Meet Baru: From Rescue Pup to Decor Direct’s Official Store Greeter
RECLAIMED & RESCUED
For more than 30 years, rescue dogs have greeted customers at Decor Direct.
Different dogs. Different stories. One shared spirit.
From Petey to Lucky and now Baru, each has brought warmth, personality and a little joyful chaos to our Sarasota warehouse.
They haven’t simply been our dogs.
They have become part of the Decor Direct experience—and part of our family.
petey, Lucky, baru and our Rescue Buddies
Petey
The Original Chief Canine Officer
Before Lucky and Baru, there was Petey.
A black-and-white rescue hound mix with endless personality, we rescued Petey from the Humane Society of Sarasota County. He became part of the Decor Direct family in the 1990s and remained by our side for 14 wonderful years.
He lived through the early warehouse days filled with Sarasota furniture, the long work hours, the growth of the business, and countless customer visits. Petey was there before social media, before smartphones, and before 'branding' was even part of the conversation. He simply showed up every day with loyalty, humor, and heart.
He helped establish something that would quietly become part of Decor Direct’s identity: a warehouse not just stocked with decor and furniture, but filled with warmth and life.
Lucky
The Warehouse Greeter
In 2013, another rescue pup arrived and quickly became a local legend in the heart of our decor furniture store. Lucky, our beloved Black Mouth Cur mix, was saved from a high kill shelter in Orlando by our customer Michelle Carlson of the animal rescue organization "Gimme Shelter Pets." He greeted thousands of customers over the years, becoming just as familiar to visitors as our live-edge tables and reclaimed wood slabs.
He wandered the warehouse like he owned the place, happily supervising deliveries, greeting guests, and occasionally finding the best air-conditioned nap spots before anyone else.
Lucky reminded us daily that rescue animals carry a kind of wisdom and gratitude that is hard to describe but easy to feel. His joyful spirit became woven into the experience of visiting Decor Direct, a premier destination for Sarasota furniture.
Though Lucky’s watch officially ended in 2026, his imprint remains everywhere throughout the warehouse and in the memories of the people who met him.
Baru
Chief Canine Officer in Training
Now a new set of paws carries the story forward at Decor Direct.
Baru joined our team in 2026 after being adopted from Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. 9.6 pounds and just 10 weeks old.
Equal parts explorer, comedian, and future warehouse supervisor, Baru is currently in training for his role as the next Chief Canine Officer.
His current responsibilities include:
- Chasing sticks twice his size
- Providing morale support during long workdays.
Watching him grow into confidence and joy has been a touching reminder of why animal rescue matters.