11/16/2025
Kairo climbs into bed with us every night as he starts his night shift.
It’s a routine that never changes — he picks his position carefully, settles in, and stays alert.
For him, nighttime isn’t rest. It’s work. It’s watching over Christopher, monitoring subtle changes, and making sure nothing goes unnoticed.
It’s remarkable to witness that level of devotion.
But there’s another side to it that people rarely talk about — the impact it has on the family.
Tonight, Kairo decided that my pillow was the best place to set up for the night.
He positioned himself sideways, nose pressed against Christopher’s back, body stretched long, and his back towards me.
And when Kairo chooses a spot, there is a purpose. He isn’t sleeping.
He’s working.
And here’s the truth: that work comes with sacrifices from all of us.
There are nights when I give up my pillow because he needs that position to do his job.
Nights when I sleep on the very edge of the mattress so he has the vantage point he needs.
Living with a service dog means adapting constantly.
It means respecting the job he’s doing, even when it makes things harder, even when I’m exhausted, even when I’d love to roll over and reclaim just a little space.
And I’m not complaining.
This is part of our family’s reality, and part of what allows Christopher to live.
But I think it’s okay to say that being the spouse in a service dog household comes with its own quiet challenges — the kind no one applauds, the kind that never makes it into the highlight reel.
Kairo isn’t just a dog in our home.
He is a working partner.
A medical lifeline.
A constant presence who takes his responsibilities seriously.
And some nights, that means he claims my pillow and I shift around him — not because he wants comfort, but because he needs the position that lets him keep watch.
It’s going to be a long night.
But it’s our night.
And in its own way, it’s part of how our family works.
I can ask him to move. But, I won't. Because Kairo is cuddling with me in his own way.
— Ashley
