Matthew Coulter and Kylie Coulter plead guilty to ill-treatment of their two dogs

A couple claims Covid hardships led them to starve family pets Scooby and Duncan – now the RSPCA wants them banned from owning pets.

An Oaklands Park couple has pleaded guilty to letting two of their family dogs starve.

Both Matthew Coulter, 44, and Kylie Coulter, 39, entered guilty pleas to ill-treatment of an animal at the Christies Beach Magistrate Court after an inspecting officer found their female and male mastiff crosses, named Scooby and Duncan, in an emaciated state in 2020. Magistrate Teresa Anderson said the couple had failed to provide appropriate and adequate food for the dogs between May 29 and June 19.

Kylie Coulter, 39, pleaded guilty to ill-treating two dogs last year. Picture: Facebook

For the RSPCA, Jillian Smith said the inspecting officer found Scooby at the lowest body score a dog could have.

“At the time of seizure, was assessed of having a body score condition of one out of nine being extremely emaciated,” Ms Smith said.

“Duncan had a body score of 1.5 out of nine,” she said.

Matt Coulter also pleaded guilty to ill-treating two dogs. Picture: Facebook

The RSPCA asked Magistrate Anderson for a prohibition order, forbidding the Coulters from having any animal in their custody until further order as well as surrendering their current dog plus seeking vet and care costs of $6664.

The case will be finalised in October.

Brad Dittmar, for the Coulters, told the court the couple were living at modest means at the time of the offending.

“They were not coping at all financially as a couple at the time,” he said.

“Mr Coulter became unemployed as a result of the initial Covid lockdown, there was no opportunities for him to work for several months and they fell behind on all bills.”

Before handing down her sentence Magistrate Anderson asked to know why their third dog Luna remained healthy throughout the same period of time.

The case will be finalised in October.