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Stray siblings Peanut and Butter, saved from the streets of Bahrain, are living their best lives in the UK with one raising funds for rescues as a hat model and another stealing hearts in canine competitions.
The brothers were found hiding under a broken down car in Arad’s garage and workshop area, injured and afraid. Peanut’s hind leg was degloved after it got caught under the tyre of a moving car. A large piece of skin and a layer of soft tissue right under it were ripped off from the body. Vets believed they were both sleeping under the tyre, seeking warmth. Meanwhile, Butter suffered muscle trauma that affected his stability and movement.
Saved by a Samaritan and fostered by one of Bahrain Animal Rescue Centre’s (BARC) volunteers, the strays were quickly snapped up by adopters in the UK.
“Shortly after Peanut, whose hind leg had to be amputated after his injury, came to us, he flew out to his fur-ever home,” said Muna Aldaaysi, a 29-year-old BARC volunteer team leader from A’ali. “Butter flew out shortly after as well.”
They were adopted by the renowned Wild at Heart Foundation, which funds and supports animal welfare projects globally with the aim of reducing the world’s stray dog population, before heading to their new families. They were flown out of Bahrain via Animal Cargo Service, facilitated by Jet Pet Global, a pet relocation company in Bahrain.
This isn’t a first for BARC as last year, despite Covid-19 travel restrictions, it organised for 200 dogs to be adopted by families in the US, the UK and Canada.
“This is a prime and heartwarming example of the amazing things that can be achieved, and how lives can be changed, when a community of people come together to help these beautiful souls out,” added Muna.
The now two-year-old Saluki-Shepherd mixes are named Puffin (Peanut) and Rafi (Butter).
Three-legged Puffin has become a rescue dog advocate and hat model for Haute Dogs Calendar which collaborates with Wild at Heart Foundation. They raise funds to help and rehome more than 1,500 rescue dogs overseas to happy homes in the UK.
The 2021 ‘Haute Dogs x Wild at Heart Foundation’ charity calendar was launched by award-wining London based milliner Awon Golding. Millinery is the craft of making hats and headwear.
Awon specialises in fun and fresh hats for modern women and she is also head of Millinery Design for the world’s oldest hat shop, Lock & Co.
Her hats have been showcased at London Fashion Week and she counts Lady Gaga, the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Dita Von Teese amongst her clients.
Together with photographer Aurelie Four, they created a beautiful calendar featuring Wild at Heart Foundation rescue dogs, such as Puffin and another Bahraini stray named Pippin, modelling couture hats designed by some of the world’s most famous and loved names in millinery. The hats were also on auction.
Puffin looked dapper in milliner Louise Macdonald’s Toto’s Trillby hat which was priced at around BD82.
The 2021 calendar raised more than BD10,900 for the foundation and 100 per cent of the money from Haute Dogs: The Auction will go to the charity.
Meanwhile, Rafi competed in a community event held in his new town. He won first place in the Best Rescue category and came in fourth in the Most Handsome category.
Muna is delighted to hear that the Bahraini brothers are thriving after their ‘ruff’ beginning and hopes this inspires others to adopt strays.
“I genuinely believe that their story, as well as the case of so many others that are as lucky as they were, exemplify the importance of second chances,” said Muna, who is a procurement officer. “Stray animals, dogs in particular, are misconceived by the general public and misrepresented. They are wrongfully illustrated as dangerous and menacing, not as kind-hearted, loyal, sociable, protective companions that they are. This unfortunately fuels hate and anger towards these beautiful creatures.
“We have adopted out many rescue dogs to Canada and the UK that are now living with families that have young children, cats and birds and these families couldn’t be happier. A lesson from these successful stories is that we should never be too quick to judge, especially when judgement is based on unfounded generalisations and misguided opinion.”
Muna urges others to spread their stories in order to make happy ‘tales’ like Puffin’s and Rafi’s become a reality. BARC is also in dire need of Flight Buddies to accompany dogs on their journey to their new homes. They are also constantly in need of supplies, mainly cat and dog dry food.
Follow @bahrainanimal-rescuecentre on Instagram, for details.
