Date of intake:: 9/1/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (No History)

Date of assessment:: 9/11/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Mild Leash walking comments: Shows interest in dogs, pulls and stares at them. Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Approaches exuberantly and leans into handler rubbing against them, begins rubbing against furniture intensely and pushing over objects before beginning to mouth and bite pillows on the couch. Handler is able to redirect with treats and the pillows on the couch are moved out of view however Simba then begins biting and shaking the couch cushions and then moves onto a box filled with leashes which he begins playing with. Soft handling: Seeks contact Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact Comments: Seeks contact but becomes a bit aroused and lays on back while squirming for a bit mouthing the air. Arousal Jog comments: Follows neutral bodied Knock Knock comments: Approaches excitedly Toy Toy comments: Grips, tense, low growls

Summary:: Due to entering the facility with no owner notes, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 9/29/26: Simba is introduced to a novel intact female and is loose at the fence with wide mid level wags, sniffing nose to nose through the fence with perked ears. He toe taps and greets his handlers, then gives a frustration demand bark and begins pushing his snout through the fence opening, huffing and puffing his cheeks. The meet is kept to the fence due to his medical.

Summary (6):: 9/28/26: Simba is at the front of the kennel when the handler approaches. He is easily leashed, however when he exits the kennel Simba attempts to move deeper into the room pulling towards the neighboring kennel. While exiting the kennel room, Simba pulls hard towards the other dogs while growling and vocalizing. The handler was to straight arm Simba away to keep him towards the wall. Once in the hallway, Simba begins scrambling towards the donation pile. He begins to grab random items until he finds one item to take with him on the walk. In the yard Simba begins jumping up towards the leash and bites the handler's treat pouch. When the handler attempts to toss treats, Simba jumps up and bites the handler's finger before they are able to toss the treats. While in the pen, the handler has to continuously toss treats to distract Simba. When returning to kennel Simba again begins grabbing items out of the donations. He attempts to fit multiple toys in his mouth. He is able to be returned to kennel with no further issue. 9/27/26: Simba is brought to the Canine Behavior office after an ASC staff member reports that he has lifted the kennel drain cover from the back and is repeatedly pawing at the opened area and the wall. When handler approaches, Simba does not react and remains focused on the drain. He continues pawing at the area ignoring handler while they are opening the door. Handler tosses treats toward the back which interrupts Simba's focus. Once he notices treats, handler uses additional treats to lure him toward the front of the kennel and redirect his attention away from the drain. Simba is easily leashed and follows a treat trail out of the room. Simba is brought to the Canine Behavior office to wait for drains to be fixed. In the office, he frequently shifts his attention between different areas of the room. Handler is able to get his attention with treats (takes them hard). When another handler enters the room, Simba attempts to jump onto them (body is loose) but is pulled away. Handler tosses more treats on the snuffle mat on the floor, which helps Simba settle and remain engaged with the mat. Once the kennel drain is fixed, Simba is pre-clipped for return. After entering the room, he immediately runs into his kennel and goes back to the drain area again. He begins repeatedly pawing at the drain cover ignoring handler's attempts to get the leash back. He does not respond to attempts to redirect him with a squeaker toy. Handler applies mild leash pressure to guide him away from the drain and is able to get the leash back without further issues.

Summary (7):: 9/27/26: It is reported that Simba is intensely biting the leash when they are returned to kennel. 9/17/26: Simba is lying down in the middle of his kennel; the handler leashes him. Simba slowly stands up and picks up his toy and exits the kennel and room. Simba walks across the street and drops his toy; he walks with mild leash tension. With a loose body, the handler briefly pets him. The walk is kept short due to the face that Simba is lethargic. While walking back to the shelter, Simba picks up the same toy, but drops in the middle of the road; the handler picks it up and tosses it forward. Simba runs towards it and picks it up with a loose body. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and returns Simba to his kennel with ease. 9/11/26: Simba approaches the front of his kennel with a loose body body; he is easily leashed, and as he exits his kennel, he picks up a toy. while walking out the room, Simba notices the front medium kennels, and as one of the dogs on top barks him, he drops his toy and begins to fixate on them; once he's outside the room, Simba pulls towards and fixates on a dog in crate, but disengages when the handler pulls him away. Simba walks with mild leash tension and doesn't react to people. Simba also pulls into a closed off construction site, but the handler quickly pulls him out. Before entering the building, Simba notices a large dog; he pulls towards them three times, before the handler pulls him inside. Simba is brought in for his assessment (see notes); afterwards, he is returned to his kennel. 9/9/26: Simba is observed to be at the back of his kennel licking the transfer door and barking into the corner persistently. 9/9/26: Simba is reported to be lifting his transfer door. 9/7/26: Simba is observed to paw at his transfer door and attempt to lift his drain cover persistently.

Date of intake:: 9/1/2026

Summary:: Loose bodied and friendly

Date of initial:: 9/1/2026

Summary:: Tense body, growled when trying to exam mouth, tolerated other aspects of exam and handling

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Simba so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he 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 additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No Children: Due to Simba's fearful disposition and need for contact on his own terms, we recommend a home with no children. Place with a New Hope Partner: 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: : Resource guarding,Destructive behavior,Social hyperarousal,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: During his assessment Simba was noted to grab various resources and during the toy portion of the assessment he growled when approached by the assess-a-hand. We advise against ever removing items from Simba's possession without safely trading for an item or greater or equal 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 on Resource Guarding. Destructive Behavior: During his assessment it was noted that Simba would grab onto furniture and chew on it as well as knock over objects while rubbing against them. We suggest to future adopters that Simba will need to be provided with physical and mental stimulation and with a variety of appropriate and engaging chew toys so he can engage in necessary chewing behavior without damage to human objects. Please see handout on Destructive Behavior. Social Hyperarousal: During his assessment it was noted that Simba would become aroused with contact and mouth the air as well as grip objects in the vicinity. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach Simba to remain calm when people and other exciting things are around. He should be rewarded with treats when calm. If he escalates to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Simba. Please see handout on Arousal. Fearful/Potential for Defensive Aggression: During medical exams staff reported that Simba needed a slow approach and growled at one point during handling. It is important to always go slow and give Simba the option to walk away from any social interaction. Simba should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Simba’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Simba may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Anxiety: While in kennel it is reported that Simba will lick, paw at and bark at his transfer door while in kennel while vocalizing and whining. 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.