Lucky stray Poppy launches treatment fund at Leeds vets

Black cat Poppy was invited to Beechwood Vets in Crossgates to launch their new treatment fund for rescue animals without owners.

The lucky moggy is enjoying a new lease of life, and has now been adopted by the family who found her paralysed in a car park.

The stray was left with two broken legs following the accident at Crown Point Shopping Park, where the four-month-old kitten was discovered in a ‘pitiful’ state by Holbeck couple Darren and Michelle Murray-Wood.

She is now an ambassador for the Rescue Fund project, which allows members of the public to donate money to pay for treatment of abandoned pets and wildlife at Beechwood’s four Leeds surgeries.

Vet Craig Ritchie, who treated Poppy, said:

“It costs thousands of pounds for surgery for the likes of Poppy. The Rescue Fund has already saved a cat’s life and you can see how much joy Poppy has brought to a family, so it is very worthwhile.

“She was completely paralysed and, although she was bright, she was in a lot of pain. It is most likely she was involved in a road traffic accident. Her injuries were extensive but fixable as they were fractures rather than internal damage. Because she is so young, we were confident we could get her back to normal.”

Poppy is now settled with Darren, Michelle, their daughter Georgina and their cats Mittens and Willow.

“We asked straight away if we could keep her – and she is absolutely doted on as we are a family of animal lovers. She’s the youngest of our three cats but is very feisty and boss of the whole household,” said Michelle.