Animal Profile

Button Blue is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Button Blue displays fearful behavior during handling, including growling, hard barking, retreating from the leash, startling at sudden noises, and balking during walks. He also displays on-leash reactivity toward other dogs, particularly small dogs, barking and pulling toward them while moving through the building. Button Blue is able to be leashed with patient handling and food or toy reinforcement, and is slowly acclimating but is still struggling. Medically, Button Blue is recieving treatment for CIRDC.

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 Button Blue is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Button Blue displays fearful behavior during handling, including growling, hard barking, retreating from the leash, startling at sudden noises, and balking during walks. He also displays on-leash reactivity toward other dogs, particularly small dogs, barking and pulling toward them while moving through the building. Button Blue is able to be leashed with patient handling and food or toy reinforcement, and is slowly acclimating but is still struggling. Medically, Button Blue is recieving treatment for CIRDC. Button Blue was surrendered by his previous owner due to financial issues. His previous owner describes him as a low-energy, aloof, and mellow dog. Blue was reported to spend most of his time in his crate. He is noted to be allergic to poultry, but his favorite treats were milkbones, and like playing fetch. Button Blue has been highly fearful and defensive when attempts are made to remove him from the kennel. Once out, he avoids interaction, accepting high-value treats when in close proximity to him. Due to these concerns, we recommend that he be placed in an adult-only home through a New Hope rescue partner that can address these concerns with the use of a certified professional trainer who uses only positive reinforcement methods.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 64 lbs

Medical Notes

6/12/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2 years Microchip noted on Intake? Positive History: Owner Surrender. Reportedly fully vaccinated (Rabies, DHLPP, Bordetella). Owner reports poultry allergy. BAR MM pink, moist Observed Behavior - Yellow; Initially hesitant to exit kennel, eventually took treats readily and warmed to select staff. Limited ability to examine, resistant to handling, body tense, vocalizing (one hard bark with stare upon Vet approach). Reacted adversely to muzzling. Unable to collect blood. Muzzled for exam and procedures Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? - No Objective: P = 130 hr R = 32 rr BCS 5/9 Wt = 64 lbs EENT: Eyes clear, unable to fully examine ears, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Limited exam d/t behavior; dentition appears WNL PLN: NE H/L: NSR, no apparent murmur, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: NE U/G: MI (2 testicles descended) MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted. Hair coat is thin and skin appears dry. No pruritus observed. CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: Apparently healthy, except for: -*Dermatitis*: Suspect environmental or food allergies given history and clinical signs (thin, dry coat). Prognosis: Good Plan: Standard Intake Procedures for Dogs Performed Heartworm test due (unable to collect blood) -Trazodone 200 mg (2 x 100 mg tablets) PO BID, indefinitely for FAS. -Gabapentin 300 mg PO BID, indefinitely for FAS and potential allergy-related discomfort. -Recheck in 1 week to assess for development of allergic dermatitis. SURGERY: Okay for surgery -Blood collection at time of surgery -Thorough ear exam - clean, and treat as needed at time of surgery

6/18/2026

Recheck skin, visual exam S/O: BAR, barking, no c/s/v/d noted, no ocular or nasal discharge, eupneic, ambulatory x 4; no notable skin lesions visualized kennel-side. A/P: Reported food allergy, no clinical signs of dermatitis at this time. CTM while at QACC.

6/24/2026

Progress exam: CIRDC signs noted on rounds Subjective: BAR, no S/V/D. Coughing/huffing present Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -Move to iso, ppe sign & monitor log placed on kennel -Start doxycycline 10mg/kg PO q24h x10days -CTM, recheck in 3 days

7/1/2026

Progress exam: CIRDC day 7 recheck Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D. Huffing present. AS:2/3 (food under bed appears eaten.) Ate medications Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge present MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -CTM, recheck in 3 days

7/7/2026

Progress exam: CIRDC recheck Subjective: BAR, no S/V/D. Coughing present. AS:3 per log Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -Extend doxycycline x4 days -CTM, recheck as scheduled

7/10/2026

Progress exam: CIRDC recheck, last day of 14 day doxy course. Subjective: BAR, no S/V/D. Coughing present. AS:3 per log Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -No further treatment at this time -CTM, recheck in 3 days

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake, dog alert barked at staff upon entering. He was offered treats and did not eat it. He seemed interested in staff but did not come closer, and would walk away to avoid contact. Owner was asked to leash the dog. Dog allowed staff to walk back to kennel. He was not collared due to his fearfulness.

