The RSPCA is seeing more cases of starving dogs, which it says can be partly put down to their owners' issues with poverty, mental health and social isolation.

From July 2017 to June 2018, RSPCA South Australia's team of nine inspectors investigated 4,077 cruelty reports, with the majority relating to the neglect of dogs.

Of 59 successful prosecutions, 83 per cent related to animal neglect, while only 17 per cent involved deliberate cruelty.

The main trigger for prosecutions was starved dogs.

RSPCA South Australia chief inspector Andrea Lewis said there had been "a significant rise in the incidence of starving dogs, whether caused by inadvertent or deliberate neglect".

"Animals are suffering and dying in homes and backyards from a lack of basic care or nourishment — that's the tragic reality of what we're dealing with most often," Ms Lewis said.

"It's shocking and it's unnecessary."

She said many cases involved people who found themselves unable to care for their animals through no fault of their own.

Poverty, mental health and social isolation often contributed to animal neglect, she said.

"The neglect cases we're dealing with fit into three main categories, and the biggest category would be people who have fallen on hard times," she said.

"They're clearly not thinking about their animal's welfare and are often unrealistic about the number of animals they're capable of caring for.

"Good animal care requires time, energy, money and knowledge.

"If people find they don't have these resources, and have no way of acquiring them, then we ask that they find alternate homes for their animals or surrender them to us.

"Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for an animal is to let it go, to let someone else take care of it."

The other two main categories were people who fell in love with a cute puppy but failed to consider their long-term responsibilities for it, and deliberate neglect.

"In these cases, where animals have suffered and often died because of wilful neglect or other forms of deliberate cruelty, the most appropriate response is prosecution," Ms Lewis said.

The RSPCA is launching a major "Combat Cruelty" media and advertising campaign today to expose the scale of chronic animal neglect in the hope the community will acknowledge the gravity of the situation and help address it.

Clifford the staffordshire terrier after returning to health. ( RSPCA SA )

Prosecutions for starving dogs

One successful prosecution was for a staffordshire terrier called Clifford, which weighed 17 kilograms when it was seized in 2015.

It doubled its weight after two months of care.

Its owners, a 35-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man from Parafield Gardens, were given a 12-month good behaviour bond, ordered to pay $3,030 in veterinary and legal costs, and banned from owning animals indefinitely for failing to provide adequate food.

A 38-year-old Hackham West woman pleaded guilty in March to neglecting her maltese terrier Polly, which along with being severely emaciated, had overgrown nails, severe dental disease, matted fur and was covered in burs.

It was also suffering from a perforated cornea in her left eye, which had to be removed.

The owner received a nine-day suspended prison sentence and a six-month good behaviour bond, was ordered to pay $2,992 in veterinary and legal costs, and was banned from owning animals indefinitely.

Pumba the german shepherd that was put down. ( RSPCA SA )

Many dogs like German shepherd-cross Pumba do not make it.

It was severely emaciated when surrendered by its owner in 2016, and was unable to stand or lift its head.

It was also suffering a severe flea infestation, as well as a urinary infection, internal abscesses and kidney disease.

Veterinarians decided to euthanase it immediately due to the severity of its condition and its extremely poor prognosis.

Its owner, a Morphett Vale woman, was convicted of failing to mitigate harm and neglect, and ordered to pay $300 in legal costs and was banned from owning all animals indefinitely.

Dog finds better lives with new owners

John and Cathy Venning with their adopted dog Ruby. ( ABC News: Claire Campbell )

John and Cathy Venning adopted staffordshire terrier Ruby in October 2016 after she was found neglected and seized by the RSPCA.

Mr Venning said the life Ruby had endured was appalling and sickening.

"I've had dogs all my life and you look after a dog as one in the family I reckon — show affection and they respond," he said.

"It took time in her case but she's now almost a dog again.

"When I got her she still had no confidence, she just wanted to hide from the world.

"We go on lots of walks, we go away in the caravan and she loves to explore, the world is now a beautiful place for her."