Caregiver adopts dementia patient’s 55-pound Dachshund to reverse dangerous obesity

An in-home caregiver has adopted a Dachshund she encountered while caring for a woman with dementia after concluding the dog was being dangerously overfed and needed a structured plan to lose weight.

Tegan Strickland said she met the dog, Daisy, on her first visit to the woman’s home and was surprised by the animal’s size. The dog weighed 55 pounds — far above what Strickland expected for a Dachshund — and the caregiver decided in late May to take Daisy into her own home to work on her health and long-term welfare.

Strickland said the patient’s daughter had warned her on arrival that her mother “has a very fat dog” who was often given extra food. "I laid eyes on Daisy for the first time, and there are no words to describe what it is like to see Daisy in person for the first time. I was very shocked. She’s very heavyset," Strickland told PEOPLE, according to an account of the case.

Over time, Strickland said she tried to persuade the patient to change the dog’s feeding routine, but the patient’s memory impairment made it difficult to enforce consistent limits. Caregivers and family members sometimes confront similar situations when patients with dementia retain strong routines or impulses — in this case, repeatedly offering food — that can inadvertently harm pets in the household.

Strickland recorded portions of Daisy’s story and updates on the dog’s progress on social media, including a TikTok account under the handle @day_by_daisy, where followers have observed the animal’s initial condition and the caregiver’s efforts to institute a controlled feeding and exercise plan.

Strickland said adopting Daisy gave the dog “a brand new life” and added that Daisy has become a permanent member of her household. She described bringing the dog under a veterinary-supervised regimen designed to reduce caloric intake and increase activity, steps veterinarians generally recommend to address canine obesity.

Canine obesity is a recognized health concern among veterinary professionals because excess weight increases the risk of joint disease, diabetes, heart conditions and a shortened lifespan. Veterinarians emphasize that weight-loss plans should be tailored to the individual dog, monitored regularly, and implemented in consultation with a veterinarian to avoid nutritional deficits or other complications.

Dachshunds in particular can face orthopedic problems when overweight; their elongated spines and short legs make them vulnerable to back and joint injuries that excess weight can exacerbate. Strickland said those factors informed her decision to take swift action once she saw Daisy’s condition.

The case underscores two intersecting issues in home-based elder care: the challenges of managing a person’s care while also protecting the welfare of companion animals, and the role that caregivers sometimes play in making decisions about pets when family members and patients are unable to maintain consistent oversight.

Family members, caregivers and health professionals often must weigh competing priorities as dementia progresses. When an individual’s capacity to manage household responsibilities declines, arrangements for pets — including rehoming, fostering or closer supervision — sometimes become necessary to prevent harm to the animals and to preserve the person’s safety and dignity. In this instance, Strickland said she pursued adoption after repeated attempts to alter the household feeding routine proved ineffective.

Strickland’s public posts have also drawn attention to the emotional side of such decisions. She said taking Daisy into her care has given her a companion and that the dog’s presence has provided emotional rewards amid the practical work of caregiving.

Animal welfare advocates encourage people who encounter obese pets to seek veterinary advice rather than attempt abrupt changes without professional guidance. A veterinarian can assess a dog’s overall health, rule out medical causes of weight gain, recommend an appropriate diet plan and set safe, gradual weight-loss goals. Exercise recommendations must also reflect an animal’s current mobility and any underlying medical conditions.

The adoption also touches on legal and ethical considerations that can accompany changes in ownership when older adults or people with diminished capacity are involved. Consent from legal guardians or family members is often required for transferring ownership, and agencies that place or regulate in-home care may have policies about pets in client homes. In this case, Strickland said she coordinated with the patient’s family before finalizing the adoption.

Public response to Daisy’s story has been mixed, with many commenters praising Strickland for intervening on the dog’s behalf and others raising broader questions about how families manage pet care as relatives age. The narrative has resonated with a range of audiences: people interested in animal welfare, those who work in home health and caregivers who face the practical implications of dementia care.

Strickland said she will continue sharing updates on Daisy’s progress and that the immediate priority is steady, sustainable weight loss under veterinary supervision. She added that she hopes the story will encourage other caregivers and families to address pet-overfeeding problems early and to consider veterinary input when an animal’s weight becomes a health concern.

Health-care workers and animal welfare groups say the case is a reminder that pet health is part of community health, too. Companion animals often occupy central roles in households, and their well-being can be affected when human caregivers struggle with memory loss, physical limitations or other conditions that make routine care difficult. Proactive communication among family members, caregivers and veterinarians can help identify problems before they become severe and reduce the need for emergency interventions or rehoming.

Strickland said Daisy is settling into her new home and that she has begun the slow process of returning the dog to a healthier weight. She encouraged anyone who discovers an animal in similar condition to seek prompt veterinary evaluation and to involve family members in decisions about the pet’s future care.

The story of Daisy and her caregiver draws attention to how health issues in one household member — whether human or animal — can ripple through the lives of others, and to the practical steps available to protect both vulnerable people and the animals who share their homes.