Date of intake:: 9/22/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (no known information)

Summary:: Ember has been highly fearful in care and she is giving clear warnings when she is uncomfortable, becoming tense, growling. When attempting to collar Ember for her assessment, she was initially avoidant. She then escalated to hard barking at the handler. Ember is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (7):: 9/27: Ember was easily leashed and brought out to the yard. There is another staff member sitting on the bench. She is avoidant of walking over to him and keeps a loose leash. She is tense and gives whale eyes, before hard barking at staff as they reach to collar her. She is walked away on leash, and they go down the ramp to go on a walk. Ember attempts to walk down the block on unsuitable terrain, ignoring handler attempting to coax her the other way. She eventually turns but quickly wants to go back in the other direction. Handler decides to return her to kennel and Ember refuses to enter, balking hard at kennel front with a tense body, giving whale eyes. Handler walks around with her to find a second staff member. They go outside and attempt to reset her. She pulls down the ramp and begins to walk into the opposite direction. They start coaxing her up the ramp and a second leash is secured. She has to be pulled back to her kennel and goes in on her own. 9.24 Ember is at the front of her kennel. She is easily leashed and taken fora walk. Ember ignores the other dogs int he room as she leaves. On the walk Ember has a soft body, loose and open mouth, and occasionally looks back at staff. Ember walks with either a loose leash o very mild pulling. She ignores people passed and a dog on the opposite side of the street. Ember allows her leash to be clipped and is easily returned to her kennel. 9/23: Ember is easily leashed and walks quickly past barking dogs. Ember has a neutral body as they walk up the block. The leash hangs low and rubs against her back with no reaction. She allows handler to unclip her harness, tolerating touch on her back. She lip curls as they reach to pull the other side over her head, so the harness is left hanging. They enter the yard to attempt and remove the harness, but she begins to growl at another staff member. The harness is left on, and she is returned to kennel. She is later removed for PM walk and brought to the yard. One staff member keeps her attention calling as another is able to cut the harness off. She is brought on a walk after and has a swaying, relaxed body. She ignores an off-leash dog walking on the other side of the street.

Date of intake:: 9/22/2026

Summary:: low growling, tense, whale eyeing

Date of initial:: 9/24/2026

Summary:: Fearful, stiff body, low level growl, did not escalate, allowed handling with gentle restraint and m

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to being uncomfortable with handling and fearful potential for defensive aggression, we recommend a home with no children.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Kennel presence

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/Touch Sensitivity: Ember has been noted to become uncomfortable with handling at times, hard barking at staff when they attempt to collar. It is important to always go slow and give Ember the option to walk away from any social interaction. Ember should never be forced to approach anything that she is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Ember’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Ember may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to her new surroundings.??Please see the handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity.? Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Ember gives clear warnings when she is uncomfortable and does seem to choose to avoid or retreat when given the opportunity, but if prevented from moving away there is a potential to escalate to higher-level warning behaviors and possible fear-based aggression. It is important to move slowly with Ember, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow her to initiate interactions with new people. She should never be forced to greet or to interact if she is not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful Potential for Defensive Aggression.? Kennel Presence: Ember has poor kennel presence, growling at staff. ?While we cannot be certain if this behavior will appear in any other contexts, in highly emotionally charged or stressful environments Ember may show similar behaviors. We recommend potential adopters be comfortable managing this behavior and keeping themselves safe in any future situations. ?