Date of intake:: 10/16/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Bite history:: 10/24/26: Kara was on a walk with a CBS when a member of the public's off-leash dog ran up the block of the care center. The CBS picked up Kara to protect Kara from this unknown dog. Kara then bit the CBS on the hand. This bite broke skin, resulting in a shallow puncture, a cut and some damage to the cuticle area.

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:: According to Kara's previous owner(s), Kara was previously bitten by a large mixed breed dog and is nervous around other dogs. 11/10/26: Kara is introduced to a novel intact male and approaches the fence with high wags. She sniffs nose to nose with soft eyes through the fence, then paws towards the fence with high wags when the other dog disengages. The other dog reapproaches and Kara follows him along the fence line remaining soft. She is let into the yard and greets handlers, then approaches the other dog with a neutral body. Once nose to nose, she then attempts to scurry away, crying out and giving a brief air snap towards the other dog when they make brief contact as he attempts to sniff. She stands nearby giving a couple displacement toe taps and then is led across the yard without issue. She shakes off and is neutral at a distance, not reapproaching.

Summary (2):: 11/11/26: Kara is laying down in her bed as handler approaches. She is loose bodied and wiggling but makes no move towards the front of her kennel. Handler speaks softly to her and lasso's her and she immediately comes out of the kennel with a loose social body. she is easily walked to the backyard and immediately relieves herself. She gets herself stuck behind a gate and handler has to help her walk backwards. kara occasionally checks in with handler as she walks. she is eventually brought to the canine behavior office so her kennel can be cleaned. A secondary handler takes over and kara walks around the room sniffing. she is offered spray cheese and she does not acknowledge it, she is easily brought to her kennel and she willingly goes into it but struggles due to her weight

Summary (3):: 11/7/26: Kara is sitting at the back of her kennel, coming forward with mid level wags upon approach. She takes a treat gently through the kennel bars and is leashed without issue. She walks very slowly going outside, stopping to sniff often and fixating on spots. She attempts to sniff pop up crates and is non reactive as other dogs bark at her. She uses the bathroom once in the yard and then continues sniffing. She does not take treats offered and does not interact with the handler. She is brought to the behavior office and sniffs the feet of staff members in the office, then independently sniffs. She has no interest in treats, spray cheese, or toys. She does not pick her head up from sniffing when the handler attempts to coax her over for interaction. She has no reaction to being pet on the back, remaining neutral. She does take and chew on a dental stick, then continues sniffing. She is brought back to kennel and hops in on her own. The transfer door is closed for the handler to clean one side of her kennel and she scratches at the door and wines. When it is opened, she gives mid level wags towards the handler, then takes a treat gently through the kennel bars. 11/6/26: Kara is at the front of her kennel when handler approaches. She has a neutral body with a mid line wagging tail. she dodges the leash a couple of times but the second she is properly leashed she wags more excitedly and is eager to leave her kennel. She is easily walked to the backyard, she walks with very mild leash tension. She immediately relieves herself once outside, she does not respond or react when handler calls her over to them, she sniffs around the pen and sniffs a treat but does not eat it. she walks alongside handler and then is easily returned to kennel after her walk is done. she struggles to get into the kennel due to her weight. 11/4/26: Kara is at the front of the kennel when handler approaches. she is presenting with a social body, wagging tail, she takes treats softly. She is easily leashed and taken to the backyard, she sniffs as she walks. She solicits treats from handler. she relieves herself and then begins demand barking at a familiar handler in another pen. Kara runs around in the pen for a while before she is easily brought back to her kennel with ease. 11/02/26: Kara's walk mirrors that of her previous note, save for the face she does not dodge the leash at all and allows leashing without issue and returns to kennel without issue with the assistance of a kuranda bed.

