A MODERN-DAY Dr Doolittle climbed into an abandoned squatters' building to save a tank of neon fish.

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Teenager Jasmine Donovan climbed up an unstable staircase, stepped over puddles of water and avoided drug paraphernalia to reach the dying fish in the old Vertigo Cinema Building, Leytonstone.

The 16-year-old and her mother, Deanna, were helping squatters pack up and move out of the site, which is near social squatters club the 491 Gallery.

For the next three days, she insisted on going back to feed them before eventually taking them to be looked after at a pet shop.

She said: “When I first went in there the floor was wet and slippery and I was afraid but I got used to it.

“After I saw them in the dirty tank I just wanted to rescue them and I fed them every day until we could get them out.

“I think it was really important for us to rescue the fish because we couldn’t leave them there to die. That would have been cruel.

“What I would say to others is just be confident and brave and help them because animals can offer a lot of love and companionship to us.”

The 491 Gallery, a social squatters club, was founded by Jasmine’s father Greg Gerna over a decade ago and she spent her childhood roaming the buildings.

Jasmine, of Pretoria Road, Leytonstone, hopes to have a career working at London Zoo.

The Year 11 pupil at William Morris School, Higham Hill, has also been volunteering at Brooks Farm, Leyton, for five years and has rescued a number of animals.

She said: “When I was 13 I rescued a baby jaybird who had hurts its claw.

“I brought it to the vet and then I climbed up a tree to bring it back to its parents.

“I have rescued many animals in the past like a magpie and a pigeon and the vets are always happy to help.”

Mother Deanna, 49, said her daughter has shown a keen interest in animals since she was a child and they act as a stress relief for her.

She said: “Jasmine was the first person to notice the fish.

“That is the sort of person she is, very creative and attentive to detail.

“She has a fascination with animals ever since she was young and they have been a comfort to her and help to relieve her stress.”

Dogs Dinner, a pet store in Kirkdale Road, Leytonstone, is now keeping the 12 freshwater tropical fish in a tank.

Manager Bob Auger said: “Jasmine rescued them just in time.

“Another day or two and they would have died because when I got them they were in a bad way.

“They are doing well now. Jasmine does love animals and I don’t think there are many other teenagers who would have done this.”