Pulse and Beats

02/06/2026

02/05/2026

02/04/2026

02/04/2026

When everything is ice outside, so the volunteers come and cuddle Ronan in his kennel instead

02/04/2026

When we share info about Ronan, we get a lot of mixed responses. People look at him and hear us say "No small animals" and "No small children" and immediately think - Oh, this dog is aggressive.

Here he is this morning with Laura's son. It looks like a super sweet moment, and it is...with a few important things to keep in mind.

Ronan does well with children who are able to sit calmly and give him gentle attention. When kids are relaxed, he is happy to lean in, enjoy pets, and quietly soak up the love.

When kids start doing normal kid things like running, yelling, or playing, Ronan completely loses control of his last two brain cells. He is not aggressive, but he is big, goofy, and bossy, and he thinks he should be part of whatever is happening. His idea of joining in usually means knocking kids over and trying to hump them, which is as ridiculous as it sounds.

At close to eighty pounds, Ronan does not understand that children do not enjoy being tackled by a slobbery dog who thinks he is one of them. He has no sense of personal space once he gets excited.

This same behavior shows up with dogs who are smaller than him or dogs he wants to boss around. He is not trying to hurt them, but he plays too rough and ignores social cues, which can be overwhelming for other dogs.

Ronan’s ideal home would be one where he is the only pet and where children are older, sturdy, and able to stay calm around him. He needs people who understand his size, can manage his enthusiasm, and have a sense of humor about his lack of self-control.

Ronan is not the right dog for every home, but for the right family, he is loving, funny, and full of personality.

If you think your home might be a good match for Ronan, we would love for you to come meet him.

02/02/2026