Animal lovers rally to help Milton Keynes celebrity cat Duke

Tabby cat Duke was found by passerby Tara Plummer on a redway.

She said: “He had blood coming from his mouth and was clearly in pain.

“People were just walking past him, which was horrible. But I picked him up and took him to the vet.”

Tara took Duke to Midsummer Veterinary Group in Stantonbury, where it was discovered he had a microchip and was traced back to his owner.

He was a missing family cat, owned by Trish Brady and her two children.

However due to Duke’s serious injuries, the vet bill will be thousands of pounds.

He needs an operation to fix a broken vertebra and leg, and could lose an eye.

It is suspected he was hit by a car.

Single mum-of-two Trish works as a teaching assistant at Brooksward School and suffers from MS, leaving her unable to pay for Duke’s vet bills.

A well-wisher who heard about Duke’s ordeal online set up a fundraising page to help support the family and get Duke back in his home. Already it has raised £650.

Tara added: “I am so overwhelmed by all the kind donations for Duke. I am totally blown away.
“This little cat has become a star in the making and so are each and every one of you who have helped.”

To donate to the fundraiser and help Duke and get him home to his family, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/HelpDuke