When Catherine Morris’ family adopted Spike nine years ago, they decided he would be a “downstairs dog.” But Spike — an affectionate English springer spaniel — had his own plans.
“The first night we had him, we closed the stair gate and went to bed,” Morris told 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 onto the bed! And that's where he slept from then on.”
From that day, Spike claimed his spot — right beside the people he loved most.
During his younger years, Spike was a ball of energy. He could run for hours, chasing tennis balls and bounding through the yard. But no matter how playful his days were, his favorite time was always bedtime — curling up under the covers, pressing as close as he could to his family.
Now 14 years old, Spike’s once-bouncy legs have grown weak. After suffering two strokes, his family feared the worst. For a time, Spike couldn’t even stand, and Catherine and her parents had to carry him from room to room.
But Spike wasn’t ready to give up.
With gentle care and determination, he learned to walk again — though stairs are now too much for him. The family had to block off his beloved route to the upstairs bedrooms, afraid he might try to climb and hurt himself.
Still, they knew Spike’s heart longed to be near them. So they came up with a plan that would keep him safe — and never lonely.
Now, every night, one of them sleeps on the pull-out couch downstairs to keep Spike company. They take turns — Catherine, her mom, and her dad — making sure their loyal old boy is never without the warmth of family nearby.
“This new schedule started while I was away at university,” Catherine said. “My parents spent alternate nights downstairs with Spike. Since I moved back home, I’ve joined the rotation, so we all get a bit more sleep between the three of us.”
But it’s Catherine’s dad who shares the closest bond with Spike.
“They’re absolutely inseparable,” she said. “My dad calls him ‘old bean’ and they’re always chatting away.”
Every night, Spike’s dad brings him food and water right to the sofa, feeding him by hand and making sure he gets his medicine and stays strong.
It’s a quiet routine built on years of love — a father and his faithful dog keeping each other company through the twilight of Spike’s life.
“We love our old boy so much and are so glad to have him in our lives,” Catherine said. “Hopefully, we’ve made up for his not-so-good start in life by giving him all the love in the world.”
💛 To keep up with Spike’s heartwarming adventures, you can follow him on Instagram.
