Date of intake:: 10/16/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Date of assessment:: 10/21/2026

Summary:: Kara has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Kara has been observed to snarl, show teeth and snap when handlers go to leash her. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety, Kara is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (5):: 10/22/26: Kara is at the front of her kennel with a neutral body; the handler attempts to leash her, but she moves her head around. Eventually, she is leashed with a pre-clipped leash and brought out the room; she shakes her head a few times. Kara walks with mild leash tension and doesn't react to people or dogs. Upon entry, the handler brings Kara to her kennel and she enters with ease. 10/21/26: Kara is at the front of her kennel with a neutral body; the handler drops treats into her kennel, and once she walks over, they close off the side of the kennel. Kara dodges the leash by moving her head around. Once the leash is on her, Kara exits the kennel. on the street, Kara walks ahead with mild leash tension and doesn't react to dogs or people. Kara shakes her head a few times, seemingly trying to loosen the leash. She is mainly aloof for the walk. Upon entry, she is seemingly hesitant when the handler attempts clip the leash, so the handler distracts her with treat and quickly clips the leash. Kara struggles to climb into kennel, but does so by herself.

Summary (6):: 10/20/26 PM: (Late Entry) Kara is at the back of her kennel as handler approaches, she looks up at handler with whale eye and stares at handler as they unlock the kennel door and introduce the leash. Kara flinches and scurries to the front of the kennel when the leash gets close but tolerates handler attempting to slowly drape the leash over her head, though she does attempt to shake the leash off still. Kara is eventually leashed with a pre-clipped leash and she stands at the front of her kennel seeming hesitant to exit. Handler attempts to encourage her verbally and with visual cues which Kara seems to follow but will stop herself from exiting at the last moment. Handler removes the leash and finds a large kuranda bed which they bring back upstairs and place under Kara's kennel to make it easier for her to exit kennel. Upon returning Kara is back in her original spot in the back of kennel and again flinches hard when the leash approaches her. When handler attempts to drape the leash over her head she screams and vocalizes but generally stays still enough to allow leashing again. Kara again refuses to exit kennel and seems more tense bodied than before and looks up nervously at handler. Handler ops to end interaction to not further increase her stress. 10/20/26: Kara is at the front of her kennel with a neutral body; as the handler attempts to leash her, she dodges it with her head, going to the other side of her kennel. The handler tosses treats into one side of her kennel, and as she walks over to eat them, they close off the other side. The handler tosses more treats into the kennel and attempt to leash her, but Kara moves her head around multiple times. After several attempts, the handler is able to leash Kara and she jumps out the kennel. On the street, Kara walks ahead with mild leash tension and doesn't react to dogs or people. At one point, as the handler allows slack, it causes the loop of the leash to be slightly looser; Kara attempts to shake it off her head, but the handler quickly secured the leash as she does so. Kara picks up a chicken bone; as soon as she drops it, the handler quickly applies leash pressure to pull her away, which causes her to yelp. As they go inside, the handler attempts clip the leash, but she keeps looking at them; they toss treats on the ground, and as she is distracted, they clip the leash. Upon entry, Kara approaches her kennel and climbs into it with ease.

Summary (7):: 10/19/26 - Kara is lying down when handler approaches, she gets up and has a wagging tail and neutral body panting, when handler opens door she eagerly comes forward for leashing but then jumps back when leash lightly touches her. She vocalizes almost in pain-like and high pitched sounds when handler attempts to put leash on her, handler gives her a second before using a treat lure and slowly move the leash onto her which then she is finally leashed. She exits fine with no issues, walks very slow for the walk, takes treats and has no reactivity. Her slow walking doesn't get far, handler is only able to walk her to the end of the block and then back, when returning to kennel she is unleashed with no issues and enters the kennel on her own. 10/18/26: Kara is lying down on her blankets as handler approaches. When handler opened door she comes forward where she is easily leashed and pulled from kennel. Kara walks slow with a neutral body and walks beside handler sometimes falling behind from walking slow. Kara ignores the treats that are offered. She stops to sniff and investigate a few times. When returning to kennel Kara struggled a little getting her rear legs into the kennel. Handler tried to help lift her, but she growled when was touched, but got herself into the kennel after a little kicking. 10/17/26: Kara is at the center of her kennel as handler approaches, she looks back at handler who begins unlocking the kennel door and leashing her. She begins to cry and vocalize while showing teeth at the leash and moves away a few times before she is eventually leashed successfully on a pre-clipped leash. She exits kennel but falls on the way out, so handler places a kuranda bed under the kennel to help with her return. She slowly walks forward hesitantly with a tucked tail, gentle coaxing is successful in encouraging her to walk and she reaches the street. Kara is generally aloof throughout the walk and stops to sniff often, she walks past people without issue and generally attempts to avoid dogs. She is eventually brought back to kennel where handler places a karanda bed to help her re-enter klennel however she refuses to use it, when handler attempts to use leash pressure she screams and thrashes. Handler quickly gets her into kennel ending the interaction. 10/16/26: Kara is reported to snarl as well as avoiding the leash as the handler attempts to leash her; she is able to be brought out.

Date of intake:: 10/16/2026

Summary:: Fearful and snappy

Date of initial:: 10/16/2026

Summary:: Showing teeth and snapping when approached, opted to sedate

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior 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: Kara has been observed to escalate to snapping, snarling, and showing teeth when handlers approach to leash her. She has also been observed to vocalize loudly when handlers attempt to handle her. It is important to move slowly with Kara , 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.