SHE was found abandoned, malnourished and close to death.

But after overcoming the odds and receiving months of tender loving care from staff at the RSCPA in Martlesham, this Staffordshire Bull Terrier is in need of an adoring family.

Lottie, who is thought to be between two and four years old, has been with the RSPCA for six months after being found locked in a bathroom. Staff were horrified when she arrived at the centre and say she is lucky to be alive.

Her owners were jailed for a total of 30 weeks after admitting charges of unnecessary suffering and a welfare offence.

After received lots of care and having been fed back to health, Lottie has been busy showing her playful and loving nature.

Today, Natalie Wood, animal care assistant for the RSPCA East and Ipswich branch, urged kind-hearted families to come forward and help rehome Lottie.

“I have been caring for Lottie since she came to the RSPCA,” she said. “When she arrived here she weighed just 9.2kg – half what she should have been.

“She was emaciated and I could see every bone in her body. Her temples were sunken and usually that is the last thing to go on a dog before it dies so she is very lucky.

“Her coat was brittle and it a very bad condition and she had bad dandruff. She was very lucky to survive.

“When she first came into the centre she was very quiet and had no energy because she was so thin and starved of food.”

Ms Wood nursed Lottie back to health and built up her tolerance for food by feeding her small amounts six times a day.

She added: “Now she is ready for a home, she is such a loving and caring dog.

“She has lots of energy again and loves playing with her tennis ball. She is a very playful dog and she loves cuddles and spending time with people. She definitely deserves a good home after everything.”

Lottie can live with children over the age of 14.

Cy Whitham and his mother Millie Geraldine Whitham, both of Defoe Road, appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates in January where they each admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering and one welfare offence, which were committed between September 3 and 26 last year, under the Animal Welfare Act.

Cy Whitham was sentenced to 18 weeks in a young offenders’ institute and banned from keeping all animals for 15 years.

Ms Whitham was jailed for 12 weeks and also disqualified from owning animals for 15 years.

A pest controller was asked to attend their previous address in Donegal Road last September after they moved out because of a flea infestation. It was then that they discovered Lottie – then known as KD – in a bedroom. She had been shut in the room with only minimal food and water, surrounded by faeces and urine.

If you can take in Lottie call the RSPCA East Suffolk and Martlesham branch on 01473 623280.