Animal Profile

Malachi is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Malachi has a history of two bite incidents. The first occurred in his previous home and did not break skin. The second occurred in the Care Center, broke skin, and required medical treatment. Malachi displays fearful behavior but has shown a willingness to interact with staff when offered high-value treats, particularly spray cheese. Medically, Malachi is apparently healthy.

Let's get to know each other a bit more...

This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. This pet is available only through ACC New Hope partners. To adopt or foster, please complete the pre-screener form below. Inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Malachi is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Malachi has a history of two bite incidents. The first occurred in his previous home and did not break skin. The second occurred in the Care Center, broke skin, and required medical treatment. Malachi displays fearful behavior but has shown a willingness to interact with staff when offered high-value treats, particularly spray cheese. Medically, Malachi is apparently healthy. In his previous home, Malachi was reported to display resource guarding behavior. At approximately 10 months old, he bit his previous owner during a resource guarding incident; the bite did not break skin. In the Care Centers, Malachi has displayed discomfort with most forms of handling and recently had a bite incident with a staff member that resulted in broken skin. Malachi has shown interest in high-value treats, particularly spray cheese, which may be helpful when working with him. Due to his history of resource guarding, handling sensitivity, and bite history, Malachi should be placed in an adult-only home through a New Hope Partner experienced in managing these behaviors using positive reinforcement and appropriate management strategies.

My medical notes are...

Medical Notes

9/16/2026

DOH Exam, kennel-side S/O: BAR, good appetite, no c/s/v/d noted EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge LUNGS: Eupneic CNS: Appropriate mentation A: APH on visual exam P: CTM while at QACC

9/17/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: conformation consistent with prior reported age of 7 years Microchip noted on Intake? noted to have scanned positive History: os, DOH-B hold Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - at the front of the kennel, hard barking Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? N Objective: T = np BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: DNE PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MN MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: APH on visual Prognosis: fair Plan: intake exam- tasks done prior awaiting sort SURGERY: Prior altered

9/25/2026

On 09/25/2026 Malachi was examined. The patient has appropriate mentation at this time (no neurological signs present) and has not exhibited any neurological signs while at QACC.

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 4. Orange

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake, he had a relaxed body frame when staff approached. Staff tossed treats and he ate them gently. He was easily leashed and walked to his kennel without an issue.

Date of Intake: 9/13/2026

Basic Information:: Malachi is an approx. 7-year-old Husky who was surrendered due to the owner's housing situation.

Previously lived with:: 5 Adults

How is this dog around strangers?: Malachi is shy and prefers contact on his own terms with strangers.

How is this dog around children?: Malachi is friendly, outgoing, tolerant, and playful with children.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Malachi is tolerant but will hard bark/growl at familiar dogs at times. With unfamiliar dogs, Malachi will be tolerant when they are on leash, or will hard bark and alert bark when off leash.

How is this dog around cats?: Malachi would aler bark, lunge, and snap at cats.

Resource guarding:: Malachi resources guards' food and treats by hovering over with a tense body, growling, and hard barking.

Bite history:: Malachi has bitten once and it was when he was a puppy. The owner went to give him food one morning when he was about 10 months old and he forgot to add more food in . When attempting to take the bowl, Malachi bit the client's hand. The client described the bite as a poke that did not break skin. It was not a strong bite but ever since then he has managed feeding differently.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Malachi is known to use the bathroom outside on walks and on wee-wee pads. He is also known to try to eat things outside on walks but had learned to stop with his owner after a slight tug. Malachi is reported to growl and hard bark at small animals and cats while on walks. He is not bothered when held/restrained, disturbed while sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled off furniture, paws are touched, and collar is grabbed.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: Malachi last saw a vet in October 2026 at Kew Gardens Animal Hospital.

For a New Family to Know: Malachi is described as social, affectionate, very active, playful, and quiet. He will spend most time where people are, living room, and garage. He allows owners to trim his nails, bathe him, and brush him. Malachi pulls very little on walks. He was walked 3-4 times a day for 20-30 minutes. He does well in a crate and would spend up to an hour in a crate. Malachi loves car rides. He knows commands like sit, down, stay, and "easy"/slow down. The previous owner's favorite thing about Malachi is: "He is always happy and curious, If you show him that you are happy, he can feel it, he takes that energy and shows it right back. He is in his best modes when he goes for his walk." Malachi loves to go for walks and hikes in Forest Park. He loves to run around and play fetch. After his activities, he will come home satisfied and quiet. Malachi's favorite food is Nutrish wet food and IAMS dry food. He loves Milk bone treats and likes the puzzle toys where ice and peanut butter can be put inside.

Date of intake:: 9/10/2026

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

Previously lived with:: 5 Adults

Behavior toward strangers:: shy and prefers contact on his own

Behavior toward children:: friendly, outgoing, tolerant, and playful

Behavior toward dogs:: tolerant but has hard barked and growled at familiar dogs; unfamiliar dogs - tolerant when on leash

Behavior toward cats:: alert bark, lunge, and snap

Resource guarding:: Malachi resources guards' food and treats by hovering over with a tense body, growling, and hard barking. Has bitten once when 10 months old.

Bite history:: Malachi has bitten once and it was when he was a puppy. The owner went to give him food one morning when he was about 10 months old, and he forgot to add more food in. When attempting to take the bowl, Malachi bit the owner's hand. The bite was described as a poke that did not break the skin.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Malachi is repported to have a medium energy level.

Other Notes:: Malachi is known to use the bathroom outside on walks and on wee-wee pads. He is also known to try to eat things outside on walks but had learned to stop with his owner after a slight tug. Malachi is reported to growl and hard bark at small animals and cats while on walks. He is not bothered when held/restrained, disturbed while sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled off furniture, paws are touched, and collar is grabbed.

Summary:: Malachi was surrendered due his owner's housing situation. In the home, Malachi was reported to have displayed resource guarding over food as a ten-month old puppy, resulting in a bite and release incident that did not break skin. While in the care center, Malachi has bitten a staff member when attempting to remove him from his kennel. When an ACS attempted to leash him, he snapped at the leash. When a second ACS stepped in to assist and slipped his hand into the kennel to leash Malachi, Malachi bit his finger, a bite and release resulting in a deep puncture wound. Once the kennel door was shut, staff retrieved the leash with a hook, and Malachi continued to lunge and snap at the hook. Prior to this, in his behavioral assessment, Malachi had shown strong discomfort with handling, whipping his head and touching the skin on the assessor's forearm with his teeth during the petting assessment. Due to his escalation to biting, and the severity of the bite, the behavior team does not feel that Malachi is a safe candidate for an assessment.

Summary (7):: 9/26/26: Malachi is reported to not want to walk over to the other side of his transfer door for cleaning. Malachi when being coaxed growls and lunges at the handler once but begins to eat the chunks of chicken that are on the floor infront of him. He is left alone and does cross over with high values once staff are not infront of his kennel. 09/14/26 (Assessment): Malachi is laying on his bed as the handler approaches. He comes to the front, is leashed with ease, and is brought into the office. Malachi is collared while eating spray cheese. He visits different handlers to get treats. After his assessment, he is returned to his kennel without issue. See Behaviour Assessment for more details. 09/13/26: Malachi is laying on his bed as the handler approaches. He stands up and allows the handler to leash him with ease. Outside, he walks at the end of the leash, but does not pull. Malachi observes his surroundings, but does not stop to sniff. He is later returned to his kennel without issue.

Date of intake:: 9/10/2026

Summary:: Relaxed, accepted treats, easily leashed and walked to kennel

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Bite history (human)