How to fix fountain?

I wouldn't waste my time. Donate to Habitat and take a tax write off.

put some flowers in pots around it

Is it leaking or has other challenges?

Because of its rustic shape, it’s not conducive to tiling without a ton of work.

I would look at hydraulic concrete as a topping to update the shape and then stain it with concrete dye/stain.

Put some taller plants behind it and smaller ones near the side of the lions head.

That particular lions head is one I have seen used on wall not as a stand up that looks like a head stone. The plants should soften it up.

Don't get rid of it!!!! I can look beautiful with a little elbow grease. Does it pump the water from the pool? If it does, (I just repaired two in our yard), it is very important that the pump produces the right gallons per minute as it is very important for the feed tube to be in the right location. The tube in the right location can make all the difference in the world to were the fountain water comes out. If the tube is too close to the hole in the lions mouth it will shoot out and actually over shoot the ideal location. A fountain is just the beginning of the setting. A trip to local Lowes, Home Depot or a good nursery will help with a dimensional look that will be a show stopper.

You could coat it in a thin layer of concrete, and then tile it to match your pool. I'm working on a 2x8' fountain for my back yard, something free-standing

The base is rustic and would be great for a natural pond. It is not right for a formal pool. The lion head spout is a traditional wall fountain and looks like an add-on. Unfortunately this fountain looks like it was built into the pool edge, so removing it is not an inexpensive option. I do recommend you find a way to remove the lion head spout.

Replace the current pump with a larger one that doubles the gallons per minute. The fountain looks like it can handle more water than is currently flowing through it. Buy some pots in various shapes and sizes and fill them with sun loving tropical plants such as begonias, coleus, cannas and elephant ears. Perhaps even a palm. Place the pots to either side and behind the fountain base until you get an arrangement that you like. Do another similar grouping of pots and plants on the opposite side of the pool, or on the same side but at each corner.

the loin head fountain I had was a wall mounted one, I haven't seen a lion heads off on their own. the base you have is very rustic, and may need a deeper reservoir.

This space has too many elements in it and none of them are repeated. Fencing, block post, old Italian style lions head that should be on a wall, rustic base, and Mediteranean pool tile. If you landscape so it fits in better, your planting bed will have to be 3 - 5 times the width of the pond and pretty deep. Plus some tall plants. You also have to deal with water and electrical lines ! You can't just destroy it because it is set in to the pool and you would still have to cap the electric and water lines. I think I would make it as small as I could and then build a box shape to cover it up. Then use the wood box as a planter, bar, what ever. Long term, a more modern box covered with tile could look good. The base could be built out and tiled so you never saw the "natural" base. Alternatively, if you turned the water off, it might be a cute planter for succulents or glass balls. I don't think there is a cheap easy solution. At some point, you are putting lipstick on a pig. The only quick fixes I can think of : put a teepee over it, find the worlds largest basket to put over it, or put some big hanging baskets sitting in the base that will grow all over it. Imagine replacing the water with flowers.

I agree with everyone else who is of the opinion that this structure is not worth the money that you would have to chase it with in order to transform it into something else more attractive.

If you really have your heart set on a working fountain in this spot, then salvage the pump and install one more to your liking. Otherwise remove this one entirely.