Mickey, the heart-melting roadside special

Where dogs are a man’s best friend, they are also, quite certainly, a woman’s greatest companion.

This looked especially true in the case of Mishka Pillay, and her two-and-a-half-year-old mixed-breed best friend Mickey, when the pair visited Morningside for hockey on June 30.

“He is a roadside special, which is basically a mix of anything and everything – but, luckily, he’s 100% dog,” Pillay said jovially. “I got him just before he turned two, so he was only a puppy for a little while after I got him from the shelter.”

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Pillay said she adopted Mickey in September 2023, after moving into a place which allowed for her to own a pet. She explained why it had been important for her to wait before inviting a pet into her life.

“I had always had pets growing up,” said Pillay. “Because I was working, and by myself, I didn’t feel it would be fair to have a dog until I was able to continuously care for one and be present in my life. Now that I’ve got a work-from-home job, I can have a dog.”

Mickey is described by Pillay as being soft-spoken, curious, and quite sociable.

“He is a sweetie. He’s very quiet as well, and doesn’t bark much. I get surprised and shocked if he does bark,” Pillay laughed. “The way he communicates with me is with mostly whines or calls at me by coming up to me asking for scratches. That’s his basic language.”

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Although Mickey does own clothes, Pillay emphasises that the items he owns are more necessities than fashion statements.

“His ears get cold really easily, and he’s quite skinny so clothes do help him to stay warm. Especially in my house, where I’ve got tiles; it’s very cold,” said Pillay. “He comes to me in the evening when he wants his jacket, and he’ll sit and stare at me in the morning to take it off of him because he wants to go for a run in the sun.”

Mickey is also fond of his chew toys, especially the ones that squeak. As far as his diet goes, Pillay described Mickey as being prone to scavenging anything that falls to the ground.

“Otherwise, his favourite meal is chicken,” said Pillay. “If you had to make him choose between great meal options, he’ll always go for the chicken meal.”

Pillay concluded by mentioning Mickey’s favourite place to go in Sandton.

“He likes to go visit his friends, Ringo and Buster.”

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