THE life of a young donkey has been saved – thanks to the Daily Echo.

Chocolate Muffin is a much-loved fixture at St Francis Animal Shelter in Fair Oak, and staff were devastated when they discovered she had a severe shoulder condition that would cost £3,000 to treat.

Worse still if the money could not be found the donkey would be in constant pain and would need to be put down.

After her plight was publicised by the Echo donations came flooding in making the vital operation possible.

Shelter manager Anne Hillman said: “This is all thanks to the appeal in the Daily Echo. I am so grateful to its readers I can’t believe how generous people have been and we have got some lovely letters with the donations.

“It is absolutely fantastic. It was horrible to think it would have got to the stage where she would have had to be put to sleep. We are thrilled, she is one of the most popular characters here.”

The donkey also got a helping hand from the Oven Door Bakery in Fair Oak which contributed more than £1,000.

Bakery boss Jason Judd, who named her, said: “We are over the moon with the response. Loads of our customers ask after Muffin and they were very generous even in these tough times some giving two or three pounds at once.

“One man came in and said he had read about it in the Daily Echo, bought six doughnuts and handed over £100. We couldn’t believe it.”

The bakery and its customers came to the rescue two years ago raising £400 so the shelter could buy Muffin from her former owner who was going to have her slaughtered for dog food.