Barley and Louie: Unlikely Best Friends
A dog named Barley sat in an examination room, her ears drooping after being medicated for epilepsy. Her owners, Justin and Tori Canarelli, were worried that Barley’s personality was gone. Later, the family accepted took in a four-year-old duck named Louie. The duck kept pecking and nudging Barley to play, and soon enough, she regained her energy.
Barley is a golden retriever who lives with her owners, Justin and Tori Canarelli, along with their two children, Cameron and Charlie, in They live in Long Island, New York. Barley was diagnosed with epilepsy in February, 2024, and while the medicine she took stopped her seizures, it also made her extremely tired and silent. Tori said Barley “lost her goldenness.”
Later, Justin was scrolling through Facebook Marketplace when he saw that two ducklings had hatched as part of a school science project. Justin and Tori only planned to keep Louie, one of the ducks, temporarily for Justin’s garden center (a shop that sells plants, seeds, pots, soil, garden tools, and outdoor decorations), not as an indoor family pet. When Louie reached their home, he waddled toward Barley, pecking her and trying to get her to play. Slowly, Barley started wanting to play with Louie. After months of coaxing, Barley began engaging with Louie. He Louie finally helped her Barley become energetic again. Now, the pair nap and chase each other often. The family calls Louie Barley’s “Emotional Support Duck.”
When Tori and Justin began posting cute photos and videos on their Instagram page, @duckandadog, people worldwide fell in love with this sweet, unlikely friendship, and their story quickly went viral. Viewers loved Barley and Louie’s the duck and dog’s friendship, suprised to see . Most people would never believe two animals of a different species could become close friends. Lots of people said their charming relationship helped them take a break from boring daily news.
Though Barley still manages her epilepsy with daily medication, her life is no longer dull and tired. Thanks to Louie’s endless playful energy and steady companionship, she is back to still her lively, cheerful self.