Texas Home Improvement Store Hires Disabled Vet And His Service Dog

ABILENE, TX — In terms of hiring practices, you might call this a "two fur one."
No, that's not a typo. A home improvement store in Abilene has achieved internet celebrity status of a sort after not only hiring disabled veteran Clay Luthy but his service dog as well, a winsome, 10-year old golden retriever.

Doggedly determined to find work after his stint for the U.S. Air Force, Luthy told the Abilene Reporter-News his job search was contingent on finding an employer who would let Charlotte work alongside him. The 35-year-year old vet recently underwent knee surgery, and Charlotte is specially trained to assist him should he ever fall.

The manager at the Lowe's store in Abilene was happy to oblige. He — and Charlotte — got the job.

By all accounts, the pair make a good team, especially with customers bringing their children into the store with them. While Luthy helps customers, gentle Charlotte, always eager to be petted, enthralls the kiddos.

This is pretty important work, mind you. Charlotte was even issued a Lowe's vest, custom-fitted to her canine frame.

“They were the best person for the job. So, we went through the interview process, and Clay and his own merit won the job,” the store’s human resource manager told KIDY. “And we knew he was gonna make a great employee. We just got the benefit of getting Charlotte right along with him.”

As for Luthy, he's just happy to be gainfully employed after his double-knee surgery. And as long as Charlotte is by his side, he's good to go. “I found a way to have a productive life,” he told the newspaper. “And my prescription is four-legged.”

The two are a hit with customers. One of them amassed photos of the dynamic duo and posted them on her Facebook page. "I love Abilene Lowe's," she wrote. "Way to go! This is a disabled vet who struggled to get a job because he needs his service dog. Lowe's hired them BOTH!"

Located in west-central Texas, Abilene is located some 150 miles west of Fort Worth, Texas. The city is the 27th most populous in Texas, with 166,416 residents calling it home.

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