmania said their inspectors responded to a report of a critically unwell dog at a property in the state's north, in June last year.

They said they found a "severely emaciated dog" in an extremely poor condition, weighing 11 kilograms.

"(The dog) required intensive veterinary care and rehabilitation and regained weight to a healthy level,"

it said.

The court ordered Williams pay $6,459 to the RSPCA in veterinary costs.

It also imposed a seven year order which disqualified her from having custody of any animals.

The dog was forfeited to the RSPCA and will now be re-homed.

RSPCA Tasmania's chief inspector Jayden Stirrup said the situation was entirely preventable.

"Had the dog been provided with adequate nutrition, she would not have experienced the pain and suffering associated with malnutrition, starvation and diarrhoea,"

he said.

" We are grateful to the person who reported this dog's condition, allowing our inspectors to intervene before it was too late. "