The average dog’s favorite place to visit is usually the dog park or the beach. But Josh, a goldendoodle from Arizona, isn’t an average dog.
Back in 2017, Kimberly Hangartner decided on a whim to foster Josh, a pup whose neurological condition means he needs a bit of extra help getting around.
“I was overwhelmed when I saw that he could basically not walk on his own without falling over,” Hangartner told The Dodo. “But at the same time, I fell instantly in love.”
Hangartner knew she wanted Josh to become a permanent member of her family after just a few days of having him with her. She realized that wherever she went, whatever she was doing, she wanted Josh’s happy, calming presence by her side.
“He’s easy to love,” Hangartner said. “He’s just a cool dude. He’s like the kind of guy you want to have with you all the time.”
With the help of his wheelchair, Josh was able to move around as he pleased. The only problem was he didn’t seem too motivated to exercise.
“Josh … is a lazy couch potato,” Hangartner said. “If it were up to him, he would lay in one spot all day, every day.”
One day, Hangartner brought Josh along with her to run some errands, making a stop at Lowe’s Home Improvement. The second Josh walked into Lowe’s, something changed.
“The way he trotted … through the doors, he just got this look,” Hangartner said. “I was like, ‘OK, he really likes it here. Something about this is really piquing his interest.’”
Hangartner had never seen Josh so excited. They spent an hour walking up and down every single aisle. Josh enjoyed sniffing the lumber and meeting the kids, workers and other dogs in the store.
“It’s engaging for him,” Hangartner said.
After that first time visiting Lowe’s, Hangartner brought him back another time — and then another. Every single visit, Josh couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. His entire body would shake with uncontrollable joy.
Josh’s favorite part of being at Lowe’s is getting to visit the employees, and Josh’s very favorite employee is Gracie. Every time Josh sees Gracie, he completely lights up.
“She gets down, crouches down on the ground and calls to him, and he gets so excited,” Hangartner said. “He loves being celebrated like that.”
Hangartner likes to park on the opposite side of the store so Josh sprints all the way over to Gracie. Running around Lowe’s is his favorite form of exercise — the only exercise he’s willing to do, really. So they like to visit at least a few times a month.
As a devoted dog mom, Hangartner sometimes finds herself worried about whether Josh gets enough enrichment. The one time she can really let go and know that Josh is completely content is when they’re at Lowe’s together.
“When I’m there in Lowe’s … the employees kind of stop what they’re doing, they’re smiling, everyone’s stopping and watching, [and] Josh is happy,” Hangartner said. “I feel like I’m a little fly on the wall kind of observing, like the universe just dropped a little piece of heartwarming magic in the center of everyone’s day.”
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