Two Forrestfield residents have been convicted on multiple counts of animal cruelty and neglect after their two elderly dogs were found starving and in pain by the RSPCA.

The Staffy-cross dogs, 16-year-old Cassie and 15-year-old Scar, were seized in July last year after RSPCA WA inspectors visited the property and found them to be “severely emaciated” due to neglect.

Despite efforts from staff and carers, the elderly dogs were humanely euthanised 19 days later due to their significant issues and pain.

The owners, aged 28 and 21-years-old, were convicted last Friday by the Armadale Magistrates Court on a total of nine offences.

Both were convicted of four counts of animal cruelty for not providing sufficient food or taking reasonable steps to alleviate suffering.

The 21-year-old was also charged with giving false information to an RSPCA WA inspector, claiming he had rehomed Scar “about four years ago” when questioned by the inspector in June 2025.

The pair were fined $21,000 between them, with additional care reimbursement and legal costs totalling about $6400.

They were both banned from being in charge of an animal for five years.

Magistrate Janie Gibbs said the photographs displayed “severely emaciated dogs” that had clearly “suffered significantly”.

RSPCA WA inspectors received a cruelty report from a WA Police detective in July last year, a few weeks after the initial site visit. The report raised concerns over an “extremely skinny” dog at the Forrestfield house.

Inspectors found the dogs to be in very poor condition, and seized them for suspected offences under part three of the Animal Welfare Act. Cassie and Scar were taken to Perth Vet Emergency for immediate assessment and overnight hospitalisation before being transferred to the RSPCA in Malaga.

They were found to be severely unwell due to neglect and starvation.

Both dogs had advanced dental disease and arthritis in their joints. Cassie was also suffering from a severe urinary tract infection.

The owners reportedly told inspectors they had noticed the dogs’ weight loss, but had not taken either of them to a vet or reached out for help. The younger offender said he hadn’t contacted RSPCA WA because he had forgotten the phone number.

Staff decided to humanely euthanise the dogs after they were unable to recover.

RSPCA WA chief operating officer Hannah Dreaver said the neglect was “heart-breaking” to see.

“Cassie and Scar were very old dogs who deserved to be living their final years in comfort. Instead, they were left hungry and in pain from common, treatable conditions such as arthritis and dental disease,” she said.

“Any animal neglect is heart-breaking but to see two such old dogs suffering this way tugs at the heart that little bit more.”

This comes amid a surge in animal cruelty reports to RSPCA WA.

Compared to last year, the organisation has seen a 6 per cent increase in hotline complaints regarding insufficient food and water, and a 119 per cent increase in reports of owners failing to “alleviate harm” through reasonable steps such as vet treatment.

“If people are unable to care for their animals the way they should be cared for, they must reach out for help instead of choosing neglect,” Ms Dreaver said.

Incidents of suspected animal cruelty and neglect can be reported to RSPCA WA on 1300 278 358 or online at rspcawa.org.au.