Basic Information:: Button Blue is an approx. 1 and a half year old LMB dog who was surrendered due to finances.

Previously lived with:: Adults, 2 children (under 12yo), 1 LMB

How is this dog around strangers?: Alert barks

How is this dog around children?: Tolerant

How is this dog around other dogs?: Familiar dogs: Tolerant Unfamiliar dogs - on leash: Tolerant, Alert barks Unfamiliar dogs - off leash: Alert barks

How is this dog around cats?: Alert barks

Resource guarding:: No resource guarding

Bite history:: No bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Low

Other Notes:: Blue will use the bathroom outside and only has accidents inside when he cannot hold it anymore. He is known to have general anxiety, as well as alert bark at things on walks, including dogs, cats, and small animals. He is not bothered when held, disturbed while resting, startled, pushed off furniture, paws are touched, and collar is grabbed.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: No medical issues but is allergic to poultry.

For a New Family to Know: Blue is described as aloof and mellow. He spends most of his time in the crate. He allows the owner to bathe and brush. He will pull on leash mild to moderately. Blue was walked 1-2 times per day for 20 minutes. He does well in crate. Blue knows commands like sit, stay, eat, down, stretch, lay down, come, and treat. The previous owner's favorite thing about Blue is that he is really good with children. He likes to play catch and enjoys milkbones. Blue eats both wet and dry food, specifically homemade and Nutrish brand foods.

Date of intake:: 6/12/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender

Previously lived with:: Adults, 2 children (under 12 y/o), 1 large dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Alert barks

Behavior toward children:: Tolerant

Behavior toward dogs:: Familiar dogs: Tolerant; Unfamiliar dogs - on leash: Tolerant, Alert barks; unfamiliar dogs - alert

Behavior toward cats:: alert barks

Resource guarding:: none reported

Bite history:: none reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Button Blue is reported to have a low energy level.

Other Notes:: Blue will use the bathroom outside and only has accidents inside when he cannot hold it anymore. He is known to have general anxiety, as well as alert bark at things on walks, including dogs, cats, and small animals. He is not bothered when held, disturbed while resting, startled, pushed off furniture, paws are touched, and collar is grabbed.

Date of assessment:: 6/16/2026

Summary:: Button Blue has not acclimated well to the shelter environment. He remains highly fearful and has escalated to hard barking, growling, and snapping during attempts at leashing/removal from the kennel. Due to these concerns, a handling assessment is not conducted.

Summary (6):: 07/07/26: Button Blue is standing at the front of his kennel and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is then brought to the play yard for an enrichment outing. Once inside the yard, Button Blue explores the environment while maintaining a neutral frame, sniffing the grass and surrounding area. During the session, he passes a neighboring dog that is reacting toward him but remains neutral and does not respond. The handler scatters treats in the yard; Button Blue investigates them by sniffing before disengaging, showing little interest in food. At the conclusion of the session, Button Blue is returned safely to his kennel without any issues. 6/28/26: Button Blue is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begin baking as the handler unlocks the door and would back away as the handler attempts to leash him. He is able tense while being distracted with a squeak and he then pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he has a tense body as he looks around. He would stop behind the handler when he heard sudden sounds and is able to be continue walking when the handler offers. He would stare at dog and people on the way back to the building. He attempts to pull towards small dogs in their kennels with a tense body before entering his kennel room and quickly entering his kennel. 06/27/26: Button Blue is standing on his bed as the handler approaches. He initially comes forward, but retreats as soon as the handler opens the door. The handler shuts the door to switch to a longer leash in case Button Blue has to be lassoed, but when they open the door again, Button Blue comes to the front of the kennel and is easily leashed. He is brought outside for a walk where he pulls moderately towards other dogs that pass by. At some point during his walk, Button Blue stops walking. He cannot be coaxed or ushered forward, but will start walking again when the handler turns around and begins walking back towards the building. He is returned to his kennel without issue. 6/22/26: Button Blue is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed while being distracted with a toy and he then pulls hard as he exits his kennel room and pulls towards the small dogs in their kennels while hard barking. He is able to be quickly exited out of the room and he then pulls on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he has a tense body as he explores around. He would constantly stop and look around when sudden sounds would happen. He would flinch and attempt to baulk to the ground when he heard loud sounds pass by. He pulls on the way back into the building and would pull hard and hard bark towards the small dogs in kennels before being taken into his kennel room and quickly placed inside of his kennel.

