The president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, has started an international fund to provide aid to the cat that was recently rescued after being shut in a wheelie bin. The cat, named Lola, was trapped for 15 hours and was only rescued when its owners heard its pleas for help. Zardari was said to be deeply shocked and moved by the plight of the animal and took immediate action to ‘ease the suffering and distress’ it had endured.
Zardari announced the fund during a short stop-over in Antigua as part of his world tour 2010. ‘I knew as soon as I heard the story I had to help’, said the big hearted leader, ‘we cannot as human beings sit idly by whilst others are maltreated, ignored and left to pick up the pieces without support. The Pakistani people will I am sure agree that we must do something for this cat, and I have therefore pledged a million dollars in aid which I hope other countries will match.’
The money will initially be spent on a substantial amount of cat food which is ‘desperately needed’ according to Zardari’s statement. The rest of the money and any subsequent donations will be used to rebuild the confidence of Lola, who is said to be terrified of wheelie bin sized objects following the ordeal. ‘I hope that we can make the rest of the cat’s life happy and full of fun,’ said Zardari, ‘we should provide balls of string, treats and other toys for it to play with.’
Citizens in Pakistan are said to be delighted about the move. The aid programme was announced in an official statement and leaflets were dropped from helicopters to some of the 20 million people who have been ‘a bit down in the dumps’ over recent inclement weather. ‘This shows how caring the Pakistani people are,’ said Zardari, ‘it fills my heart with joy to be able to help Lola out in her hour of need and I know this will bring a great sense of pride to the whole of our nation.’