“IT’s a miracle she was able to survive,” were the words of the rescuer who found an abandoned dog on the verge of death in Cradley Heath.

Thousands of pounds have been raised in a matter of days to help with the vet bills of the female Dogue De Bordeaux who was found on Saturday, starving and shivering in Corngreaves Nature Reserve.

In what some are calling a Christmas miracle, Elsa – named by The Animal House rescue charity due to her being found “frozen” – was able to survive the harrowing conditions and is now being looked after at a vets in Smethwick.

Lin Reeves, of the charity, who got the call to help rescue Elsa, said: “Never in my life have I seen an animal in the state she was in, and I’ve seen some horrible things.

“It’s a miracle she was able to survive between the time we got the phone call to actually getting to the nature reserve to pick her up.

“But she’s so determined to survive. She’s definitely a fighter.”

Hundreds of people have helped raise almost £5,000 to help pay for Elsa’s emergency veterinary care, and the charity is also asking people to donate single duvets and jumpers to keep the sad-faced dog warm.

Lin said: “We are over the £4,000 mark and close to reaching £5,000 which is a great amount. We’re so grateful to everyone who has donated. It’s heart-warming to see so many people care.

“The money will go towards her vet bills but as she is still a very poorly dog, she needs constant care.

“As well as donating, we are also in need to single duvets as Elsa needs to be kept covered as she can’t keep in the heat, but because of her diarrhoea we have to throw them away after every use.

“She could also do with some doggy jumpers – she’s 26 inches long if that helps!”

After being left for dead in the freezing snow, Elsa is continuing her slow recovery, and Lin added: “She keeps getting stronger, but it’s going to be a very long process and will take time. We’re just taking it day-by-day.

“We’re still trying to find out where she came from. I don’t know what would go through someone’s mind to let a dog get into that state.

“They could’ve taken her to the RSPCA or the vets. We think that they were hoping to leave her there and that would finish her off.

“We just don’t know who did it – we’re just guessing at the moment – but we hope there are people out there that do.”

Elsa’s condition has attracted interest from thousands of people on the Animal House Rescue Facebook page, which is providing daily updates and pictures of her recovery progress.

For more information, or to donate towards helping Elsa, visit www.theanimalhouserescue.co.uk