NFL Star Ronnie Stanley Walks Into Animal Shelter and Adopts ’the Dog Everyone Ignored’

Getty Images | Jon Durr

Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley scored huge points on social media after a visit to the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS). He wasn’t fussily looking for the perfect pooch; Stanley wanted the dog that nobody else would adopt.

After considering the countless animals in dire need, Stanley, 25, decided to offer a loving home to a dog that was “maybe not-so-adoptable,” BARCS staff said.

“‘Not-so-adoptable' can mean a lot of things here,” BARCS staff later shared on Facebook, “senior pets, physically imperfect, on-going medical, and more.” The shelter introduced Stanley to their not-so-adoptable candidates, but it was the very first dog Stanley met that won his heart.

The 6-year-old retriever-terrier mix named Winter had come into the BARCS shelter in Maryland after being found locked up alone inside a vacant house. It was a hot day, and she was dehydrated and extremely frightened.

“She was in there with no food, water, or fresh air for a week,” BARCS director of communications Bailey Deacon told The Dodo. “Winter had been eating the drywall. [It’s unclear] whether that was because she was starving hungry, or as an attempt to escape.”

“She was dehydrated and extremely frightened,” the animal shelter explained, sharing Winter’s story on Facebook. “Winter has a long, hanging belly, most likely a result of over breeding, something we see far too often at our shelter,” they added. “Due to her age, her belly is not something that will ever tighten up.”

But Stanley was not put off. “Well, that’s just what happens when you’ve had babies,” he told the shelter.

In June 2016, after receiving numerous enthusiastic face licks from the 6-year-old pup, Stanley and his girlfriend filled out adoption papers on the spot. Stanley renamed the dog Lola and welcomed her into her new forever home with a new buddy to boot, another rescued dog named Rico, the very next day.

“Welcome to the Stanley fam Lola,” the football player wrote on Instagram.

BARCS staff posted, in celebration, “Once a discarded pup, now the doggy-daughter to a Raven.”

Just over a year later, in September 2017, Stanley’s adoption experience prompted a collaboration with PetCo to form “Think Adoption First“ campaign. ”I’ve always pretty much been an animal person,” Stanley explained in the powerful, minute-long video introducing the initiative.

“First night I ever got [Lola] she just came in the bed and cuddled with me,” he said. “She just wanted to be around people. Just like I got drafted by the Ravens, I wanted Lola to have that same feeling of being wanted.”

And she still is. Stanley regularly posts pictures of his pups on social media and as of October 2019 is still a vocal advocate for animal adoption.

BARCS executive director Jen Brause told The Baltimore Sun that the shelter is grateful for anyone who chooses adoption; a public figure like Stanley, however, helps bring even more attention to the overlooked animals that reside in shelters for weeks and months at a time.

“[Stanley] didn’t want the puppy and the kitten and not necessarily the cutest [animal],” Brause explained. “He wanted someone that was more in need, maybe one that was a little bit older or had some issues. That just shows how big of a heart he has.”

Lola’s journey from a lonely kennel to a loving home might never have happened if Stanley hadn’t asked to see the dogs that nobody wanted. Stanley’s “seriously awesome criteria,” as BARCS shelter staff referred to them, gave an overlooked dog with a lot of love to give her second lease on life.