Date of intake:: 6/3/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults and 1 child age 6 years old

Behavior toward strangers:: Pluto is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Pluto is playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Pluto is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: Pluto tends to consider his food a valuable item. When owners or anyone tries to grab his bowl, Pluto will snap or attempt to bite if touched.

Bite history:: 5/27/26: On May 27th, 2026 the sibling of the owner fed Pluto his breakfast. As he was finishing up his meal, the victim noticed that Pluto had scraps of food left over. They decided to reach and grab the bowl; Pluto growled and then charged at the victim biting them on their right forearm. The bite was a bite and release that left two puncture wounds; the wounds bled. The victim was taken to the City MD for treatment.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Pluto tends to pull really hard on leash. He also deals with general anxiety and has destructive tendencies. Held/Restrained: Isn't bothered Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered Startled: Fearful Pushed/pull off furniture: Isn't bothered Feet/Paws are touched: Isn't bothered Collar grabbed/touched: Isn't bothered

Date of assessment:: 6/11/2026

Summary:: Pluto arrived at MACC following a bite incident in the home. The sibling of the owner fed Pluto his breakfast. As he was finishing up his meal, the victim noticed that Pluto had scraps of food left over. They decided to reach and grab the bowl; Pluto growled and then charged at the victim biting them on their right forearm. The bite was a bite and release that left two puncture wounds; the wounds bled. The victim was taken to the City MD for treatment. During intake Pluto appeared to have a loose and wiggly body. When the handler attempted to remove the harness from Pluto he became tense and growled. The owner went to remove the harness and Pluto lunged and snapped at them. During his stay in care, Pluto will stop on walks several times and lay on the floor. He requires coaxing and a belly band to be returned to kennel. Due to the bite incident and handling sensitivity, Pluto is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: According to Pluto previous owner, he is noted to be friendly and outgoing with dogs. 06/18/26: Pluto is taken to the play yard for gate greets with a novel female dog. In the play yard he greets handlers loose body taking treats and allowing petting. He approaches the novel female with a loose body wagging his tail and smells the gate. Both dogs smell the gate with loose body and wags tail, novel female dog jump on gate and handler pawing at the gate. Pluto marks the gate and reapproaches the novel female smelling and continue to display a wagging tail with forward body.

Summary (6):: 6/18/26: Pluto is at the front of his kennel hard barking when handler approaches. He takes offered treat and handler is able to put the leash on and take him out of the room. Pluto walks with mild pulling slightly ahead of the handler and sits next to them in elevator heavy panting. Pluto doesn't react towards other dogs in the pop-up crates. He is taken to the yard for the playgroup session (see notes). Pluto allows petting and attempts few time exuberantly jump on the handler. During returning handler is able to pre-clip the leash and bring Pluto back into his kennel with no further issues. 6/18/26: It is noted on the whiteboard that Pluto seems house trained. 6/13/26: Pluto is at the front of his kennel with a soft body and wagging tail; he is easily leashed and brought out the room. During the elevator ride, Pluto jumps on the handler's legs and receive pets. On the street, Pluto walks with mild leash tension; he doesn't react to dogs or people. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and returns Pluto to his kennel. 6/8/26: Pluto was at front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approached. He was easily leashed and pulled from kennel. Pluto was taken for a back yard walk. While walking slowly thru the hallway he would stop to sniff and investigate a few places and refused to move past them until he was finished. In the yard he would sniff and investigate his surroundings. When returning to kennel he was slow and stopped once. He was out back in kennel with no issue.

Summary (7):: 6/7/26: Pluto was at front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approached, he was easily leashed and pulled from kennel. While heading to the backyard for a walk he stopped several times and laid on the floor and the handler had to encourage him to continue moving. On the way back to kennel handler to get help from a second handler to bellyband Pluto back to kennel. 6/4/26 (PM walk): Pluto is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body and wagging tail; he is easily leashed and brought out the room. The handler brings Pluto the yard; there, he relieves himself and sniffs around. When the handler sits on the bench, Pluto jumps and stands on their lap with a soft body and wagging tail, sniffing them a few times; the handler motions Pluto climb onto the bench, but he is not able to. Pluto also doesn’t react to dogs that walk past. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and attempts to return Pluto to kennel, but he baulks in the hallway. The handler then jogs inside the room, and Pluto walks a little bit until he baulks right outside his kennel. The handler creates a treat trail, but Pluto shows no interest. The handler then applies leash pressure to bring Pluto to his kennel and hoist his front paws inside; he then slowly climbs in, and the handler is able to remove their leash. 6/4/26 (AM walk) Pluto is at front of kennel, he is neutral bodied. It is noted that there is a full food bowl in at the front of his kennel, this is observed due to reported resource guarding. As kennel door is unlocked, Pluto becomes loose bodied, wagging tail, he does retreat from a leash but stays toward the front of the kennel. He allows leashing via 'drop-lasso' on first attempt, he jumps out of kennel, slowly due to his stature, but exits readily and walks to play-yard. Pluto allows brief contact on back-torso area with neutral body, wagging tail. Pluto relieves himself, walks around yard, sniffs areas of interest. Pluto is walked to office to allow more time to clean kennel, in room he is neutral bodied and as staff verbally greet him his tail wags loosely. When being walked back to kennel he baulks, handler jogs him back to kennel, he hesitates to enter, but does so when front paws are muscled into kennel. 6/3/26: K9 Behavior is called to assist with bringing Pluto to kennel. The Admissions Counselor places their leash on Pluto, and as the owner attempts to remove his harness, he snaps at them. The counselor walks Pluto into the behavior office, where he presents a soft body, even as other handlers enter the office. Upon entry, the counselor clips their leash and brings Pluto into his kennel.

Date of intake:: 6/3/2026

Summary:: Growling, lunging, and snapping

Date of initial:: 6/3/2026

Summary:: Wagging tail and seeking attention from handler

ENERGY LEVEL:: Pluto is described as medium energy. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for them.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to the bite history 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: : Resource guarding,Destructive behavior,Handling/touch sensitivity,Anxiety,Strength/leash pulling,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Pluto's previous owner states that he will snap and bite while in the possession of food. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Pluto's mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Destructive Behavior: Pluto's previous owner states that he is destructive in the home. We are unaware of what, if any, attempts were made to remedy this behavior but we suggest to future adopters that Pluto will need to be provided with physical and mental stimulation and with a variety of appropriate and engaging chew toys so they can engage in necessary chewing behavior without damage to human objects. Please see handout on Destructive Behavior. Handling Sensitivity: During intake Pluto was observed to growl and become tense when the handler attempted to take his harness off. When the owner attempted to remove the harness Pluto lunged and snapped at them. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Pluto to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Bite History (Human): Please see bite history above for more details. Please see handout on Bite History and Potential for Future Aggression. Anxiety: Pluto's previous owner states that he is anxious in the home. If Pluto displays anxious behavior in their future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving them other things to focus on to alleviate their anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used. Please see handout on Generalized Anxiety. Leash Pulling: Pluto's previous owner states that he will pull hard while on leash. It is recommended that they be walked on a front clip harness or head halter, which will help diminish their strength through leverage, and that they be trained using positive reinforcement, reward based training to not pull on leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners.