Rescuers come in many shapes and sizes, for a little squirrel it was in the form of Pyotr Pankratau, a soldier in the Belarusian military. Joining the military at a young age, some of the other soldiers brought the squirrel to Pankratau to nurse back to health. He did not expect what happened next.

Pankratau nurses the squirrel back to health

When Pankratau started to rehabilitate the squirrel, he had no idea that he would gain a lifelong friend. When the squirrel came to him, which he named Minsk, he was on the verge of death.

“He was lying unconscious under the tree,” Pankratau told Euro Radio. “There were worms in his mouth and right eye so I took them out. Two weeks later everything got back to normal.”

A member of the Belarusian army at the time, he nursed the squirrel back to health by feeding the squirrel milk from a syringe every four hours despite his duties.

Minsk sticks around

Even after Minsk recovered, he stayed by Pankratau’s side. When it was time for Pankratau to get out of the army two years later, he took Minsk back home with him. After leaving the military, Pankratau became a taxi driver. Even in his cab, Minsk accompanies Pankratau as he ferries passengers around the city.

Minsk knows to not bother the passengers

Pankratau says not to worry about Minsk bothering his passengers; the squirrel is very well trained and stays in his designated areas of the car, which are mainly around the dash or on Pankratau’s shoulder. For the most part, Minsk stays out of sight of the passengers, though he has become a favorite with children who ride in Pankratau’s cab.

Now, Minsk goes about everywhere with Pankratau

“I took him with me everywhere. In the army, everywhere,” Pankratau said. “So, he got used to this. Minsk has a standard routine at home too – eating, then sleeping, from the kitchen to either under the blanket or to the wardrobe. He likes to sleep with me, close to my neck. He is very independent. There are no better animals.”

Minsk has his favorite spots

Some of his favorite places to sleep at home include Pankratau’s old military caps or on Pankratau’s chest, which the rambunctious squirrel likes to use as a pillow. As for Minsk running away, Pankratau says he doesn’t worry about that.

“He ran away once, but I came up to the tree and he returned,” Pankratau said. “Recently, I put him on a tree, and he was totally frightened and trembled all over.”

[H2] Minsk fits right into Pankratau’s family of pets

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In addition to Minsk, Pankratau has a cat and an aquarium. He used to have two cats, but one tried to hunt Minsk, so he had to move the cat to another house.

Pankratau doesn’t let all of his passengers know about Minsk. “I don’t show him to everyone. I mean, what’s the point? Why disturb him all the time? I show him to kids. However, I watch him constantly.”

H/T: Paw My Gosh, Daily Mail