It’s his happy place ❤️
The average dog’s favorite place to visit is usually a dog park or the beach, but Josh, a goldendoodle from Arizona, is not your average dog.
Back in 2017, Kimberly Hangartner made a decision that would change both her and Josh’s life. She chose to foster Josh, a pup with a neurological condition that made it difficult for him to walk without falling over. “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.”
Josh’s condition made him need a bit of extra help getting around, but despite the challenges, Kimberly quickly realized she wanted him to be a permanent member of her family. After just a few days, she was already certain that wherever she went, whatever she did, she wanted Josh’s happy, calming presence by her side. “He’s easy to love,” she 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 aid of a wheelchair, Josh was able to move around, but there was one small issue: he wasn’t very motivated to get up and exercise. “Josh … is a lazy couch potato,” Hangartner laughed. “If it were up to him, he would lay in one spot all day, every day.”
Then, one day, Hangartner took Josh along for some errands, including a stop at Lowe’s Home Improvement. When they walked through the store’s doors, something clicked for Josh. “The way he trotted … through the doors, he just got this look,” Hangartner recalled. “I was like, ‘OK, he really likes it here. Something about this is really piquing his interest.’”
For the first time, Josh was genuinely excited. They spent an hour exploring the store, sniffing the lumber and meeting kids, employees, and other dogs. “It’s engaging for him,” Hangartner said. “He just lit up, and we walked up and down every single aisle.”
After that visit, Hangartner started bringing Josh to Lowe’s more frequently. Each time they went, Josh’s joy was evident. His whole body would shake with excitement as he made his rounds, especially when he visited the employees. His absolute favorite was Gracie, one of the staff members. “She gets down, crouches down on the ground and calls to him, and he gets so excited,” Hangartner shared. “He loves being celebrated like that.”
Hangartner sometimes parks on the opposite side of the store to let Josh sprint over to Gracie, turning it into his form of exercise, and the only exercise he’s willing to do. They visit Lowe’s at least a few times a month so Josh can get his happy fix.
As a devoted dog mom, Hangartner occasionally worries about whether Josh is getting enough mental and physical enrichment. But when they are at Lowe’s, she feels at peace, knowing that Josh is completely content. “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,” she 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.”
For Josh, Lowe’s is more than just a place—it’s a world of joy, exercise, and connection that brings out the best in him and everyone around him. It’s not just a visit to a store; it’s a reminder of how small acts of kindness and simple moments can make a world of difference.