Dog lovers who rehomed badly malnourished and neglected mutts have revealed how the animals lives have been completely transformed by a bit of love and care.

Four pet owners each took in a pooch from a group of 30 that were found wallowing in filthy kennels in Lincolnshire by the RSCPA.

And shocked inspectors - who were ‘left in tears’ by their discovery - even struggled to discern their breeds due to the overgrown fur that was covering their bodies.

But new pictures reveal the dogs' stunning transformation as they prepare to spend Christmas in their forever home - two years later.

Darren Cox, 53, who adopted nine-year-old miniature poodle cross Bailey from the RSPCA, said he was ‘horrified’ to learn how he’d previously been treated.

However, he felt privileged to give the "cheeky chap" a home, in Carlton, Notts, and now loves taking him on walks to the pub with his partner, Julie."

The occupational therapy assistant said: "I was horrified to see the state that the animals had got into. They were left to fend for themselves, they were just feral, basically. "

"But the first time we met him they said he was a bit of a character, and they weren’t wrong - he still is a character."

"It’s such a nice feeling to know that you've done something to stop this animal from suffering any more abuse and being mistreated. "

"Every time he looks at us, he warms the cockles of our hearts. He’s so appreciative of everything we do for him now."

"He likes going to the pub with us - he’s a cheeky chap. And he’s gone from having no food to having it on tap now, so he’s very responsive to that."

Aimee Rankine, 31, who gave five-year-old terrier cross Delilah a new home, fell in love when she was offered her by the RSCPA.

She said the adorable mutt had come out of her shell after she moved to her home in Leeds, West Yorkshire, and was a firm favourite with her work colleagues.

The delivery consultant said: "I went to meet her and loved her and brought her home. At that point, she’d been completely shaved, so she had really short hair."

"She was so timid, she was so nervous. If you put your hand out to stroke her, she would recoil and shy away. It was really sad, but you could tell she was really sweet."

"She’s definitely grown in confidence over the last couple of years, probably almost too much. She’s quite sassy and precautious. She absolutely adores people. "

"She will lick everyone and she likes to sit on people’s laps. When I first got her, she wouldn’t even come and sit near you, so she’s come a long way."

"She 100 per cent feels like one of the family. I live alone and she’s my main source of company. "

"I work from home, and I have a bed on my desk, so she’s always in the back of Zoom calls or she sleeps in my lap. Everyone at work loves her as well."

Mum Sophie Major, 32, said she’d heard about the dogs' plight while working at an RSCPA centre, where animals are brought after being taken from negligent owners.

And she fell in love with the ten-year-old miniature dachshund Lady and decided she would adopt her at her family home in Nottingham.

She said: "It was really sad, I did see all the pictures. They were quite horrific."

"I’d been wanting a dog for a while, but with not having too much room, I knew it would have to be a small dog."

"I would have taken them all home if I could, but she stood out as she was one of the smallest ones. She looked really sorry for herself, really timid and scared of people."

"She was withdrawn in herself. She didn’t even know what a bed was, and the first time she saw a toy, she didn’t know what that was either."

"Now she’s very sassy, very fiery and a typical little dog, and she absolutely adores toys. But she loves nothing more than being with us and relaxing."

"She likes to be at home with all the comforts. I don’t think she wants to let them go."

Sheila Webster, 64, said she was shocked when she originally found out about the condition of the 30 malnourished dogs on the RSPCA’s website.

And after she offered six-year-old Jack Russell cross Tom a home, he's become pals with most of the people in her village, Whatton-in-the-Vale, in Nottinghamshire.

The architecture firm manager said: "It was heart-wrenching to see the condition that they were in when they were rescued. They were all quite badly neglected."

"When we first had him, I think he was just terrified. If we let him out into the garden, he’d just stay at the bottom and wouldn’t come back in."

"He was very, very nervous on a lead and nervous about traffic, and he was totally overwhelmed by his surroundings and wouldn’t walk on grass."

"But it’s so nice to see the changes that being in a home environment has made to him. He’s a lovely little dog. "

"Most people in the village where we live know him and come and say hello to him. He’s settled in lovely. We’re so glad that we adopted him."