A mortified mum accidentally dyed her parents' beloved dog bright pink after spilling red paint on his brilliant white fur.
Treana Richards was looking after her parents' Bichon Frise Benji while enjoying an afternoon of arts and crafts with her three youngest children last week.
As the mum-of-six cleaned up their mess, she accidentally spilled a blob of red watercolour paint on Benji's white coat.
Armed with a wet cloth, she frantically scrubbed at the poor pooch's fur but instead of cleaning it off the paint spread and quickly turned his fur hot pink.
Treana then told her son Luka, nine, and two-year-old daughters, Luna and Bonnie, to lay a trail of treats to entice the dog upstairs to the shower.
But when Benji's first bath failed to remove the stains, Treana, 35, was forced to shampoo him repeatedly using water, dog shampoo and Johnson's baby shampoo to no avail.
Red-faced Treana confessed over the phone to 73-year-old parents John and Carol Richards - leaving her mum in fits of giggles.
Now poor Benji faces a humiliating wait until the candyfloss pink grows out, with Carol booking an urgent haircut to speed things along.
Treana, from Martock, Somerset, said: "He was so pink - it was ridiculous.
"The baby was running around shouting 'Look, pink dog! Peppa Pig!' It was so funny.
"He's been washed about 12 times now. We tried to get him under the shower and rinse it off, but it was just spreading more.
"If he stays that pink for a couple of months longer, we can dress him up with the kids for Easter.
"He's a very clean dog now, we won't ever forget this, it'll be a good memory."
Treana had been enjoyed a creative afternoon with her kids ahead of Benji's accidental fur dye.
The pink pooch, who started to resemble the beloved TV character Peppa Pig, later smeared more of the colour across his face after scratching himself with his paw.
Horrified Treana turned to pals online to ask for advice - with suggestions including baby shampoo and washing up liquid.
Treana said: "The kids were at the dining table doing crafts and I was cleaning up. As I went to wipe the table I knocked a pot of red paint.
"I went to catch it and it all went over my hands and then fell on to Benji.
"It was a blob to start with, so I scooped some of it up and was rubbing it. As I rubbed it to try and wash it out, it spread more and more.
"I didn't know what to do because I was trying to keep him off my mum's carpet and into the kitchen, then up to the shower.
"We were putting treats on all the steps to try and lure him upstairs.
"We used water, dog shampoo and baby shampoo but nothing was working. People mentioned washing up liquid but I didn't want to try that.
"I was trying to keep it away from his head, but when I woke up the next morning he had a bright pink head as he'd been scratching during the night."
Finding herself in a panic about returning Benji to her parents with a permanent pink tinge, Treana frantically messaged her mum for help.
When she broke the news to her dad, he claimed he'd have to take Benji out for walks in the dark until he'd returned to his normal hue.
Treana's parents have even tried twice more to wash Benji themselves - but soon admitted defeat and booked him in for a new 'do.
Treana said: "My parents were due back within hours [of it happening]. I left them a message saying you need to call me immediately'.
"When they got back everyone looked serious thinking something really bad had happened - then I had to explain I'd just dyed the dog pink.
"My mum saw the funny side but Dad's not seeing that - he's quite straight-laced.
"The first thing my dad said was 'oh god, what have they done to you?' He said 'I'll have to take him for a walk in the dark now'. My mum just burst out laughing.
"My parents have booked Benji into the groomers on Wednesday as he's still pink."
