Ronnie Van Zant, a 2-year-old pit mix, is still searching for a family after spending about two months at the Franklin County Dog Shelter. Dwayne Young from the shelter brought Ronnie to Good Day Columbus for Fur Baby Friday to raise awareness of his situation. Ronnie, who weighs 44 pounds, arrived at the shelter as a stray and initially required medical attention due to his poor condition. “He was super, super skinny,” Young noted, mentioning that Ronnie’s ribs and hips were visible, and he had wounds on his nose and feet. The staff has since cared for him, and he has fully healed.
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To help increase his chances of adoption, the shelter has taken Ronnie to various community events. He has showcased his calm demeanor around adults, children, and in bustling environments with loud music. Ronnie has also interacted well with other calm dogs. Young described him as strong yet gentle during walks, noting that he walks well on a leash despite tending to pull a little.
During his television appearance, Ronnie sat quietly beside the hosts, welcoming attention. Young expressed that he feels Ronnie sometimes gets overlooked at the shelter, as he has not garnered much adoption interest despite his public outings.
Individuals interested in meeting Ronnie can visit the Franklin County Dog Shelter. Young also informed potential adopters about the shelter's foster-to-adopt program, which allows families to take Ronnie home temporarily to see if it’s a good fit.
In addition to Ronnie's story, there is an upcoming opportunity to support shelter dogs. Friends of the Shelter will host its annual 5K for K9s on Saturday, September 26, at Alum Creek State Park, with check-in starting at 8 a.m. This nonprofit raises funds for medical care that can be challenging for the shelter to provide, including emergency treatment and orthopedic surgery. Young referred to the members as “like guardian angels to these dogs.” The 5K is the organization’s largest fundraiser, allowing participants to run alone, with friends, or alongside their dogs while also meeting adoptable shelter pets.