Date of intake:: 8/3/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 8/5/2025

Summary:: Valentine has been observed to be fearful during her stay in the care center. During her time in care Valentine has been observed to escalate to lip curling, baring teeth, hard barking, and snapping towards handlers. Due to high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety Valentine is not a candidate for handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 8/7/25: Valentine greets another dog at the gate with a tense body. She lift he lip when approached quickly.

Summary (6):: 8/12/25: Valentine is standing in the middle of her kennel with a neutral body and barking as handler approaches. She becomes a bit soft as lock is unlocked and is easily leashed. She is taken to the street for a brief relief walk. She maintains a neutral body, occasionally wagging her tail, sometimes lip licking, and on a couple occasions jumped up and placed her front paws on handlers waist. Handler attempts to pet and she becomes a bit stiff, lip licks, and does a slight tail wag. Handler ceases petting but Valentine continues approaching and repeats the same behavior. She does not react to people passing by but does let out two short, high pitched barks when spotting another dog in the driveway. Her body language remains neutral and she does not stop trotting into the care centers. She resists going into the kennel briefly, but with some consistent leash pressure she hops in. 8/7/25: As handler begins to approach Valentine’s kennel, she begins to turn towards her side and flee to the back of her kennel. She then begins to show a slight whale eye and lip licks as handler is unlocking the kennel. Handler attempts to feed her a treat by tossing it near her, she sniffs briefly but doesn’t take. Handler uses a wide loop and slowly lassos her, which is successful. She exits the kennel with a tense body and tucked tail, she had a moderate pull ahead of the handler. She’s then taken for a street walk, where she would loosen her body slightly and begin to sniff around. She’s avoids any contact with the handler and would pant while walking ahead. She’s still unreceptive towards any squeaker sounds and treats given to her. Anytime the handler would walk close to her, she would attempt to walk further away. She would watch dogs pass with a neutral body and wouldn’t react towards any other stimuli. She is then brought back to the shelter, upon reaching her kennel she would stop in front and handler has to slightly muscle her in. Once back in she would flee towards the back & the interaction is then ended.

Summary (7):: 8/6/25: ACS report that Valentine is baring teeth and snapping through the kennel door. 8/4/25: Valentine is laying at the front of the kennel when a handler approaches. They offers treats and she is not receptive. Valentine has a tense body, shows whale eye, and lip licks. When the handler opens the kennel door Valentine stands and retreats a little. The handler is able to easily leash her and she readily exits the kennel. Valentine remains tense and walks slowly. She has to be coaxed up the stairs and around the yard. When entering the pen Valentine relieves herself. she remains unreceptive to treats or squeakie sounds. When returning to kennel the handler is able to clip their leash easily, however Valentine baulks right in front of her kennel. Handler tosses treats and uses a squeaky sound. She is not receptive. Handler has to use leash pressure to guide her into kennel. 8/4/25: Valentine is barking at the front of kennel with a tense body as handler approaches. She attempts to dodge the leash but is successfully removed from kennel. She is taken to the street for a relief walk. She has a neutral body and darts in all directions, occasionally tucking her tail. After shaking off, her body becomes more soft, she begins to lightly pant, and her tail is in a neutral state. She approaches handler to sniff but retreats quickly, handler keeps their distance. Handler lowers their hand as Valentine approached and appeared interested, Valentine sniffed their hand and began to lip curl. Handler slowly removed their hand and continues walk. Upon return, handler had to use consistent leash pressure and a small lift with their foot. 8/3/25: Valentine is standing in the middle of her kennel with a neutral body and a slow tail wag, in a flagging motion. As handler uses baby voice and extends hand towards her, Valentine begins to whale eye, escalates to lip curling, baring teeth, and hard barking. Interaction is ended.

Date of intake:: 8/3/2025

Summary:: Hard barking, baring teeth, snapping, and vocalizing

Date of initial:: 8/3/2025

Summary:: Whale eyed, tail tucked, declined all treats, tense body for exam, and thrashed for some tasks

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Valentine 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 additional 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 quick escalation to defensive behaviors 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: Valentine has been observed to quickly escalate to hard barking, baring teeth, and snapping towards handlers. It is important to move slowly with Valentine, 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.