AN AUXILIARY nurse who took in a puppy that was tied up and left-for-dead in Winsford has spoken of her delight after formally adopting her.

The petrified pup, which vets named Tiny, was found tied up in a plastic bag, covered in her own urine and faeces and reeking of petrol last November.

Thomas McGowan treated Tiny at Willows Veterinary Group’s surgery in Winsford, calling it 'one of the worst cases of animal abuse he had ever seen'.

He placed her under the care of Rachel Charnley, an auxiliary nurse at Acorn Veterinary Surgery in West Kirby, and has now offered her the chance to adopt Tiny on a permanent basis.

“I’m really, really happy,” Rachel said. “I have wanted a dog for 24 years now so I’m over the moon. My mum and dad could see how attached I had come to her. She follows me everywhere

“Tom asked if I wanted to keep her permanently and I said yes straight away.”

When Tiny was brought into vets, much of her hair had been lost because of a skin condition called demodectic mange, which is caused by mites.

Speaking of the condition, Rachel said: “She’s a million times better, her fur is coming back and she’s on the last round of medication.”

Tiny also struggled to interact with others due to the sickening abuse she had suffered.

“I think meeting everyone at the vets really helped her interact with people,” Rachel said. “She just wants to lick everyone and she constantly wags her tail.”

Initially Rachel thought she would have to part ways with Tiny after she had made a full recovery, and there was certainly no shortage of takers.

Rachel told the Guardian in December she wanted to keep her new best friend, but feared she would have to hand her over.

She added: “I used to work at a rescue centre so I’ve had rescue dogs before, but I’ve had to give them back.

“I was worried I would have to give Tiny back, so it’s brilliant I can keep her for good. I’m really happy.”