By A golden retriever whose playful personality faded after she began taking anti-seizure medication has found an unlikely reason to wag her tail again: a duck named Louie.
Justin and Tori Canarelli were living a fairly typical family life on Long Island with their two children and their energetic golden retriever, Barley, when the dog began suffering seizures a couple of years ago.
A golden retriever suffering from seizures seemingly lost her spunk — until one day her owners brought home a miracle cure — a duck named Louie. @SteveHartmanCBS is On the Road. pic.twitter.com/6ZfnURuTvr
— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) August 7, 2026
Medication brought the seizures under control, according to reports, but the family soon noticed a difficult tradeoff. Barley, once bursting with the cheerful energy golden retrievers are famous for, became quiet and subdued.
The family said it seemed as though she had lost some of her “goldenness.”
“We thought, ‘Oh man, this medication we have to give her for the rest of her life. So this is how she’s going to be,’” family members recalled in a CBS News segment. “There’s nothing you can do for them. There’s no way to help them.”
Then Louie showed up.
Tori brought the duckling home after he hatched at a local elementary school. The plan was never for Louie to become a permanent member of the family.
“I never thought I would own a duck. I never expected him to stay long-term,” she said.
Barley apparently had other ideas.
The golden retriever quickly became fascinated with the new arrival, and before long the two animals had developed an unmistakable friendship. Barley began wagging her tail more. Her playful demeanor returned. She smiled again.
Today, Barley and Louie are rarely far apart. Louie pecks at Barley, Barley chases Louie, and the pair wrestle, roam the yard and relax alongside one another.
The family’s son, Cam, has his own explanation for what happened.
“She wanted to be friends with Louie and hang out with him a lot, so she kind of stretched her joy… and like fit in with him,” he said.
CBS correspondent Steve Hartman featured Barley and Louie in his long-running “On the Road” series for the “CBS Evening News,” telling the story of how a duck who was never supposed to stay became exactly what Barley seemed to need.
There may be no scientific explanation for exactly why Louie brought Barley back out of her shell.
The Canarellis do not seem to need one.
Their once-subdued golden retriever is playing again, her tail is wagging, and the personality they feared might be gone for good has returned.
