A FAMILY from Poole have given a loving home to a sick puppy who was abandoned in the freezing cold and rescued by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

A litter of half a dozen six-month-old English Bull Terrier pups were found dumped in a box on a doorstep in Kingston, Surrey.

They had a severe case of demodectic mange, causing their fur to fall out, and two died from an infection.

Rufus is now enjoying life in Poole with his new owners Lorna and Tony Clark and their son Fin, seven.

Lorna said: “Rufus is just fabulous. He was quite quiet when he first came home and wanted to be close to us all the time, whether that was on our laps or sitting by our feet.

“But considering all he has been through already in his short life, he has so much love to give and has a lot of trust in us.”

Fin was a little wary of dogs after being bitten in the past but Rufus has helped him overcome his fear.

Lorna, who gave a home to a dog from Battersea in 1999, said: “Anyone thinking of re-homing a dog from Battersea should go for it.

“You know that your dog will have gone through a thorough assessment, which is important when you have children.

“Dog welfare is of utmost importance to all the staff at Battersea, which really does show. Rufus has had such a very rough start in life but he’s been given so much love and care.”

The other three surviving puppies have also found new homes across the UK.