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It has been the purrfect start to a new year for Pinky the cat as she enjoys plenty of cuddles with her new loving family in Amwaj Islands.
Leslie Gonzalez and Carlos Augusto Suarez have opened their hearts and their home to the famous feline that was rescued by the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) back in August after being spotted scared, sprayed bright pink and locked in a cage at Isa Town Market.
The animal shelter staff spent months treating and washing away the dye and nursed the cute cat back to health. A few days before Christmas, the now beautiful, fluffy white kitty was picked up by the caring Colombian couple.
Leslie, 27, a flight attendant, said: “When we first meet Pinky she was the shyest and saddest cat in the animal refuge.
“We talked about how hard would it be for someone to adopt her because of her nervous behaviour. It was just so sad to think about all that she had gone through.
“We were determined to offer her a new life in a caring home where she can feel safe and finally learn how to be a normal cat.”
When Pinky was originally found, she was in an overall poor condition and appeared dehydrated. She had been dyed pink apparently to make her more attractive to buyers, as highlighted in GulfWeekly’s Whisperer column.
Those sad old days are behind the nine-month-old cat now. According to Carlos, 33, a mechanical engineer, in less than a week, there was a huge change in her behaviour and she has been purring happily ever since.
He said: “When she first came home, we thought it was going to be a long and hard process to make her feel comfortable with us. She hid in a corner under a table for a couple of hours. But, after having her first meal and sniffing the entire house, she started purring very loudly and was more relaxed.
“Now she sleeps with us and wants to be with us wherever we go. No matter what we are doing, she has to be there. We are trying to help her trust again and be a happy cat.”
Concerns over the welfare of domestic animals in the kingdom remain. Campaigners hope a new Animal Welfare Law threatening imprisonment and hefty fines will act as a deterrent.
Leslie added: “We think that what happened to Pinky was mostly caused by ignorance. People need to learn how to respect animals.
“As animal lovers, we would like to see a change in that aspect of society, not only in this country, but in the entire world. We know it is possible and that can be done with the support of rules and regulations.”
