Four-month-old Springer Spaniel Cali weighed just 4kg when it was found dead on the kitchen floor of Claire Johnston's house surrounded by rubbish and feces.
The stench of ammonia in the house was so overpowering an RSPCA inspector reported feeling an "intense burning sensation" on his eyelids, the Liverpool Echo reports.
When interviewed, Johnston, 39, told police she "did not know what she was thinking" and admitted she may have forgotten to feed the dog on some days.
She admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
A judge spared her jail after hearing she had suffered severe mental health problems and her partner had given up work to care for her.
Prosecutor Chris Murphy said the RSPCA and a police officer went to the house after Johnston contacted members of her family saying she wanted to self-harm.
He said: "The house was littered with rubbish, dirty clothes and food as well as faeces and opened, out of date and mouldy food. In the kitchen lying dead on the right was a small female Springer Spaniel dog wearing a pink collar.
"There were dog and cat food tins within the kitchen area and cat faeces on the floor of the dining room, as well as a cat litter tray."
The court heard food described as “relatively fresh” was lodged inside the dog’s mouth.
When interviewed, Johnston told police she had owned Cali for three months and she “got her off a woman from Facebook for nothing”.
She said the dog was fed twice a day but said she had occasionally forgotten to feed her after feeling tired and falling asleep on the sofa. She said she found Cali dead after returning from a shopping trip.
Mr Murphy said: "She said that other than its back end being a bit skinny, she hadn't noticed signs of ill health, but accepted she had forgotten to feed it now and again. She said that she hadn't been well. She didn't notice the ammonia smell in the house."
Vets said it was likely Cali had suffered a heart attack due to severe starvation.
They said her suffering would have been obvious for a "number of weeks" before she was found on November 26.
District Judge Michael Abelson gave Johnston a four month prison sentence, suspended for two years, saying “any right-thinking person” would expect her to receive a jail sentence. He said: "A custodial sentence, albeit suspended, must be imposed."
She was also given an indefinite ban on keeping animals which cannot be appealed for ten years and must pay £500 costs.
RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes said: "Nothing will ever prepare you for arriving at a scene where an animal has been starved to death. I feel so saddened that we weren't alerted to Cali sooner so we could intervene. At least we have done her some sort of justice by bringing her abuser to court.
"Johnston clearly had issues going on in her life but this just does not serve as any sort of excuse for this sort of abhorrent cruelty. I must also add that this poor dog was yet another victim of animals being bred indiscriminately and then given away on Facebook.
"Johnston acquired Cali on Facebook for free, only owned Cali a matter of weeks and she was starved to death within that time. This whole event was completely avoidable. I am grateful that Johnston is now banned from ever keeping a pet again."
(Daily Mail - May 6, 2015)
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