LOTTIE the lovable pooch finally has her happy ending.

The gentle Staffordshire bull terrier has come a long way since RSPCA inspectors found her locked in a bathroom with little food or water last September. Abandoned, malnourished and on the brink of death, Lottie was deprived of love but now a caring family has taken her in and provided her with a stable home.

After her horrific ordeal, it took six months of specialist care at the RSPCA centre in Martlesham to nurse her back to full health.

Now, finally, she has been homed with Brenda Wolf of Felixstowe, who fell in love with the cute hound at first sight.

“I saw her and I just had to have her,” the 70-year-old mum-of-three said. “She is a beautiful girl.

“My last dog Barney died and we decided we would wait until the summer before getting another, but when I saw Lottie I just loved her.

“Especially after everything she had been through, she had a tough life.

“She has been through a lot and now she is doing really well. She loves to play and she loves spending time with people.

“She really loves going for walks too. I’m so glad we took her in.”

When Lottie first arrived at the RSPCA she weighed just 9.2kg – half what she should have been.

Staff described her as “emaciated” and lucky to be alive.

To build up her tolerance for food, she was fed small amounts six times a day.

Lottie’s previous owners Cy Whitham and his mother Mille Geraldine Whitham, both of Defoe Road, appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court earlier this year where they each admitted charges of causing unnecessary suffering and a welfare offence.

Cy Whitham was sentenced to 18 weeks in a young offenders’ institute and banned from keeping all animals for 15 years. His mother was jailed for 12 weeks and also disqualified from owning animals for 15 years.

To find out about rehoming an animal from the RSPCA East Suffolk and Martlesham branch, call 01473 623280.

Do you have a story about a rescue animal? Write to Star Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email starletters@archant.co.uk