Date of intake:: 3/22/2024

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

Previously lived with:: 2 Adults, 5 Dogs, 1 Cat, 1 Reptile

Behavior toward strangers:: shy, outgoing, social

Behavior toward children:: shy but playful

Behavior toward dogs:: shy, needs time to warm up

Behavior toward cats:: social, outgoing, playful

Resource guarding:: none reported

Bite history:: none reported

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Starlet is reported to have a high energy level

Other Notes:: Starlet has general anxiety and jumps often. She poops when nervous. 3/24: Starlet bit a handler when they were attempted to leash her from her kennel for a walk. the bite did not break skin or draw blood.

Date of assessment:: 3/24/2024

Summary:: Starlet has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and has escalated to growling, lunging, and biting a staff member when attempting to remove her from her kennel. The bite did not break the skin or draw blood. Out of concern for her stress levels and staff safety, Starlet is not an appropriate candidate got a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: According to Starlet's previous owners, Starlet is shy with other dogs until she warms up. 03/24/24 Starlet is introduced to a novel male dog while off leash at the care center. Star greets the novel male dog nervously. Starlet remains nervous, with a tucked tail.

Summary (6):: 3/29/24 (AM): Starlet was standing in middle of kennel when handler approached. Handler offered her a treat, and she approached but did not eat it. Starlet stood still while handler leashed her, and was walked outside to the yard. Starlet displayed FAS, was alert to noise outside and moved away whenever handler approached. Handler walked Starlet inside to BA room. Starlet moved away any time drag leash was presented, so she was kept her on a slip leash for duration. Starlet ate ham hand fed, and would stay close to handler between slices. Starlet would not eat pieces of ham placed too close to drag leash. Handler crouched down on floor side on, and Starlet continued to approach and eat ham. Starlet jumped up onto couch behind handler and stayed there eating ham. Starlet tolerated handler sitting on couch with her and motioning towards collar with drag leash clip, but did not make contact. Outside her room, Starlet allowed handler to clip slip leash into a figure 8 and returned to kennel with ease. 3/27/24: When handler approaches Starlet's kennel, she's standing at the front of her kennel waiting for handler to leash her, as handler opens the kennel gate and attempts to leash her she put her head down to avoid handler from leashing, leash is on and starlet is let out of her kennel, while on relief walk starlet is fearful with her ears back, tail in between legs, and demonstrating a hard pull while handler allow her on a loose leash, Starlet is returned back to her kennel with no issues safe and secure.

Summary (7):: 03/25/24: As the handler approaches the kennel, Starlet is standing on her kennel door with a loose body. The handler unlocks the kennel door and administers her a few high value treats in which she takes gently. The handler is able to leash her with no issue after she tried dodging it twice. The handler and Starlet proceed outside for a walk. They enter the play pens in which she is weary and skeptical of her surroundings. Starlet is inspecting the yard, moving slow and cautious. Any form of loud noises and fast movement will startle her. They circle around the yard as the handler maintains his distance from her so she wouldn't be frightened. The handler returns Starlet in which she enters the building cautiously. She allows the handler to clip the ring of the leash and she enters her kennel with no issue. 03/24/24: (PM) As the handler approaches, Starlet begins to wag her tail and climb the kennel door. The handler is slow when approaching, slowly administering high value treats. Starlet will take them gently and remain soft. The handler slowly feeds the loop of their leash onto her as she is eating and during the process she tenses up. As soon as the loop is on her, she darts up and snaps onto the handler's hand. It was a quick correction, biting and releasing quickly. Starlet is taken for a walk. Starlet displays a tense, stiff body while walking cautiously beside the handler. She is skeptical of the handler, keeping her distance and side eying them. Starlet is eventually returned to the facility where she enters the building quickly. She doesnt allow the handler to clip the leash, so the handler uses a hook in order to do so. The bite did not break skin or draw blood. 03/24/24: When handler approaches Starlet she's standing on all four at the front of her kennel hard staring at handler. the handler slowly cracks open the kennel gate and slide a hand in to drop the rope over Starlet's head, successfully leashed, Starlet then jumps up and snaps at handler, handler allows her a few minutes to relax before removing her from kennel, gate is open and Starlet is being removed, Starlet does a spin around then tries to redirect at handler's leg/knee area, handler stiff arms her and proceeds on the walk, while out side Starlet is corner eyeing and putting her head down attempting to "sniff" handler's boot, handler doesn't allow Starlet to be close enough to sniff anything on oneself, Starlet walks aside of handler on a short leash her body appears neutral, ears are back, and tail is down, heading back to the building handler goes to clip the circle on the leash but Starlet notices and begins to spin around on hind paws, leash is clipped successfully after another attempt and Starlet is returned back to her kennel with no issues safe and se

Date of intake:: 3/22/2024

Summary:: highly fearful

Date of initial:: 3/23/2024

Summary:: attempted to bite. Sedated for exam

ENERGY LEVEL:: Starlet is described as active and enthusiastic. She will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in addition to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. We recommend only force-free, reward-based training techniques for Starlet.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Starlet's potential to escalate to higher-level warnings coupled with a bite incident, we recommend for Starlet be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Starlet 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,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression & Bite History (human): Starlet has escalated to growling and snapping on multiple occasions during her time in the care center. On one occasion Starlet did bite a handler's hand when they were attempting to take her out of her kennel. Her signs of discomfort must be respected; Starlet should never be forced to interact, she should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people she finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Starlet. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Starlet's quality of life. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.