When a scruffy rescue puppy named Heaven first went to live with her mom, Jackie Rakers, she’s afraid of everything. The little puppy from the Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter had ever had a very rough start to life. She got nervous around strangers as well as loud noises.
Fortunately, Rakers found the best place to help her beloved dog come out of the shell – Home Depot.
According to her, their Home Depot runs began as an ideal way to help Heaven with her fears. Her dog was so nervous about new sounds and new places, so they would go for around five minutes and she would get all her treats. Then, they started lasting longer and exposing her to many more things inside the store.
The huge, dog-friendly Home Depot was the best place for the nervous dog to socialize. And Heaven’s such a good girl during her visits that she got her own little employee apron.
Now, she knows that she is going to be in her favorite place when the tiny apron comes out. Rakers said that she keeps it in her car, so they are always ready. As soon as Heaven could tell that they enter the parking garage, she quivers until she puts the apron on her and takes off to “work.”
She added that her dog walks around like she really owns the place.
Heaven turns out to be a little bit of a dog celebrity at her local store, where its entire staff definitely knows her by name. There’s even a photo of her inside the break room.
While the dog may not be considered an official employee, when she is at her most favorite store, she absolutely offers outstanding customer service.
According to Rakers, Heaven walks around just minding her own business. Then, suddenly, she insists on meeting somebody. She’d only sit and stare, and they always turn out saying how they truly needed that pick-me-up. It’s somewhat like Heaven has a great sense of who really needs to be shown that they’re loved that day – and her most favorite place to do it is Home Depot.
The dog loves to run errands with Rakers. Wherever they go, she finds somebody having a bad day that needs her smile.
Rakers said that Heaven was afraid of everything. However, with a lot of patience and training, she finally learned to trust. Now, it is like that she pays it forward. She finds who really needs her and offers them her smile and some cuddle.
The only problem with all their store runs is that whenever they visit, Rakers always comes up with another new home improvement project. However, all their retail therapy is so worth it when she notices how happy her beloved dog is and also how far she has come.
According to her, Heaven is the best example of what really happens when you meet somebody where they’re at as well as love unconditionally. She went from being so sad and so scared to being the happiest dog.
Source Instagram via heaven_is_a_dog
