NFL Player Gives A ‘Not-So-Adoptable’ Shelter Dog A Forever Home

The pup has a new leash on life!
Ronnie Stanley with Lola.

Here is a tail that will make you smile.

On Saturday, Ronnie Stanley, the rookie left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, walked into the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter with an unexpected request.

Accompanied by his girlfriend and his teammate, Alex Lewis, the NFL player told the front desk:

“We are looking for dog that's been here a long time and maybe not-so-adoptable," according to a post on BARC’s Facebook page.

The staff was thrilled.

“’Not-so-adoptable’ can mean a lot of things here … senior pets, physically imperfect, on-going medical and more,” BARC wrote in the post that has gone viral since it was posted on Wednesday.

“I feel like having an animal for a pet builds character and really forces you to be responsible for more than yourself at that point — especially when you care about the animal to that extent,” Stanley told The Baltimore Sun.

The dog that Stanley adopted, and named Lola, is a 6-year-old retriever and terrier mix, who was found by a concerned neighbor on a vacant property, on a hot day with no electricity or open windows. Bailey Deacon, a BARCS staff member told The Baltimore Sun that when Lola was found, she was chewing through drywall.

Lola had been at the shelter for about a month, which usually marks dogs as long-term occupants. She was overlooked at the shelter due to her “long, hanging belly” which is likely the result of overbreeding, a condition that, at her age, will not tighten or improve, BARCS said.

But Stanley didn’t care about that.

“Well, that's just what happens when you've had babies,” is what volunteers at the shelter overheard Stanley say, according to the post, adding: “He was much more interested in getting lots of face kisses from [Lola] and falling in love, rather than being worried about the appearance of her tummy.”

According to the Baltimore Ravens’ site, many players from the team have adopted dogs from BARCS, including guard, Ryan Jensen, former wide receiver, Torrey Smith.

Lewis, who accompanied Stanley to BARCS did not adopt at that time, but already has two adorable rescue pups of his own:

Alex Lewis with his two rescue pups Tootsie and Tino, and also holding his mom's rescue, Chester.
Alex Lewis with his two rescue pups Tootsie and Tino, and also holding his mom's rescue, Chester.

The shelter also gave Lewis a special shout out because he “offered to help our staff members carry large bags of dog food, while his buddy Ronnie was taking our adopter class.”

Aw guys, way to make us whimper!

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