With her bright eyes and wagging tail, Staffordshire bull terrier Ellie is a picture of health and contentment.

But eight months ago, she barely weighed a stone and was suffering from a painful skin condition.

Ellie was one of four dogs rescued from the litter-strewn back yard of Bilston woman Jeannette Smith. The 48-year-old, of Kempthorne Road, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the animals when she appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

She was warned she was facing a jail sentence when she returns to hear her fate on Tuesday.

When RSPCA inspectors visited the home in April following a tip-off from a concerned member of the public, Ellie and three other dogs Zena, Princess and Roly in were found to be emaciated and living outdoors in terrible conditions.

Ellie weighed just 6.4kg. But with the love and support of new owners Shaun Burton and his wife Lisa, of Tipton, she has found a happy ending and is putting her ordeal behind her.

“She’s a lovely little dog,” said 48-year-old Mr Burton, who works at Bilston’s Robin 2 club as a sound engineer.

“It’s a long process but she’s getting there and we’re still working on it. She used to be so scared and wouldn’t go near people, especially men. Now I take her everywhere with me.”

One of Ellie’s favourite things is visiting the couple’s boat, moored in Tewkesbury. “She has her own life jacket and everything,” said Mr Burton. “She just loves it.”

The couple, who live in Myrtle Terrace, got Ellie from a shelter, 12 months after the death of their previous rescue dog Winnie.

Mr Burton said: “We had Winnie for 17 years and it’s taken us a while to get round to getting another dog. We went to the shelter and Ellie just kind of picked us.

“I would definitely recommend people get rescue dogs. It takes time and patience but I think they’re even more loving and faithful than normal dogs.”

Roly and Zena have also been rehomed, while Princess had to be put down due to a heart condition.