SA dog cruelty case delayed by pregnancy

An Adelaide woman taken to court by the RSPCA for ill-treating her Maltese dog Merlin has had her case delayed because of a high-risk pregnancy.

The young male dog was found in May severely emaciated and with fur so matted one of his ears was stuck to his shoulder.

Former owner Lynsey Cruse, from Kilburn, was due to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with ill-treating an animal.

But the 36-year-old's lawyer said Cruse was in the middle of a high-risk pregnancy and could not make it to court.

The case will return to court on November 4.