Date of intake:: 8/21/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 8/25/2025

Summary:: Agnes has been highly fearful his stay in the care center. Observed to be at the back of the kennel with a tense and trembling body. When outside with handlers Agnes is observed to maintain a tense and trembling body and escalate to thrashing intensely. He has also been observed to hide under benches. Due to the high level of fear, stress, and anxiety Agnes is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 8/29/25: Agnes greets another dog at the gate with tense body. He then paces the pen and does not reapproach.

Summary (5):: 9/1/2025 (LATE ENTRY): After his PM walk, Agnes was taken into the behavior office. He continuously tried to hide under the desk. Even with an array of toys, beds and linens, enrichment items, and treats laid out on the floor, he remained under the desk. After about 15 minutes he began exploring and spent his time sniffing around, consuming treats, and laying down in the bed. When interacting with handler, he became tense, retreated, and would whale eye when handler attempted to pet. He took treats readily and would begin nibbling at handlers pants, shirt, and treat pouch for more. At one point he jumped up, put his front paws on the desk, and began nibbling handlers notebook. He is returned to kennel without issue. 8/29/25: Agnes is at the center of his kennel as handler approaches. He is offered treats but does not accept them, he is leashed slowly and taken to the street for his walk. During his walk Agnes goes from walking directly alongside handler to pulling ahead of them. Agnes frequently checks in with handler and circles around them and will actively hide behind them when passing people on the street. Agnes will sniff handlers hand during walk and stops to stare at noises or people from afar. Handler walks Agnes at his own pace and when Agnes begins trembling while waiting for a street light to change, handler crouches low and allows Agnes to hide behind them. He crouches closely behind handler until the light changes, after walking for a bit Agnes is brought back to the care centers. He is returned to kennel without issue and he plops flat on the kennel floor upon return. Handler slowly clips and removes his leash before ending interaction. 8/29/25: Agnes is laying down with a tense body at the back of his kennel as handler approaches. He continues to remain tense and tries to retreat to the other side of his kennel as the handler tries to leash him. The handler is able to slowly lasso him and he comes out of kennel with ease. He is then taken to the yard for a walk. In the yard, he has a tense body and tucked tail and would walk around the handler with a tense body. He would jump up on the bench when the handler would sit and would hide behind them with a tense body. He would jump down and try to hide under the bench when the handler would stand up. He would head whip when the handler goes to clip their leash. Once clipped, he is slowly taken back to his kennel with no issues.

Summary (6):: 08/27/25: Agnes is at the center of his kennel as handler approaches. He is offered treats but does not accept them, he is leashed slowly and taken to the street for his walk. During his walk Agnes goes from walking directly alongside handler to pulling ahead of them. Agnes frequently checks in with handler and circles around them and will actively hide behind them when passing people on the street. Agnes will sniff handlers hand during walk and stops to stare at noises or people from afar. Handler walks Agnes at his own pace and when Agnes begins trembling while waiting for a street light to change, handler crouches low and allows Agnes to hide behind them. He crouches closely behind handler until the light changes, after walking for a bit Agnes is brought back to the care centers. He is returned to kennel without issue and he plops flat on the kennel floor upon return. Handler slowly clips and removes his leash before ending interaction. 8/24/25 (PM): Agnes is laying down on his kuranda bed as handler approaches. He does not come forward with the use of squeakers, toys, or baby voice, but he does start to tremble and shake. Handler is able to lasso him after a couple of attempts of him dodging the leash. He immediately comes to the front and hops down. He is taken to the yard for a brief relief walk. Handler keeps him on leash. In the yard he continues to shake intermittently. Handler keeps a distance but Agnes continuously circles them, usually hiding behind their les. When handler goes to sit on the bench Agnes scurries underneath. Handler attempts to walk him around the perimeter, walking very slowly and using baby voice to coax. When he gets to the back fence he scurries under the bench back there as well. Handler uses baby voice and consistent leash pressure to coax him out. When handler attempts to pet, he becomes stiff, leans away, and begins to whale eye at handlers hand. Handler ceases and returns him to kennel without issue. He jumps into his kennel without prompting or luring.

Summary (7):: 08/24/25: Agnes is at the back of his kennel as handler approaches, he is offered treats scattered at the front of his kennel but does not accept them. Handler uses a rod leash to leash Agnes who dodges the leash several times before finally being successfully leashed. Agnes exits kennel and walks with handler out to the street, while outside he walks alongside handler stopping to sniff occasionally and using the bathroom outside. Agnes does not react to people or dogs passing on the street, however with no triggers present and without warning he begins intensely thrashing on leash for a brief moment. After thrashing he continues walking, he is brought back to the care centers and due to his kennel not being cleaned he is brought into the behavior office while his kennel is being cleaned. Inside the office he attempts to hide under the desks but handler blocks the desks off using chairs, he sits in front of the desk with handler. Once his kennel is cleaned he is walked back but again with no present triggers he begins intensely thrashing on leash, banging himself into the door. He stops after a moment and again continues walking with handler, he baulks in the front of the kennel and needs to be slightly muscled in. 8/23/25: Agnes is laying down with a tense body at the back of his kennel as handler approaches. He continues to remain tense and tries to retreat to the other side of his kennel as the handler tries to leash him. The handler is able to slowly lasso him and he comes out of kennel with ease. He is then taken to the yard for a walk. In the yard, he has a tense body and tucked tail and would not interact with the handler. His eyes would widen as he would stare at the handler. He had no reactions or dogs or people that were close by. He is slowly able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 08/22/25: Agnes is at the back of his kennel laying down as handler approaches. He is offered treats but does not accept them, handler deploys a rod leash which Agnes initially avoids but eventually allows leashing. He exits kennel once leashed and walks with handler out to the street, passing people without issue along the way. He uses the bathroom as soon as he reaches the driveway and after using the bathroom walks directly alongside handler throughout the walk. Agnes does not pull or react to stimuli on the street besides a group of people speaking loudly which he stops to stare at briefly before continuing. He walks with handler for a while before being brought back inside, at one point when walking down the hall back to kennel he stops and begins whipping his head around briefly, handler stops quickly and as soon as he finished handler continues walking, Agnes follows without further issue. Once at the front of kennel Agnes refuses to go in, handler must use muscle to return him and once inside he pancakes on the floor. Handler uses a hook to remove the leash from Agnes and interaction is ended.

Date of intake:: 8/21/2025

Summary:: Fearful, trembling, growling

Date of initial:: 8/22/2025

Summary:: Tense, whale eyed and trembling. Allows all handling, but flinches every time with contact

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Agnes 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 additional 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 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: Agnes has been observed to be tense and trembling while interacting with handlers. While out with handlers Agnes maintains a tense body and has been observed to escalate to thrashing while on leash. During intake Agnes was observed to growl. It is important to move slowly with Agnes, 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.