Summary (7):: 06/21/26: Button Blue is standing at the front of his kennel as the handler approaches. He is leashed with ease, and the handler attempts to get him out of the door, but he turns back to the rest of the room and starts barking. The handler is able to usher him out, but Button Blue continues to bark and pull towards dogs in small dogs. Outside, Button Blue only pulls occasionally towards other dogs. He otherwise walks slowly at the end of the leash, not interacting much with the handler. When he is brought back inside, he barks and pulls towards the dogs in SDA again, but is returned to his kennel without further issue. 6/19/26: Button Blue is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins barking at the door as the handler unlocks it and would back away as the handler slowly presents their leash. He is able to be leashed while being distracted with a squeaker and he then pulls hard out of kennel. He would pull and hard bark towards the small dogs in their kennels on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he would constantly look behind himself with a tense body and low tail. He baulks to the ground when a loud truck passes by and is able to continue walking with treats. He begins to pull ahead on the way back into the building and he would pull while hard barking towards the small dogs in their kennels before quickly entering his kennel room and being placed into his kennel. 6/15 (AM): Button Blue is standing on his kuranda bed when a handler approaches. He begins growling and hard barking when he sees the hadnler. The hadnler drops pieces of cheese to the back of his kennel, and he begins eating pieces closest to him after taking several prolonged sniffs. The hadnler continues to feed him cheese, slowly making a trail to the front of his kennel. But Blue only ventures a few inches away from his kuranda bed before scampering back on. The handler slowly lassos him as he eats. Blue attempts to thrash his head quickly, but the lead was already secured. He grumbles briefly but quickly exits once he sees the door open, and the hadnler moves to the side to let him exit on his own. Due to his fearfulness, he is brought to the behavior office. In the room, he is wary and avoids hadnlers. He is easily startled and jumps away at the sound of a poop bag being opened to pick up his stool. Blue relieves himself again and is walked back to his kennel. The hadnler can clip their lead when is distracted by the sight of another dog at the opposite end of the hallway. Blue walks into his kennel without issue.

Date of intake:: 6/12/2026

Summary:: alert barked at staff upon entering, did not take treats

Date of initial:: 6/12/2026

Summary:: hesitant to exit kennel, warmed up after taking treats, resistant to handling, tense body, vocalizin

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Button Blue's fearfulness and potential for defensive escalations, we recommend an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Button Blue 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Button Blue gives clear warnings when he is uncomfortable and does seem to choose to avoid or retreat when given the opportunity, but if prevented from moving away there is a potential to escalate to higher-level warning behaviors and possible fear-based aggression. It is important to move slowly with Blue, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow him to initiate interactions with new people. Button Blue should never be forced to greet or to interact if he is not comfortable and is not soliciting attention. Please see the handout Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Anxiety: Button Blue was reported to be anxious in his previous home and would bark often. If Blue displays anxious behavior in his future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving him other things to focus on to alleviate his anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training only should be used. Please see handout on generalized Anxiety.