“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.” – Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Come to think of it; it’s so unfair that dogs get to live for a short time. Everyone who has an old dog knows all too well that their time with us is just too short. In just a few years, the once playful pup becomes an old dog that needs all the love and care they could get.

Nine years ago, Catherine Morris and her family welcomed a very energetic puppy into their lives. They named him “Spike,” and his name suits him well.

The family had an agreement before getting Spike. They wanted him to be a downstairs dog, but we all know that these types of plans wouldn’t stand a chance with such a cute puppy, right?

The adorable English springer spaniel didn’t quite agree with the Morris’ idea of him being a downstairs dog. He loved his family so much that he wanted to stay with them.

“The first night we had him, we closed the stair gate and went to bed,” Catherine 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.”

Spike loves to play! He would run around, jump, and chase his tennis balls for hours! He’s a pup full of energy, and his family loved him!

At night, he never fails to climb up the stairs and share the bed with his loving family, where he would snuggle and share kisses with everyone.

Time flies fast. Spike is now 14 years old.

The once hyper pup has slowed down. Catherine and her family are slowly realizing that Spike is becoming too weak, especially when he had his second stroke.

Poor little thing became too weak after the second stroke. In fact, Spike wasn’t able to stand up after the sad event.

Catherine and her family opted to carry their old dog around the house, but Spike was a determined dog. He tried his best to walk again – and he did. Unfortunately, he still can’t climb up and down the stairs, and his family is too worried that he might try to climb up at night.

They had to think of something. They knew the old dog needed his family more than ever. They knew it was time for them to spoil their old dog.

First, they had to set up a stair gate to prevent him from climbing, and then their plan came into action.

Spike’s loving family would take turns sleeping on their pull-out couch with him. They make sure that they would cuddle him and make him feel comfortable and safe, so that he wouldn’t try to climb up the stairs.

“This new schedule started while I was away at university, so my parents spent alternate nights downstairs with Spike,” Morris said in her interview. “Since I moved back home, I’ve joined the rotation so all in all we get a bit more sleep between the three of us.”

Catherine’s dad takes exceptional care of Spike.

“They’re absolutely inseparable,” Catherine shared. “My dad calls him ‘old bean,’ and they’re always chatting away.”

When Spike is having a hard time moving, Catherine’s dad will bring Spike his water and food. He would also make sure that the dog’s bed would be soft and comfortable.

Anyone with a dog would know that a little sacrifice is nothing for your family. Spike is their family, and they would do everything they can to make sure that their beloved dog feels loved.

“We love our old boy so much and are so glad to have him in our lives,” Morris said. “Hopefully, we have made up for his not so good start in life by providing all the love in the world.”

Spike may be old and weak, but we can see how happy he is to have such a loving family. If you love to see more of Spike and his family, don’t forget to follow him on his Instagram account.

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Source: The Dodo, spikethespringer