A puppy with a broken heart faces a brighter future after more than £6,000 was raised for a life-saving operation.

Poorly bulldog Ethel, who wasn’t expected to reach her first birthday, is fighting for survival at Happy Endings Rescue centre in Ospringe.

A JustGiving appeal was launched to raise the cash in order for little Ethel to have essential surgery which can cure her life-ending congenital heart defect.

Now it's been revealed that target has been smashed, with nearly £7,000 raised by yesterday.

Chris Johns, founding member of Happy Endings, said: "It has gone over its target and it's enough money for the operation but doesn't include the £2,000 we've put towards the scans she's already had.

"Any extra money we get will go towards the funding for those. We're ecstatic she's got enough to have her operation.

"We're ecstatic she's got enough to have her operation" - Chris Johns

"We're very grateful, it's had a massive response.

"It's about people donating because we can't help these animals if people don't donate.

"She'll have her operation and hopefully once she's had all the scans she needs afterwards, she'd be given the all clear."

Since coming to the Well Lane-based sanctuary when she was three weeks old with her brother and sister, Ethel’s short life has been fraught with high and lows.

The trio each suffered from pneumonia and had to spend a week inside an oxygen tank to help them breathe.

Hand-reared by the team at the sanctuary, the trio were fed every three hours, day and night, through a tube as they built up their strength.

Despite their best efforts, Ethel’s brother died, however, the two girls fought on against the odds and were released from the oxygen tank when they reached seven weeks of age.

A further veterinary check-up revealed that Ethel was suffering from a heart murmur and more tests proved she had a congenital heart defect which significantly reduces her life expectancy.

But hope for the playful youngster isn’t yet over, as experts have suggested that the £6,000 operation will mend her little broken heart and extend her life.

Ethel is expected to be strong enough for the operation in January when her body and heart valves have grown bigger.

Since being at the sanctuary, the puppy has made friends with a number of animals who visit the centre, but her best friend is a grey cat who she plays with throughout the day.