Heaven was terrified of everything when she initially moved in with Jackie Rakers.
The scruffy rescue dog from Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter had a rocky start in life and was afraid of strangers and loud noises.
Fortunately, her mother discovered the ideal venue to assist her in breaking out of her shell: Home Depot.
Rakers told The Dodo, “The Home Depot runs started as a means to help her with her worries.” “She was afraid of strange places and sounds, so we’d go for five minutes and she’d receive all the treats,” she explained.
Then we started visiting for longer and longer periods of time, exposing her to more and more of the store’s offerings.”
Heaven was a wonderful girl on her visits to the enormous, dog-friendly business, and she got her own miniature staff apron since she was such a good girl.
When the apron comes out, she knows she’s about to head to her favorite location.
Rakers explained, “I keep it in the car so we’re always ready.” “As soon as she realizes we’re in the parking lot, she quivers and waits for me to put [the apron] on her before running off to ‘work.'”
Rakers said, “She goes around like she owns the area.”
Heaven has become something of a celebrity at her local Home Depot, where everyone knows her by name and a photo of her hangs in the break room.
And, despite the fact that she is not an official employee, she provides exceptional customer service when she visits her favorite business.
Rakers remarked, “She wanders around doing her own business and then insists on meeting someone.” “All she does is sit and look.” They’ll always mention how much they needed that pick-me-up. It’s as if she has a sense of who needs to be shown love that day – and Home Depot is one of her favorite venues to do so!”
Heaven loves running errands with her mom, and everywhere they go, she finds someone having a rough day who needs her smile.
“She was scared of everything, but with a lot of training and patience, she learned to trust, and now it’s like she pays it forward,” Rakers said. “She finds who needs her and gives them that smile and a cuddle.”
The only drawback to all of their Home Depot visits is that Rakers comes up with a new home improvement project every time they go. When she sees how happy Heaven is and how far she’s come, all of the retail therapy is worth it.
“She’s the epitome of what occurs when you meet someone where they are and unconditionally love them,” Rakers said. “She transformed from being terrified and depressed to being the happiest dog.”
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