Questions raised over treatment of other animals at the Isa Town Market

She is now receiving medical treatment and will be put up for adoption

A cat has been rescued from a Bahraini market after the cruel seller dyed it pink and put it on display in the burning summer heat.

The four-month-old feline, now known as ‘Pinky’, is receiving medical attention and should make a full recovery.

She was spotted at the Isa Town Market last month by 17-year-old Bilal Aslam, who posted shocking pictures of the distressed cat on Facebook.

Bahrain’s SPCA animal charity responded to his calls for help, and staged a dramatic rescue of the luminous cat last week.

'Disgrace': Animal rights campaigners in Bahrain were shocked to see photographs of the mistreated cat, which had been dyed bright pink before being left in a cage in the burning sun

She is now being cared for at a refuge in nearby Askar.

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.

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 Aslam, 17, who spotted the cat

‘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.’

The stunned Mr Aslam, who first discovered the cat, revealed his horror in an interview with the Gulf Daily News.

‘It looked like they had used wall paint,’ the teenager told Gulf Daily News.

‘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.’

Pinky will now stay at the centre to recover for some time, before being put up for adoption.

But the disgraceful incident has caused outrage among animal lovers, and raised questions about how animal traders are advertising their goods.

Dramatic rescue: The four-month-old feline, now known as Pinky, was rescued from her cruel seller by animal charity BSPCA last week, and will make a full recovery

Concerns raised: But questions are being asked about the savage methods used by market traders to sell their animals, despite the country's new animal welfare law brought in last year

Local animal advocate Cheryl Nielsen, who had spotted the photos online, has begun working in the market to stop any other animals there being mistreated.

Ms Nielsen, who was present at the rescue of Pinky, said: ‘Needless to say, Pinky was happy to be away from the heat ,free from a cage and on her way to a vet.

‘She had the sniffles, runny eyes, and of course was covered with some sort of dye. They have since tried to wash it off but to no avail.’

She added: ‘In a meeting with our chairman the next day, the manager of the souq was given the guidelines for the animal care to pass on to his vendors. I am happy to report that the land owner has agreed to enclose and air condition the animal area of the souq very soon.

‘Since that day, I have gathered volunteers and supplies to accompany me to the Isa Town souq every weekend to check on the welfare of the animals there.

‘The vendors are happy to see us and happy for the help.

‘They are taking much better care of their animals since our initial visit.’

Bahrain issued a new animal welfare law, which came into effect last year, after instances of animal abuse in the country caused international outrage.



