Animal Profile

Snow Cone is at risk due ot behavioral concerns. Snow Cone has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and has escalated towards handlers during attempts to return him to the kennel. While he readily accepted treats during his behavior assessment and played with plush toys, he was noted to grumble and move away during the toy portion of his assessment. Snow Cone pancakes, and when leash pressure is applied, he snarled and lunged at a handler, requiring him to be double leashed to be placed in his kennel safely. Medically, Snow Cone is matted, overweight, and has dermatitis.

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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 Snow Cone is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Snow Cone has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and has escalated towards handlers during attempts to return him to the kennel. While he readily accepted treats during his behavior assessment and played with plush toys, he was noted to grumble and move away during the toy portion of his assessment. Snow Cone pancakes, and when leash pressure is applied, he snarled and lunged at a handler, requiring him to be double leashed to be placed in his kennel safely. Medically, Snow Cone is matted, overweight, and has dermatitis. Snow Cone was surrendered as a stray, so his past behavior in a home environment is unknown. Snow Cone initially presented as easy to remove from the kennel, accepted treats with a soft mouth, but did begin guarding a toy on his handling assessment. When returned to the kennel, Snow Cone pancakes and is reluctant to move despite being offered treats or coaxed by handlers. He has escalated to growling, snarling, and lunging, requiring him to be double leashed to be put back into his kennel safely. Due to these concerns, we recommend that he be placed in an adult-only home through a New Hope 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. What my friends at ACC say about me: My history is a mystery and my friends here do not know much about me yet! I am playful and cute! I will need daily physical activity to keep me healthy and happy! I would do best in a home without very tiny humans, although I could be open to older human children once I meet them. I don't always like to share my toys with others.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 85.2 lbs

Medical Notes

7/2/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: ~3-7 years based on dentition / condition Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned positive History: Stray Subjective: BARH, pink moist mm, CRT <2s Observed Behavior - Nervous but tolerant, leans into pets. Reluctant to walk on leash. Whale eye briefly when doing oral exam but did not escalate. Prior behavior reports reluctance to return to kennel but did not escalate Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No Objective: P = WNL R = WNL BCS 7/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Moderate staining and wear of dentition PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2s, Lungs clear, eupneic, negative ITC ABD: Soft, nonpainful, no masses palpated U/G: Male - intact, two symmetrical scrotal testicles MSI: Ambulatory x 4, full orthopedic exam not performed INT: Multifocal minor matting esp palmar aspect of FLs, severe saliva staining with moderate erythema, no masses noted, no ectoparasites seen CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Normal externally Wood's Lamp Exam: Not performed Assessment: Pododermatitis r/o underlying atopic dermatitis vs food allergy vs combo vs contact dermatitis vs other Minor matting palmar aspect FLs Overweight Moderate FAS Otherwise apparently healthy MI mature adult mixed breed Prognosis: Good Plan: OK for appropriate intake tasks ADD Apoquel 16mg PO BID x7d, then SID x14d ADD Trazodone 300mg (~7.5mg/kg) PO BID TFN Attempted to clip minor mats but P kept pulling legs away - stopped to limit FAS recc grooming with placement HIGH RISK FOR HEAT STROKE - MONITOR CLOSELY WHILE IN CARE, DO NOT WALK MIDDAY SURGERY: Okay for surgery

7/8/2026

Recheck paws S/O: BAR at front, no c/s/v/d noted MSI: Amb x 4 with no notable lameness, saliva staining at front paws with some erythema and wet fur appreciated at palmar surfaces, kennel floor is wet in areas A: Pododermatitis - ro allergy Overweight Minor matting palmar aspect FLs P: Continue apoquel as planned *Issue unlikely to fully resolve in shelter - recommend clean and dry kennel/bedding, consider HA diet with placement

Date of intake:: 6/30/2026

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

Date of assessment:: 7/1/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: mild pulling Reactivity to humans: none - ignores Reactivity to dogs: did not pass Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): soft body, explores room, takes treats softly Call over: approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: stands still, accepts touch Exuberant handling: stands still, accepts touch Handling comments: Arousal Jog: follows, neutral Arousal comments: Knock: no response Knock Comments: Toy: stills, grips firm, brief grumble, walks away Toy comments:

Summary (7):: 7/5/26 (PM): Snow Cone is observed to pancake and not want to go back to kennel in the office space, and when pulled forward snarled and lunged at the staff member twice, having to be doubled leashed and put back into kennel due to his continued escalations. (AM): Snow Cone is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. As handler unlocks the kennel door and cracks it open, he begins attempting to push out of kennel. He is leashed with ease and walks to the Canine Behavior Office where he is clipped to a drag lead and free to explore the space. He readily engages with multiple handlers and accepts petting and scratches. He lays down as the handlers work at the computer and spends about fifteen minutes in the space. After his session, he is re-leashed with a slip lead and will walk back towards his kennel, baulking once outside of the kennel room and once again in front of kennel, but both times is encouraged forward with mild directional leash pressure. He returns to kennel safely. 7/4/26: Snowcone is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He would back away and dodge the leash as the handler attempts to leash him. Once leashed with treats, he is then taken to the behavior room. In the room, he would engage in playing fetch with tennis balls and then would lay down and relax. When attempting to return him back to his kennel, he begins to growl at the handler as they quickly get him to stand up to jog him out of the room. He would constantly baulk to the ground in the hallway and has to no interest in treats or toys. The handler has to apply leash pressure to continue jogging him through the hallway. When reaching his kennel, he thrashes begins to thrash and refuses to enter the kennel for treats. The handler has to back into his kennel to get him inside then quickly exit before closing and locking the door. 7/1/26 (BA): Snow Cone is at the front of the kennel laying down as the handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and will exit the kennel slowly, walking beside the handler to the behavior office. There, he is fitted with a collar while he eats spray cheese. He will pant throughout the session and when the assessment is over, he will lay down at the door. He is then leashed and returned to kennel where he will plant. The handler attempts to get him in kennel with some treats but he is not interest. The handler will then use some leash pressure to guide him into kennel. He is secured safely and will bark as the handler locks his door. (see Behavior Assessment for more info).

Date of intake:: 6/30/2026

Summary:: easy, allowed all handling

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Snow Cone's response to the toy item of their assessment and his escalation towards staff during his stay in care, we feel Snow Cone may be most comfortable in a home without children. Place with a New Hope partner: Snow Cone has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope 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.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: While they gave an appropriate warning of their discomfort (stilling, grumbling, takes away toy), Snow Cone did show potential to guard items they consider valuable. Their response was appropriate, and we cannot be certain if this behavior will be seen in a future home environment, but we advise against ever removing items from Snow Cone's possession without safely trading for an item of equal or greater value. Guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended to aid in safely managing/modifying this behavior in a new home environment. Please see handout resource guarding. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Snow Cone has shown reluctance to be returned to his kennel. He will pancake and refuse to move. He does not take offered treats and escalated to snapping, growling, snarling, and lunging at staff twice when attempting to get him to leave the behavior office. He had to be double leashed. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.