Date of intake:: 5/21/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Date of assessment:: 5/25/2026

Summary:: Blossom has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to hard bark, lunge, snap, and muzzle punch the kennel door when handlers approach. Due to the high level of fear, stress, and anxiety, Blossom is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 5/30/26: Blossom greets another dog at the gate with a soft body and soft wagging tail. She then vocalizes (whine bark) but not towards the other dog.

Summary (6):: 06/02/26: Blossom is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She begins barking and vocalizing while pawing at the kennel door, she allows leashing and quickly pulls out of kennel out to the street for her walk. Outside she pulls forward moderately, she passes people on the street without issue and reacts similarly with dogs. Blossom stops to sniff occasionally and walks for a while with handler, approaching handler and soliciting social interaction with handler. She lays her head on handler and licks them gently, after walking for a while she is brought back inside. Handler is able to clip her leash and she is returned to kennel without issue. 6/1/26: Blossom was lying down in the front of kennel when handler approached. She was easily leashed and pulled from kennel. She was taken for a street walk. Blossom displayed no interest in treats offered. She accepted pets on her head, back and sides. Blossom walked ahead of handler with a slack leash. She was returned to kennel with no issue. -TE 5/31/26: Blossom was lying down at front of kennel as handler approached. When kennel door was opened Blossom stood up, vocalized and jumped up once. She was easily leashed and pulled from kennel. Handler took Blossom for a street walk. Blossom walked next to handle with a slack leash. She demonstrated no interest in treats and accepted pets on her head, back and side. She was returned to kennel with no issue.

Summary (7):: 5/29/26: Blossom was at front of kennel barking and showing teeth. When handler opened kennel door Blossom settled down and was able to be easily leashed and pulled from kennel. Blossom walked next to handler on walk with a slack leash. She accepted pets on her head, back and sides. She was uninterested in treats. She was returned to kennel with no issue. 5/26/26: Blossom is observed to bare teeth, hard bark, and muzzle punch the kennel door when an unfamiliar handler approaches the kennel door. 5/25/26: Blossom is noted to loudly and persistently vocalize in kennel even when the room is not active. 5/24/26: Blossom is at the front of the kennel hard barking and vocalizing when the handler approaches. The handler tosses treats, and she is not receptive. She only sniffs it briefly. When the handler opens the kennel door, Blossom continues vocalizing, but it is softer in tone. She then begins pushing her head against the door, attempting to exit. She is easily leashed and taken to the yard, where she sniffs around. She does not react to any people or dogs. When returning to kennel, Blossom is easily clipped and returned to kennel with no issue. 5/23/26: Blossom is sitting at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She appears soft in body and expression and wags her tail slightly. The handler offers her their hand at the bars to investigate, and Blossom suddenly becomes very tense and lunges up towards the handlers hand, snapping. She is barking loudly, baring teeth, and muzzle punches the door. The handler tosses treats but she ignore them. The interaction is ended. 5/23/26: Handler approaches the front of Blossom's kennel. She is lying down. Handler greets her and she barks and vocalizes loudly. Her tail is soft but her body is tense. Handler does not look to Blossom and unlocks the kennel. Before they open it. Blossom lunges and muzzle punches the front of the kennel barking and vocalizes. Handler then presents their hand and Blossom muzzle punches the bars and bares teeth. Blossom's kennel is locked and the interaction is ended. She hard barks and vocalizes as the handler walks away. 05/22/26: Blossom is laying near the center of her kennel as handler approaches. She is offered a treat and accepts it before handler carefully and calmly removes the kennel lock, Blossom is neutral bodied and sits with a wagging tail. She stands as the kennel door unlocks but allows leashing without issue. She is removed from kennel and taken to the street for her walk. Outside she is not reactive to people or dogs and walks past both without issue. She is generally aloof and spends her walk sniffing around and relieving herself. After walking for a while she is brought back inside and allows handler to clip her leash before being returned to kennel without issue.

Date of intake:: 5/21/2026

Summary:: Hard barking and snapping

Date of initial:: 5/21/2026

Summary:: Hard barking and lunging at front of kennel. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Blossom so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in addition to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior we recommend an adult only home. We recommend placement with a New Hope rescue partner who is able to provide an experienced, adult-only foster home. Force-free, reward based training and/or consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful Defensive: Blossom has been observed to hard bark, snap, lunge, and muzzle punch the kennel door when the handler approaches. It is important to move slowly with Blossom, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression.