A cat dyed hot pink has been rescued by animal welfare officers after a young man reported it looking distressed in a local market.
It was a sweltering hot day in the Isa Town market in Bahrain when 17-year-old Bilal Aslam spotted the strange coloured feline struggling to breathe as it was touted around by its owner trying to make a sale.
“It looked like they had used wall paint. There was a pungent smell about it and it looked like it was slowly falling sick,” Bilal told the Gulf Daily News.
“There was no food given to the cats and they had only a little water to survive the heat.”
Disturbed by what he saw Bilal took action and posted on the Bahrain SPCA’s Facebook page asking for help.
According to reports the souk was on the list for animal welfare to inspect once the Middle Eastern nation’s new animal protection laws came in effect.
When Cheryl Nielsen, a local animal advocate, became aware of the situation she became incensed.
“I was furious, I couldn’t wait anymore. I decided to go get the cat myself by whatever means necessary, even if I had to buy her as a last resort.
“When I arrived at the souq with my husband, cat carrier in hand and a few supplies, we noticed the BSPCA truck there, to my surprise, our chairman Mahmood Faraj was there too.
“He had a decree from the king allowing us to confiscate the pink cat, and to inspect all the vendors animals and cages.”
Following the incident the vendor has agreed to improve how his animals are kept and following the new animal protection laws guidelines.
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