As dogs age, they naturally begin to slow down, but devoted pet owners do everything they can to ensure their furry kids remain happy and comfortable during their golden years. One family went above and beyond for their beloved senior dog, rearranging their own routines and sleep schedules just to make sure he still felt loved and cared for. Spike, a 14-year-old English Springer Spaniel, has been a cherished member of a wonderful family for years. Like many dogs his age, he now faces mobility challenges.
Recently, Spike suffered a second stroke, which has made it difficult for him to navigate stairs. This unfortunate turn of events meant he could no longer join his family in one of his favorite activities: sleeping in bed with them, something he has done ever since he was a young pup.
“The first night we had him, we closed the stair gate and went to bed,” Spike’s owner, Catherine Morris, shared with The Dodo. “He whined for a couple of minutes before jumping over the gate in the dark and trotting up into my parents’ room and straight up onto the bed! And that’s where he slept from then on.” However, with the family bedroom located on the second floor, Spike could no longer reach his beloved spot on the bed. Despite his weakened condition, he tried repeatedly to climb the stairs, prompting the family to block them off for his safety.
Determined not to let this keep Spike from feeling close to them, the family devised a heartwarming solution: if Spike couldn’t go upstairs to sleep with them, they would come downstairs to sleep with Spike! Now, the family takes turns setting up the pull-out couch and spending the night downstairs, ensuring that Spike always has company.
When Catherine returned home from university, she discovered this new arrangement but wasn’t surprised. Her family has always been closely bonded with Spike. “They’re absolutely inseparable,” Catherine told The Dodo. “My dad calls him ‘old bean,’ and they’re always chatting away.”
Her dad even takes extra steps to ensure Spike is well cared for, bringing his water and food to the sofa and feeding him by hand to make sure he takes his medicine and keeps his strength up. Though Spike may not be the energetic young pup he once was, his family’s love for him has never wavered. With their selfless actions, they have shown they will do whatever it takes to make Spike’s final years as wonderful as possible.
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“We love our old boy so much and are so glad to have him in our lives,” Catherine said. “Hopefully, we have made up for his not-so-good start in life by providing all the love in the world.” It’s truly inspiring to see the lengths people will go to for their dogs. Thank you to this incredible family for taking such good care of their sweet senior dog!
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