Justin and Tori Cannarelli of New York almost have a typical American family with their two children, Cameron and Charlie, and a dog. But they also have one very unique member: a duck.<\/p>\n
“I never expected to own a duck. Never expected him to stay long term,” Tori told CBS News.<\/p>\n
The story unfolded when the Cannarellis sought out a duck for a garden center that is owned by Justin.<\/p>\n
Through Facebook Marketplace, they found a duck that had hatched in a Long Island elementary school classroom. But instead of taking Louie the duck to Justin’s garden center, Tori brought him home.<\/p>\n
It was supposed to be a short little visit, but Louie quickly became indispensable for one family member in particular: their golden retriever, Barley.<\/p>\n
A couple of years ago, Barley had started to have seizures. They put her on medication and it worked, the seizures stopped. But the family also observed some adverse side effects.<\/p>\n
“She just lost her spunk,” Tori said. “She lost her goldenness.”<\/p>\n
“We thought, oh man, this medication we have to give her for the rest of her life,” Justin said. “So this is how she’s going to be.”<\/p>\n
But then they noticed a bond building between Louie and Barley. A friendship that was being built peck by peck.<\/p>\n
“She started smiling again,” Tori said. “She started wagging her tail. She started having personality again.”<\/p>\n
Today, the two remain virtually inseparable. Louie pecks at Barley. And Barley chases Louie. They wrestle and relax together.<\/p>\n
And although Justin and Tori may never know exactly what shifted within Barley, their son Cameron has a theory.<\/p>\n
“She wanted to be friends with Louie and hang out with him a lot, so she kind of stretched her joy and fit in with him.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
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