Couple Says Their Golden Retriever Became a Caregiver After Wife’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

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• A North Dakota family said their dog became a caregiver to owner Donna Aho after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

• The golden retriever, Skye, alerts Donna’s husband, Michael, during her nighttime tremors and accompanies her on walks

• The Ahos adopted Skye through a golden retriever rescue

A North Dakota family said their golden retriever has taken on an unexpected new role since a recent Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis: caregiver.

Donna Aho and her husband, Michael, said their 10-year-old golden retriever, Skye, has always shared a special bond with the family, per WDTV 5.

“She was a little puppy,” Michael recalled of the day he first met the dog. “She came running through, knocked the water bowl over and jumped into my lap. Right into my lap. And I go, ‘I’m done for.’ “

But after Donna was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, they began noticing behaviors that made them believe the dog instinctively understood when she needed help.

Skye has become especially attentive whenever Michael leaves the house.

“This dog knows that if I leave the house for any reason, she’s in tune with my wife, Donna,” he said while speaking to the outlet.

One of the moments that convinced him came in the middle of the night when Donna experienced night tremors related to her diagnosis.

Michael recalled being asleep when Skye suddenly rushed to Donna’s side.

“She came up to Donna’s side of the bed, ‘ruff, ruff,’ and a ‘ruff, ruff,’ and she just got her out of her dreams,” he recalled.

Skye has also become Donna’s trusted walking companion.

“I love to go for walks and so does Skye, obviously,” Donna said. “My husband is fearful that I’m going to wander off and get lost, and that has never happened because Skye knows.”

The Ahos adopted Skye a decade ago while volunteering with Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest, a nonprofit that rescues golden retrievers.

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Retrieve a Golden volunteer Gretchen Austin told WDTV 5 that Skye had been rescued from a commercial breeding facility before joining the Aho family.

“Skye was saved from a life of being in a commercial breeding facility and, as you can see, she has had just a wonderful life the last 10 years,” Austin said. “We’re very happy and proud of what a good girl she is.”

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