The man who sat on the floor to help a dog — and warmed a thousand hearts

This is the story of Baxter, a special little rescue dog, and Andy, a Lowe’s employee in Wilkesboro, NC — a man whose kindness we’ll never forget.

A couple of weeks ago, my best friend and I brought Baxter’s wheelchair to Lowe’s. We were looking for parts to add a small rear wheel so the cart wouldn’t tip on uneven ground.

We asked at the project desk:
“Is there someone who can think a little creatively and help us figure this out?”

And that’s when we met Andy.

He came right over, no hesitation, and sat down on the floor of the hardware aisle with us. For almost an hour, we looked at nuts, bolts, wheels, and brackets — tossing ideas back and forth like a little think tank, all centered around helping one small dog move better.

We left with everything we needed. It cost five dollars. But what Andy gave us was worth so much more.

After Baxter’s vet appointment and some tweaks to the setup, we brought him back to Lowe’s. Not to shop — but to show Andy the result.

Andy was at the project desk. As soon as he saw us, his whole face lit up. And then — just like before — he knelt down on the floor beside Baxter.

He greeted Baxter like an old friend. We explained the updates we made, and he inspected the wheels with a warm smile.
“You did great,” he said.
“It’s perfect.”

I asked to speak with the store manager. We wanted Andy’s patience and heart to be seen. The manager smiled and said:
“Please share this online — we’ll send it to Corporate.”

Andy was clearly moved. He gave us hugs and even said he and his wife would love to dog-sit Baxter anytime.

❤️ “Andy’s reaction made my heart smile,” my friend Lolly said.
💔 And I couldn’t agree more. Sometimes, all it takes is kneeling down to make someone — human or dog — feel truly seen.