Animal Profile

Panda is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Panda has shown intense fearful and defensive behavior, including retreating to the back of his kennel, trembling, whale eye, hard staring, growling, baring teeth, dodging the leash, lunging, and snapping when handlers attempt to leash him. Panda continues to struggle to acclimate to the care center environment, though he has recently shown some improvement by approaching the front of his kennel and accepting treats from a familiar handler. Medically, Panda is apparently healthy.

Let's get to know each other a bit more...

This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. This pet is available only through ACC New Hope partners. To adopt or foster, please complete the pre-screener form below. Inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Panda is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Panda has shown intense fearful and defensive behavior, including retreating to the back of his kennel, trembling, whale eye, hard staring, growling, baring teeth, dodging the leash, lunging, and snapping when handlers attempt to leash him. Panda continues to struggle to acclimate to the care center environment, though he has recently shown some improvement by approaching the front of his kennel and accepting treats from a familiar handler. Medically, Panda is apparently healthy Panda was surrendered into care as a stray with a limited history. Panda was reported to have bitten his owner when they attempted to dress him in his harness. The owner was bitten on the left hand and went to urgent care for their injuries. During his stay in care, Panda has not allowed for handling or removal from the kennel. He dodges leashing and has escalated to snapping, growling, and lunging. Due to these concerns, we recommend placement in an adult-only home through a New Hope rescue partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 30.8 lbs

Medical Notes

9/9/2026

Visual DOH exam (will need sedation for full exam - too late in the day) S/O BAR, A+A, no c/s/v/d appreciated EENT: no ocular or nasal dc HL: eupneic MSI: amb x 4 CNS: mentation appropriate A/P APH on visual To have sedated exam - too late in day to sedate aTT

9/10/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: dentition and conformation consistent with reported age of 2 years Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: agency Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - A+A, attempted to leash in kennel but dodges, thrashed, leash biting, retreats into the corner, needed to use syringe pole Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? N Objective: T = np P = wnl R = wnl BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: muzzled, limited view, rostral dentition clean/adult PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI, two scrotal testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: APH Prognosis: good Plan: intake exam and tasks sedated with 0.4mL dex/torb/ket IM- adequate sedation paws cleaned start: traz 8mg/kg PO BID TFN (100mg) DOH-B hold awaiting sort SURGERY: Okay for surgery: Y

9/13/2026

Adding additional psychopharm due to escalating fear aggression reported: -gabapentin 600mg PO q12h -clonidine 0.4mg PO q12h

9/16/2026

On 09/16/2026 Panda was examined. The patient has appropriate mentation at this time (no neurological signs present) and has not exhibited any neurological signs while at QACC.

9/18/2026

Poor appetite noted on monitoring log for multiple days in a row S/O: BAR at front of kennel, no c/s/v/d noted; food appears untouched EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge LUNGS: Eupneic MSI: Amb x 4 CNS: Appropriate mentation A: Hyporexia vs anorexia - ro FAS vs other P: Start medical feedings and CTM on rounds

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 9/7/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray; limited history

Bite history:: It is reported that Panda's owner was trying to place his harness on and bit the owner on left hand, causing them to go to urgent care for further care. The bite did break skin and draw blood.

Date of assessment:: 9/17/2026

Summary:: Due to Panda's bite history and escalations when attempting to remove from the kennel and during handling, a handling assessment is unable to be conducted.

Summary (7):: 09/16/26 (KSV): Panda is sitting at the front of his kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. He retreats with a tense body as handler crouches down by kennel door. He slowly comes to the front with a crouched head and whale eyeing as handler tosses treats into his kennel. Handler is able to give Panda treats through the kennel bars before interaction is ended. 9/11/26: Panda is sitting at the back corner of his kennel with a tense body and widened eyes as handler approaches. He has no interest in treats that the handler offers and does not respond to a squeaker when the handler slowly opens the door. He then lowers his head while still having a tense body and begins to growl as the handler slowly presents their leash before they try to lasso him. Each time the handler attempts to slowly lasso him, he would dodge his head away and shake the leash off. On the last attempt to leash him, he then lunges, and snaps at the leash, and then continues to lunge forward toward the handler. The handler the closes and locks the door and ends the interaction. 9/10 (PM): A handler attempts to leash Panda so his kennel can be cleaned. He immediately retreats to the back of his kennel and begins to growl while lowering his head to hard stare. Panda does not take sliced cheese or chicken breast. Panda quickly dodges the lead and snaps; his teeth can be heard. Panda retreats to the back corner, sits, and bares his teeth at the handler. Due to his stress levels, the handler does not make another attempt after the first and leaves him to decompress. 9/7/26: Canine Behavior is called for assistance for Panda when he arrives with the police. When Canine Behavior approaches the police van in the driveway, Panda is in the crate hypersalivating, heavy panting, and shaking with a tense body and widened eyes. The handlers are able to clip their leashes to the opposite sides of the crate, lift it and then place the crate onto a cart. They are able to then roll Panda while he is in the crate to pre-exam. When they open the crate for him to enter his kennel, he refuses to exit and squeezes to the back of the crate. Due to the handlers being told that he refused to be leashed by ESU and the police. To avoid any more stress, they then slowly lifted the crate, and when Panda was ready, he then easily walks out of the crate on his own into the kennel. He remains at the back of the kennel with tense body and widened eyes as the handlers lock the door and end the interaction.

Date of initial:: 9/10/2026

Summary:: attempted to leash in kennel but dodges, thrashed, leash biting, retreats into the corner, needed to

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Panda's bite history, handling/touch sensitivity, and escalations in care, we recommend for him to be placed in an adult only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment and during his stay in care, the behavior department recommends Panda be placed with a New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow Panda to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing Panda to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Panda presents with outside of the care centers.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity | Fearful/potential for defensive aggression | Bite history (human): Panda escalated to biting his owner when they attempted to place a harness on him. Panda reacted and bit the owner on the left hand, causing them to go to urgent care for further treatment. The bite broke the skin and drew blood. During his stay in care, Panda has not allowed for leashing. He has escalated to snapping, dodging, growling, and lunging. Panda had to be sedated for his medical exam as he was unable to be leashed successfully. Please see handout on Handling/touch sensitivity and Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.