By Andr? Hueber A tabby kitten with a burst eye was found discarded and fighting for her life on the side of a Hukerenui road last week - her fate now rests with an expensive operation. SPCA receptionist Andrea Honeybun has been taking care of Poppy the tabby. She said it washard to tell whether the damage was the result of being thrown from a car or not, but other facial injuries suggest that's what happened. "I can't understand why people don't leave animals at one of the many SPCA clinics so they can be looked after properly. "If they're delivered after hours people can leave them at the drop in box and don't even have to fill in any paperwork." Another kitten was found at the same spot on Hukerenui road as Poppy a day earlier, Mrs Honeybun said. "We don't think he was related to Poppy. He looked at least two weeks younger and had different mannerisms. We called him Butch." The man who collected Butch said he heard the meows of other kittens close by. When Poppy first arrived at the SPCA the staff named her Popeye. They later changed it to Poppy, which they felt was more feminine and appropriate to her character. Mrs Honeybun said she quickly took a shine to Poppy and begged her boss to keep her. "We don't usually keep kittens like this but I was told if I raised the money to fix her we could keep her for adoption." Poppy needs to have the deflated eye on her left side removed and sewn up. The procedure will cost $600 and will remove any chance of infection. "Even though she'll only have one eye I'm sure she'll cope well - she's very resilient and has got such a friendly personality, she purrs constantly ... everyone here has fallen in love with her." Mrs Honeybun said. If the funds are successfully raised, Poppy will also be spayed and should be ready for adoption within two weeks. If Poppy does not have the $600 operation she will not be able to be adopted and may be put down.
