Abandoned Dog Nina Set for Christmas with New Family

An American Bulldog, rescued last winter after being found abandoned in cold and dirty conditions, is set to celebrate Christmas with her new adoptive family. Named Nina, the dog was discovered in Nottingham, unattended at a property and described as “worryingly skinny”, just 10 days prior to Christmas 2023. According to the RSPCA, the two-year-old animal showed signs of having resided outdoors without protection “for some time”. This festive season, Nina will be celebrating with her new owner, Alison Southgate of Suffolk, who felt an immediate connection, stating she “knew she was the one” upon their initial encounter. Nina was one of five canines the animal welfare organization reported removing from the same residence last winter, following the owners’ acknowledgment that “they couldn’t care for them properly”. Both Nina and another dog, Ava, were subsequently transported to one of the charity’s animal facilities located in Cambridgeshire. According to RSPCA inspector Deb Scotcher, “Nina was worryingly skinny with overgrown nails, sore skin and filthy fur.” The inspector also noted that the young dog appeared to have “given up”. By April, following Nina’s “physical and mental transformation”, Ms Southgate discovered the dog on the RSPCA website and “fell in love”. Ms Southgate, aged 65, who had been seeking a canine companion for her household, subsequently visited the kennels housing Nina, accompanied by her 34-year-old son, Jareth. She recounted, “We all went to meet her at the kennels but she came straight over to me first, gave me a big kiss and I cried – I knew she was the one.” The RSPCA noted Nina’s initial nervousness and uncertainty, with staff speculating she had not previously experienced living in a domestic setting. Ms Southgate, who affectionately calls the dog Nini, shared, “When we first brought Nini home we let her have the run of the whole house so she could explore and see everything – she didn’t know what the TV was.” She added, “But now she’s really made herself at home.” “She absolutely loves Jareth and gets so excited when he comes home, they cuddle on the floor for hours.” She further expressed, “I’m so excited to have Nini with us this Christmas, it’ll make it such a magical day. She’ll get her own stocking and lots of doggy presents to enjoy on the day – and I’m sure she’ll get a special dinner too, although I expect all she’ll really want to do is snooze under the tree all day.”