Pink Cat Rescued In Bahrain By Animal Rights Activists
A cat that was dyed a luminous pink and put up for sale at a Bahrain market has been rescued and should make a full recovery, animal rights campaigners have said.
The cat, now known as ‘Pinky’, was spotted by 17-year-old Bilal Aslam when he was shopping at Isa Town Market last month. He posted pictures of the sickly looking feline on social media and commented on its poor treatment.
In an interview with Gulf Daily News, Aslam said: “It looked like they had used wall paint. There was a pungent smell about it and it looked like it was slowly falling sick. There was no food given to the cats [on sale at the market] and they had only a little water to survive the heat.”
His pictures sparked alarm among animal rights activists, and Pinky was rescued last week by the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) and taken to a refuge in Askar, where she is being looked after. BSPCA chairman Mahmood Faraj said: “She has been given a thorough veterinary examination, but our vet has some concerns over a possible allergic reaction to the dye that was used. “Our next task was a thorough wash to remove the dye. Unfortunately it will take a few more washes before she is back to her normal colour.”
He said Pinky was now in the recovery room and will remain there for some time before being put up for adoption.
The incident has raised fears about how Sunday traders are treating animals for sale, with many animal lovers branding the situation a “disgrace” and calling for the market’s closure. Faraj has reportedly called a meeting with the manager of Isa Town Market to raise awareness of Bahrain’s new animal welfare law, which came into effect last year.