Animal Profile

Bennie is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Bennie has shown intense fearful and defensive behavior, including trembling, hiding, baring teeth, lunging, snapping, and thrashing when leash pressure is applied. She has also attempted to bite handlers' legs and feet and escalates when additional handling was attempted. Bennie continues to struggle in the care center despite best efforts to keep her comfortable. Medically, we have treated multiple wounds in different stages of healing. Bennie is otherwise healthy.

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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 Bennie is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Bennie has shown intense fearful and defensive behavior, including trembling, hiding, baring teeth, lunging, snapping, and thrashing when leash pressure is applied. She has also attempted to bite handlers' legs and feet and escalates when additional handling was attempted. Bennie continues to struggle in the care center despite best efforts to keep her comfortable. Medically, we have treated multiple wounds in different stages of healing. Bennie is otherwise healthy. Bennie came into the QUACC after being brought in as a stray. In the care centers, Bennie has been intensely fearful and has been growling at staff, and has attempted to redirect toward a staff member multiple times without making contact when trying to walk him out of his kennel for a medical exam. As a result, we recommend Bennie is placed with one of our New Hope Partners.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 45 lbs

Medical Notes

8/10/2026

P fearful when attempting intake - attempting escape, flails and opens mouth / vocalizes when getting to the end of the leash and does not calm down when left alone. FAS high, would not take treats. P returned to kennel and the following anxiolytics were given. ADD Trazodone 200mg PO BID TFN (first dose given) ADD Gabapentin 800mg (~40mg/kg) PO ONCE 1-2hrs prior to exam P ate meds in spam well. Reattempt exam with meds on board - if P still not tolerant recc exam w sedation.

8/12/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2 years Microchip noted on Intake? Negative History: Agency; flagging as a DOH-B Subjective: BAR; MM pink, moist, CRT <2 sec Observed Behavior - Orange; Limited ability to examine, resistant to handling, body tense, tries to flee, thrashing, chomping; When not attempting to handle, P approaches for sniffs timidly; Suspect pain and trepidation d/t head injuries related to some behavior observations, notably with leashing Sedation needed for Intake Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? - Yes Objective: P = 80 hr (sedated) R = 20 rr (sedated) BCS 4/9 Wt = 45 lbs EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: NSF PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, no apparent murmur, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: FI (no spay scar or green spay tattoo observed) MSI: Multiple bite wounds (punctures, lacerations) in various stages of healing noted on right hind limb, behind left ear, dorsolateral left neck, and left hip. Significant, older, infected 3-inch laceration with a full length 1.5-inch deep skin flap on lower left lip/chin; contains granulation tissue, necrotic tissue, and purulent material with a foul odor. CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: Apparently healthy, except for: -Multiple bite wounds, suspect dog attack victim -Infected, necrotic facial laceration Prognosis: Good Plan: Standard Intake Procedures for Dogs Performed -Sedation: Dexmedetomidine (0.41 mL then 0.15 mL IM), Butorphanol (0.41 mL IM). Maintained on Isoflurane/O2 via mask. Reversed with Atipamezole (0.56 mL IM). -Wound Management: Lip/chin laceration lavaged, debrided, and closed in layers with 3-0 and 4-0 absorbable suture (simple interrupted; 3 deep, 4 superficial sutures; rostral and caudal ends left open for drainage). Local pre-emptive block with 1 ml Lidocaine and post-op infusion with 0.5 ml Bupivacaine performed. -Convenia 2.04 mL SQ once pre-emptive -Carprofen 1.8 mL (4.4 mg/kg) SQ once pre-emptive -LRS 300 mL SQ once -Vitamin B12 1 mL SQ once -Trazodone 200 mg (9.8 mg/kg) PO BID indef -Clonidine 0.6 mg (0.03 mg/kg) PO BID indef; first dose given PM 8/12 -Gabapentin 400 mg (20 mg/kg) PO BID indef; first dose given PM 8/12 SURGERY: Okay for surgery

8/20/2026

On 08/20/26 at approximately 9:00 am, I examined Bennie 262082. He has appropriate mentation at this time with no neurologic signs present, and has not exhibited any neurological signs while at ACC.

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 4. Orange

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 8/10/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, no prior history

Date of assessment:: 8/12/2026

Summary:: 8/12/26: Due to Bennie's escalations in the care center, a handling assessment will not be conducted.

Summary (7):: 8/19/26 (KSV): Bennie is at the front of the kennel but will retreat to the back of kennel as the handler crouches down. She will reapproach slowly to eat a treat that the handler tossed into the kennel. The handler will then toss some more treats into the kennel and then leave. Bennie eats treats as the handler exits the room. 8/16: Bennie growls at a handler who is near his kennel. The handler is interacting with the dog in the kennel next to his. The handler turns to greet Bennie, and he is seen to be lounging in his kuranda bed, tucked into himself. The handler turns and walks away; Bennie suddenly lunges and slams into the kennel glass, hard enough to rattle the frame. 08/12/2026 (Trainer Note): Bennie is in the back of her kennel, sitting on her kuranda bed with a tense body and trembling as handler approaches. She does not come forward for high value treats or coaxing. Handler crouches down but Bennie remains in the back. Handler attempts to lasso her but Bennie bares teeth, lunges forward, and snaps at the leash. Handler removes the leash from kennel and opens the door slightly. Bennie eventually comes to the front and handler is able to leash her. As soon as there is leash pressure she begins to thrash and attempt to bite handlers legs/feet. Handler keeps her straight armed until exiting the room. She is able to walk to the exam room with handler applying minimal leash pressure. In the exam room she remains tense and low to the ground, attempting to hide under the desk. She is not interested in treats or other handlers in the room. When attempting to place a second leash on her, she escalates to lunging, snapping, and briefly thrashing. She tolerates being walked to the squeeze gate on a double rope and is sedated for her exam to prevent further FAS.

Date of intake:: 8/9/2026

Date of initial:: 8/10/2026

Summary:: flails and opens mouth / vocalizes when getting to the end of the leash and does not calm down when

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Bennie 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 addition 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 Bennie's behavior noted in his previous home, we recommend that he go to an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Bennie's behavior noted in his previous home, we recommend he is placed with our New Hope Partners.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Bennie has escalated to growling while in the care center. His signs of discomfort must be respected; Bennie should never be forced to interact, and he should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people he finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Bennie. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Bennie's quality of life.