Grandpa Brings Dog Along to Test New Furniture Purchase to Make Sure She Likes It Too

Illustration - wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

Aleecia Dahl’s grandpa sure has changed his tune after claiming he would never get a dog. He felt completely self-sufficient, he said, and didn’t think he needed the companionship of a canine to brighten his life in retirement.

But his views on the matter changed substantially when he came across Coco, a very special white poodle that managed to win his heart. “Coco is the dog Grandpa never wanted but cannot live without,” Aleecia explained to The Dodo. “They are the best of friends that he never knew he needed.”

Coco became such an integral part of this grandpa’s life that he couldn’t help but be a little shaken up by a forthcoming move. This meant ditching the old furniture that Coco and his best friend spent so much time on. In order to facilitate the transition, the family decided to include Coco on all the most important decisions.

The family couldn’t just have any old chair for the inseparable pair.

“When grandma and grandpa moved, they [needed] new furniture,” Aleecia said. “It was Grandpa’s requirement that the footrest on his lounge chair was wide enough for him and Coco to sit side by side.”

So, when the Dahls were headed to the furniture store to choose a new chair, it was only natural that they brought both grandpa and Coco along to make sure it was the perfect one.

Illustration - Jorge Mendoza Photo/Shutterstock

Bringing the beloved family dog seemed perfectly natural for them, though it surprised the employees in several of the furniture stores that they visited. “Coco was always greeted with a smile, as I am sure it’s not every day a man and his dog go furniture shopping!” said Aleecia.

Regardless of any positive attention from store staff, Grandpa and Coco weren’t going to be persuaded by the first chair they saw. After shopping around town for the best deal, they finally settled on a lazy boy recliner that has the perfect perch for the dog.

While all is well for Coco, lots of other dogs are still waiting for the perfect grandpa to help make their armchair cozier. The Knox County Humane Society in Galesburg, Illinois, had a dog named Buster Brown, who was obsessed with finding a spot for himself on the shelter’s chairs and couches, which unexpectedly led to a big donation campaign.

The staff finally decided to get the dog an armchair of his own, and the move spurred their imagination a step further. “[W]e thought it would be a good idea if they all got a chair,” shelter director Erin Buckmaster said to KJLB. “They love it. Like Mickey’s been here the longest, so we put him in his chair and he’s so much more relaxed.”

Since putting out a call for old chairs, the shelter has been overwhelmed with gifts from the public. “We’ve just seen that it’s been a wonderful thing for the dogs, they love it,” volunteer Sharron Ervin said. ”For the dogs in the shelter who are anxiously waiting for forever families, it’s something to give them comfort.”

She notes that apart from the kindness of shelter staff, volunteers, and donors, the dogs have little else to hold on to. “So many abused, so many homeless, so many strays, I mean there’s so many dogs in need,” she added.

Here’s hoping that dogs will find people to go with those recliners in 2020, just as Coco and Grandpa found the chair of their dreams to share.