Mickey and Basil’s sacrifice
From the onset, staff could see that Basil and Mickey had much in common - they were homeless.
Staff from Bruma Lake Veterinary Hospital headed up by Dr Larry Kraitzick had front row seats to a story which touched them deeply.
A year down the line, the team has agreed to share the story to encourage residents to show compassion for their pets over the festive season.
Last year, a man by the name of Basil, walked for two and a half hours to bring his beloved companion Mickey, the cat, to the Bruma offices of Dr Larry.
Mickey was in desperate need of treatment.
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From the onset, staff could see that Basil and Mickey had much in common – they were homeless.
Basil and Mickey lived in a world which was often cold and unforgiving. The struggles of life on the streets could be seen in the eyes of both.
They had constantly fought for their survival and this was the cornerstone that cemented their friendship.
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Basil had found Mickey as a stray kitten living on the streets. He decided there and then that he would take it upon himself to care for the little soul.
“Through all of their hardships Basil and Mickey had each other for comfort,” Dr Larry said.
Then, one day the friendship between Basil and Mickey was put to the ultimate test when the beloved cat was injured.
“A man living with Basil at a shelter kicked Mickey so hard that the impact shattered his elbow joint,” Dr Larry said.
Carrying Mickey for kilometers, Basil finally arrived at the doors of Bruma Lake Veterinary Hospital.
“I operated on Mickey’s elbow almost immediately and was hopeful that in time, the limb would heal. Sadly, Mickey would always have a limp,” Dr Larry said.
To Basil it was clear that their lives would never be the same. His friend and the only family he had would not be safe on the streets.
“Basil realised that because he was homeless, he could not provide a secure future for Mickey,” he said.
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It was then that Basil asked the staff at Bruma Lake Veterinary Hospital to help him look for a loving home for his best friend.
“Because he loved his companion so much, he made the choice to give him a better home,” Dr Larry said.
Basil continued to visit Mickey in hospital, but soon the visits became fewer and one day in October last year, they stopped altogether.
Mickey has since found a loving family to call his own.
For many other pets, their future is not as certain.
“With the festive period already upon us, many are pets are left abandoned. December sees a dramatic rise in the number of animals left at shelters and SPCAs. Basil and Mickey’s story is one of unconditional love. We respect the fact that Basil gave up his only companion in the hope that Mickey would have a better life than the one he had on the street,” Dr Larry said.
He urged residents to be kind to their pets.
“Spare a thought for them while you plan your festive holidays,” he said.
“We might never know what happened to Basil, but we are sure he would be happy knowing Mickey has the best home a cat would want,” Dr Larry said.
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