In a time of war, separation and aggression in the human world, it is cathartic to witness such a great example of peace and comfort between different species in the animal world.
Johannesburg, South Africa (08 March 2022) – A little kitten, barely even eight weeks old, snuck out of his ‘hospital bed’ to cuddle with a sick puppy who was also in isolation.
Yup, our hearts are collectively melting.
This week a cute ginger kitten arrived at Greenside Animal Hospital as a stray. Since he’s only between six and eight weeks old and the team weren’t sure of his vaccination status, he got a one-way ticket to their Isolation Ward.
Greenside Animal Hospital is one of the oldest private veterinary practices in South Africa. It opened its doors in 1943 on the corner of Barry Hertzog Avenue and Muirfield Road. Barry Hertzog Avenue was still a dirt road when the original house that became the practice was built in 1937. It was only the third house built in the newly established suburb of Greenside.
The hospital has three consulting rooms and two operating theatres, as well as a separate isolation unit, where the very sick animals are kept to protect themselves and other animals against dangerous viruses, infections or other transmitted diseases. The isolation unit also has a separate ventilation system to protect against the transmission of infectious diseases between animals that have to be hospitalised.
“There was only one other patient in the Isolation Ward – a little stray dog who was brought in earlier in the week with biliary and who was in a separate cage receiving intensive treatment for his illness.”
Biliary is one of the most common infectious diseases of dogs in Southern Africa. It is also known as tick bite fever or “Bosluiskoors” in Afrikaans. Usually, treatment is effective, depending on several factors, but the majority will respond, so this little pup is in the best place to get the best care… and now also has a little ginger friend to help get him through this.
Greenside Animal Hospital usually keeps dogs and cats separate in the General Ward. Cats who live in ‘dog-free’ households don’t take well to being hospitalised with barking and rowdy dogs, and as a result, their cat ward is very quiet and peaceful.
“But the situation in our Isolation Ward bent all the rules when we arrived this morning to find that the little ginger kitten had squeezed through the door of his cage and managed to climb into his new canine friend’s cage where we found them; cuddled up together, asleep.”
Related Story
“Fortunately the little dog showed no aggression towards the kitten. In fact, our veterinary team deemed this new friendship therapeutic for both animals and decided to leave the two of them together for warmth and companionship.”
“In a time of war, separation and aggression in the human world, it is cathartic to witness such a great example of peace and comfort between different species in the animal world. We are inspired by this experience and hope for peace and healing for humankind!”
by 