Summary (4):: 11/01/26: Kara is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches, she is loose bodied and dodges the leash once before being leashed and removed from kennel. kara walks with handler pulling forward mildly on leash while walking outside. She relieves herself as soon as she reaches the driveway and walks with handler outside passing dogs with no reaction. She walks with handler outside, stopping to sniff spots on the street and passing people without issue. She is tolerant of handler guiding her into the street to walk around dogs when necessary, she is walked for a while and is offered treats but does not accept any. She is eventually brought back inside and walks back to kennel but shows hesitancy entering, she attempts to enter but has difficulty and shows some leash sensitivity when handler attempts to help her in, she does however make it into kennel without further issue and interaction is ended shortly after. 10/31/26: Kara is at the front of her kennel, hard barking when handler approaches. She is not receptive to treats but allows leashing. She readily exits the kennel and walks ahead of the handler in the hallways, continually vocalizing. She has no reaction to pop-up crates or staff members. Once she gets to the driveway, she relieves herself. She sniffs around and changing her direction towards the areas she wants to discover. She is not responsive with handler and remains aloof most of the time. Her body is neutral. When other staff members passing by with other dogs, she does not show any reaction toward them. After some time, she starts vocalizing again and pulling back inside the building. Kara is brough back to the kennel with no further issues. 10/30/26 - Kara is at the front of her kennel with a soft body, handler talks to her in a soft voice and opens the kennel door to leash her, she avoids the leash but with a treat lure and a few more attempts and going slow handler is able to leash her finally. She exits fine and walks through the halls fine exiting the building with no reactivity to other dogs in the kennels and crates. Outside in the driveway she walks fine, no reactivity, she jumps up at the handler's legs for treats and attention, handler gives her treats and lightly pets her head with three second consent petting, she jumps back down and continues her walk. Handler does a light jog with her in the driveway which she visibly enjoys with a loose body and wiggling tail. When returning back to kennel she pulls to people with a loose body and soliciting attention, handler has her in the office while kennel is being cleaned and she is social in the office approaching other handlers and soliciting attention and asking for treats. When returning to kennel she does baulk for a moment at near dogs barking at her but with a treat trail she enters fine.

Summary (5):: 10/24/26 - Kara is at the front of the kennel with a soft body, handler talks to her in a soft voice and opens kennel door to leash her, she avoids the leash but handler is able to slowly lasso the leash around her and exit kennel fine. She isn't reactive to any people or any dogs while exiting the building, outside she walks with a loose leash beside handler and with a loose body, handler even jogs a bit with her and she enjoys it, loose tail wag and eager to run. Handler and Kara reach towards the 111th street corner when a large dog turns the corner off leash straight towards Kara and the handler, handler on instinct picks up Kara, Kara yelps and bites and releases handler's thumb multiple times breaking skin while handler picks her up just as the off leash dog approaches. Off leash dog jumps up onto the handler for Kara, handler turns away with Kara in their arms, Kara at this point has stopped biting but is yelping high pitched. Owner of the dog comes running to grab the dog by the harness and pulls dog away while apologizing, owner walks off with the dog and once far away handler places Kara down who at this point was frozen in the handler's arm, once on the ground Kara shakes off and continues walking panting back to building, another handler assists with returning her back to kennel 10/23/26: Kara is reported to snap at a staff handler, as well as attempt to bite them; she vocalizes when leash pressure is applied. 10/23/26 (AM): Kara is at the front of her kennel with a soft body; she avoids the leash when being leashed, but once she is leashed, she exits the kennel. Kara is able to climb down the stairs. Kara walks ahead with mild leash tension and doesn't react to dogs or people. She yelps when gentle leash pressure is applied. Kara is walked up the stairs; however, she baulks, thrashes her head, and vocalizes. She is able to recover and enter the room; she is returned to her kennel. 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

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),Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior we recommend an adult only home. Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the displays of behavior indicating that Kara is uncomfortable around other dogs – proximity sensitivity - the Behavior Department recommends that she not be taken to dog parks. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to counter-condition and desensitize Kara to help her associate other dogs with positive experiences, such as toys or treats. 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,Bite history (human)

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. Bite History (Human): Please see bite history above for more details. Please see handout on Bite History and Potential for Future Aggression.