Dog rescued during Hurricane Helene becomes store greeter in Greensboro

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — A 2-year-old Anatolian Shepherd named Kojak is ready to work at a Greensboro hardware store.

After 12 weeks of training, Kojak is now a full-time employee. However, just a year ago, Kojak’s future didn’t seem so bright. He was one of the thousands of western North Carolina animals that were left stranded after Hurricane Helene.

When you walk into Nighthawk Ace Hardware Store in Greensboro, you will be welcomed by Kojak.

With his piercing yellow eyes and energetic tail wagging, Christina Millikan, the general manager of the store, knew Kojak would be the perfect employee.

“He’s just a loveable big teddy bear. He loves everybody. There is not a mean bone in this dog’s body,” Millikan said.

But Kojak’s life was not always so upbeat. Almost a year ago, Kojak was stuck at the Asheville Humane Society as Helene tore through western North Carolina.

In the days that followed, the tight-knit animal rescue community knew they would have to step up to help pets like Kojak get out of the disaster zone.

The Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue Network was one of the many agencies that stepped up.

“Anytime you are going through a hurricane or a disaster relief, you need to clear out the space so you can make room for the pets that are found so that owners can come and find their pets that were separated from them,” RDFARN Executive Director Lauren Riehle said. 

That day, about 30 dogs, 20 cats and six guinea pigs were taken out of western North Carolina by airplane and brought back to the Triad. 

RDFARN Animal Specialist Taylor Dehorty vividly remembers the moment Kojak got off that plane.

“A lot of them were scared … A lot of them were anxious, but he really wasn’t. He was there with his tail wagging,” Dehorty said. 

She knew immediately Kojak would have a bright future.

“If you give people and animals a chance, they will come around, and there still is good in this world, no matter what,” Dehorty said. 

After 12 weeks of training, Kojak’s journey finally brought him to Ace Hardware Store

With his second chance in life, he’s enjoying treats and good pets, but he’s also a working dog. His main responsibility is greeting people and putting a smile on their faces.

Kojak is proof that resilience can’t be broken. Even in the hardest chapters, there’ still room to smile.

“Kojak’s story is about resilience and overcoming tragedy, I think through it all, … he had a fantastic personality,” Riehle said. 

Nighthawk Ace Hardware Store will have its grand opening Saturday, and Kojak will be there greeting the customers.