WARNING: Graphic content.

THE RSPCA has described it as “one of the most heartbreaking cases we have seen”.

After receiving reports of two dogs locked inside a home, the group investigated and found the pair intertwined with each other, in a laundry where they had been deprived of food and water.

The inspector could see them lying on the floor through the window, and entered the home after seeing one of the dogs move its legs, thinking it would need immediate veterinary treatment.

Ruby was a six-month-old kelpie and Benji was a two-year-old staffy cross. Benji had put his leg over Ruby’s body.

Both of them were dead.

There was faeces and urine all over the floor. Neglected, the dogs had become emaciated and dehydrated.

Their owner Kimberly Thi-My Atwell, a 21-year-old woman from Albury NSW, was convicted of two counts of aggravated cruelty earlier this week.

Ms Atwell was ordered to pay just $144, serve 80 hours of community service and the court has prohibited her from owning a dog for five years.

Ms Atwell claimed she had been away from the dogs for about two weeks, and had not given them food or water in 11 days. She noticed the dogs had died on the Monday, but hadn’t got around to burying them.

A post mortem showed both dogs were severely emaciated and on a scale of one to nine, with nine being “healthy”, they were deemed a “one”.

Ms Atwell said the dogs were only fed outside, which is why there was no water or food in the laundry, but were otherwise not allowed outdoors.

“What can you even say about a case as sad and frustratingly avoidable as this?” said RSPCA NSW Deputy Chief Inspector Scott Meyers.

“Our job never gets easier, seeing horrific stuff like this. I can’t even imagine the pain and suffering these poor dogs went through over an extended period of time and in their last hours.”

The RSPCA shared the heartbreaking story on Facebook and the post was soon flooded with comments from people expressing their dismay with the justice system and the consequences for Ms Atwell.

“Parking tickets can cost more than $144!!” one Facebook user commented.

“This is an absolute joke. Starve your pets and you’re good to go, but park your car incorrectly and the council will be after you for more than that.”

“So basically this oxygen thief gets away with double murder and receives a slap on the wrist,” another commented.

“The judicial system is so pathetic with animal cruelty offences. It is about time magistrates got it right and started giving gaol time. RIP poor dogs — my heart bleeds for you.”

Mr Meyers stressed the importance of reporting animal cruelty to the RSPCA.

“It’s so important if you see or suspect any animal cruelty that you call the RSPCA cruelty hotline immediately so that we can come out and rescue suffering animals before it is too late, and bring the perpetrators before the courts for justice.”

If you have any information about animal cruelty, please make a confidential report by calling 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 3589), or going online at https://www.rspcansw.org.au/contact-us/report-a-cruelty-case/?