Date of intake:: 8/20/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Date of assessment:: 8/29/2026

Summary:: Due to medical status, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time. A behavior determination will be made off EN notes. Mistique was surrendered as a stray, so their past behavior in a home setting is unknown. In the Care Centers, Mistique has tolerated medical handling with a tense body. Mistique appears to be tolerant of most handling, however she was noted to growl when the handler attempted to closer he crate door. Mistique's determination is reflected in the limited behavioral information we've gathered and observed. However, it’s unclear whether their behavior will remain consistent or if new behaviors may emerge once they are fully medically cleared. Positive reinforcement should be used when working with Mistique.

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 8/29/26: Mistique is introduced to a novel intact male and is loose at the fence with wide mid level wags. She attempts to nudge her snout through the opening of the fence, then disengages and uses the bathroom in the catch pen, not reapproaching.

Summary (6):: 8/29/26 (Midday): As the handler brings Mistique inside from playgroup (see D2D notes), they clip their leash and walk her to the room. Once she is by the door, Mistique vocalizes and repeatedly snaps at the leash. A second handler places their pre-clipped leash on her, and she allows it. However, when the first handler moves to bring her into the room, Misitque repeatedly snaps at the leash and vocalizes. Both handlers walk her into the room, however, due to the leash pressure and her hesitation, Mistique doesn't walk initially. After a small break, the handlers walk her to her kennel, and Mistique enters. As the handlers close the door and pull off their leashes, Mistique hard barks at them. once the leashes are off, they end the interaction. 8/29/26: (Kennel Movement) Mistique is at the front with a neutral body, leaning against the kennel door as handler approaches. She is then quickly leashed and removed from her kennel. She pulls forward with mild leash tension, once outside the building she quickly relieves herself. She is then clipped and brought inside of the main building. Upon entering the kennel room door, she is then clipped and brought inside. Once handler gets in front of her new kennel she quickly turn towards the handler and air snaps, she is muscled away and begins to vocalize in a high pitch, which is followed by growling. She is then muscled inside of her kennel, where she would become reluctant to enter and handler has to use their boot to help left her behind inside of the kennel. Once inside, she quickly charges the front and handler is able to safely remove their leash. Interaction was then ended.

Summary (7):: 8/29/26: As handler approaches the kennel Mistique is at the front with a neutral body and wagging tail. She is then easily leashed and removed from her kennel. She has a mild pull forward and is taken for a street walk, throughout the walk she would explore and sniff multiple spots while relieving herself. Handler calls her name which she quickly acknowledges and allows petting alongside her body and begins to wag her tail. She would then continue to walk forward and would remain aloof throughout the duration of the walk. She is then clipped as she’s brought back to the driveway, she enters the building with no issues. As the handler begin to get closer to her kennel, she would quickly become tense with her hackles raised and begin to growl and hard-bark towards the handler. She quickly spun towards the handler and handler is able to quickly muscle her into her kennel with the leash on. Once inside, she muzzle punches the glass door with whale eyes and growling. Handler then grabs a hook to retrieve their leash, once the leash is presented Mistique would begin to bite the hook and this behavior wasn’t able to be redirected. Once the leash is removed, interaction is then ceased and Mistique would remain fixated on the handler. 8/28/26: ACS reported that Mistique is hard barking when handlers are trying to leash her. Handlers stated the walk itself was fine, but as they tried to return her she ‘redirected’ onto the handler and began jumping up while hard barking towards them 08/24/2026: As handler approaches at the front of the crate, Mistique is laid down curled up at the back of her crate. As Mistique sees the leash, she slowly stands and direct herself at the front of the crate, allowing the handler to leash with ease and is taken outside for a walk. Once outside, Mistique walks a few steps ahead of handler with no leash tension. She sniffs around and relieves herself. No reactions towards other people are shown throughout the walk. Handler starts a small interaction, offering open palmed a treat, Mistique is receptive and takes it gently. As they are heading back to the facility, Mistique keeps by the handler's side and checks in with the handler every so often. Mistique is taken back inside to medical, and tether on a wall clip, Mistique understand the command sit. Once crate is ready handler guides Mistique toward her crate, Mistique walks in with ease, leash is removed. As handler attempts to close crate door Mistique low growls, handler tosses in an enrichment toy as a distraction in order to close the crate door.

Date of intake:: 8/20/2026

Summary:: Friendly

Date of initial:: 8/20/2026

Summary:: Tolerated exam and medical handling went very slow, tense body

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Mistique 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 addition 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 her defensive behavior in care we recommend that she be placed into an Adult only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Mistique came in as a stray so we have limited behavioral history on her. She has not acclimated well to the kennel environment. Mistique was noted to snap at handlers when being placed back in the kennel. Mistique in one instance quickly turned towards a handler then air snapped and she had to be muscled away while she was still growling. Mystique is noted to check in with handlers and she can sit on cue. 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,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Low threshold for arousal/ Fearful Defensive: Mistique has been observed to have a tense body and is noted to growl when the handler closed her crate door. Mistique has been noted to snap at handlers when being returned to the kennel. She has also been observed hard barking and lunging in the kennel. In one instance when being moved to a new kennel Mistique quickly turned towards a handler then air snapped and she had to be muscled away while she was still growling. It is important to move slowly with Mistique, 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 and Arousal.