A Canberra woman has avoided jail time after she failed to get treatment for her dying dog because it was "just an animal".

Nora Kalolo, 58, pleaded guilty earlier this year to not getting vet help for her Pomeranian cross as it lay dying in her backyard in Lyons.

The ACT Magistrates Court heard RSPCA officers were called to Kalolo's house by a neighbour who thought the dog was dead.

When they arrived they found the animal was alive, but it was emaciated, had insects in its mouth and could barely move.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Wren told the court when the RSPCA officers asked Kalolo why she had not sought treatment for her dog, she shrugged and said "it's just an animal".

The court heard Kalolo had "never wanted the dog" and "never loved the dog".

The court also heard the dog was humanely euthanased immediately after it was taken to the vet to relieve its suffering.

Ms Wren said the treating vet described Kalolo's actions as "reprehensible" and the dog was also suffering from kidney and liver diseases, and would have died a slow and painful death had it not been rescued.

Magistrate doubts remorse for cruelty

The court also heard that a pre-sentence report found Kalolo did not take any responsibility for the dog's death and did not show remorse.

But Kalolo's lawyer, Mary-Anne Ellis, said there were significant language barriers between her client and the report's author that had contributed to findings of the author.

Ms Ellis said Kalolo did not know that she could surrender the dog to the RSPCA or to a vet.

She said Kalolo had been so preoccupied with study, looking after her grandchildren five afternoons a week, and caring for her sick husband that she did not notice the dog's deteriorating health.

Magistrate Robert Cook said he was not sure Kalolo felt any remorse for her crime and therefore did not give her the full discount for her early plea of guilty.

"You seem to lack any real insight into your current offence," Mr Cook said. "Nor do you understand how painful a death it would've been.

"It was a living thing that you allowed to perish in your backyard."

Magistrate Cook fined Kalolo $200 and gave her a lifetime ban from ever owning animals.