An unemployed couple who fed their two dogs a vegan diet which lead to one of them being put down have been banned from owning pets for three years.
When she was confronted by animal welfare inspectors, owner Megan Price accused RSPCA staff of 'eating murdered animals'.
Price and her partner James McKenzie from Cow Bay, north of Port Douglas were also fined $4,500 plus vet costs on Thursday.
The RSPCA seized the malnourished five-month-old dogs, Ula and Roo, in May last year following several weeks of investigations.
'You eat murdered animals, you will never be like us — we are vegans and love animals,' McKenzie told the RSPCA staff as they rescued the seriously ill puppies.