Pictures of an emaciated female bull Arab cross were shown to the court by ­solicitor for the RSPCA Patrick Culbert, who said: “As an act of cruelty to animals, this type of offence was ‘full on’.

“I am satisfied they are pleading guilty.”

Anthony David Charlton, 37, and Kathleen Elizabeth Raisbeck, 25, did not appear in court to face charges of failing to provide proper and sufficient food to an ­animal and failing to provide veterinary treatment.

They were each fined $1500 on each of the two charges – a total of $3000 each.

In addition, they were each ordered to pay $3000 for professional costs involved in the investigation and each is to pay about $950 in vet’s fees for treating the dog.

In handing down the fines, magistrate Sharron Crews also ruled that the couple be banned from owning an animal for five years.

The dog is in the care of the RSPCA Rutherford shelter where staff are hopeful she will find an owner soon. 

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The court heard the dog had been in the couple’s possession for about six months and a report from a vet said it had not been fed for nearly a month.

“Witnesses who were to give evidence said it was one of the worst cases they had seen,” Mr Culbert told the court. “This dog was emaciated. All it wanted was to be fed.”

The dog’s plight came to light on January 16 when an RSPCA inspector was asked by staff at the Rutherford animal shelter to look after an animal left there overnight by an unknown person, according to a statement tendered to the court.

The dog was examined by a vet and, apart from its emaciated condition, it was found to have significant hookworm, whipworm and flee infestations.

“Staff scanned the dog and found it had a microchip,’’ the statement said.

Inquiries were made and it was found the registered owner had given the dog to Charlton and Raisbeck.

The RSPCA inspector spoke to the ­couple and was told they’d had the dog for about six months and it kept deteriorating during its time in their care.

Mr Culbert told the court it would have cost the couple about $2 a day for worm treatment.