You can’t hurry love, not even puppy love. But a long wait for a forever home is finally over for Ronald the Puppy, a 63-pound pooch who has persevered through 14 failed adoptions in the span of five weeks.
Ronald the Puppy Finds Forever Home
The SPCA of Wake County in North Carolina recently shared a post on Facebook stating that Ronald the Puppy was looking for his 15th (and hopefully final) placement.
“Help us break Ronald’s unlucky streak!” the post read. “14 adoptions have fallen through for this lovely guy — mostly due to being too big/strong.”
The post continued: “Ronald knows his commands, takes treats super gently, and is 100% sweet. He truly is a very good boy. Now and then, if he gets excited, he might stand up and put his front paws on you or become a little mouthy. But he is a big puppy, after all! As long as you have reasonably sturdy footing, you’ll have no problem with Ronald. Plus, he loves treats and practicing his tricks, so he’ll be a great student for any training.”
A 28-year-old nurse named Kierstin Davis saw the viral post and knew that she was the dog mom the pooch had been waiting for. She submitted an adoption application even though she thought she’d face stiff competition.
“I was like, ‘Oh, there’s no way I’m going to get him,'” she told The Washington Post. “Someone, I’m sure, is going to scoop him up so fast. But I applied anyway.”
As it turned out, Davis was first on the list, and she soon received word that oft-rejected canine was all hers as of Jan. 12.
New Year, New Home
“Everything’s been really good at the house,” Davis told the Washington Post of her new canine companion. “He really just fits in perfectly.”
So what was behind the failed adoptions? SPCA spokesperson Samantha Ranlet told the news outlet that “Ronny” was high-energy and playful, but also “kind of clumsy and goofy and still working on his manners, in combination with his large size.”
Apparently, it’s hard to find a good fit when you’re 63 pounds and still growing.
But all that searching and uncertainty is over now and Ronald the Puppy is settling in with Davis, her 7-year-old and 4-year-old sons, and an Australian Shepherd rescue pup.
Davis recalled bringing the big fur baby home and surprising her kids with the arrival of their new furry family member.
The boys “just screamed with excitement,” said Davis. “Just right off the bat, once he saw the kids and dog, I was like, ‘Oh, he’s perfect. He’s staying.'”
SPCA of Wake County celebrated the successful adoption by sharing pics of the pup with his new family.
“Ronald’s unlucky streak has officially ended!!!” the post read. “Look how happy he looks His new family says he is doing so great with the kids, and they are just obsessed with him.”
“Thank you all so very much for sharing Ronald’s story,” the post continued. “We were overwhelmed by your words of encouragement and generous offers to help him. In the first day, the wide reach of your shares helped Ronald reach almost a million people. Just like that, literally overnight, his whole world changed. It never ceases to amaze us the power that you all have to change a life with the power of your keyboard!”
