Animal Profile

Kowalski is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Kowalski displays fearful and defensive behavior during leash handling, including growling, baring teeth, snapping at the leash, and avoiding leash placement. He is also struggling in kennel, including persistent screaming and jumping against the kennel door during cleaning, and pulls hard on leash at times. Kowalski is able to be leashed with patient handling, and is slowly warming up, but is struggling in the care center. Medically, Kowalski has a corneal ulceration with possible uveitis.

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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 Kowalski is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Kowalski displays fearful and defensive behavior during leash handling, including growling, baring teeth, snapping at the leash, and avoiding leash placement. He is also struggling in kennel, including persistent screaming and jumping against the kennel door during cleaning, and pulls hard on leash at times. Kowalski is able to be leashed with patient handling, and is slowly warming up, but is struggling in the care center. Medically, Kowalski has a corneal ulceration with possible uveitis. Kowalski the Smartest was surrendered as a stray, so his past behavior in a home environment is unknown. Kowalski has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. He was reported to be chewing on the crate bars when he arrived. When attempting to remove the leash he was found with, Kowalski began baring his teeth. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 53.2 lbs

Medical Notes

6/20/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 4 years Microchip noted on Intake? Positive History: Agency Subjective: BAR MM pink, moist, CRT <2 sec Observed Behavior - Orange; Hard barking, leash biting, leash dodging, growling, and hard staring observed in kennel. Sedation needed for Intake Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? - No Objective: P = 60 hr (sedated) R = 12 rr (sedated) BCS 5/9 Wt = 53.2 lbs EENT: Left eye (OS) with significant corneal edema, suspected hyphema, scleral injection, and an apparent central corneal ulcer (~2-3 mm). Right eye (OD) 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: MI (2 testicles descended) MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: Apparently healthy, with exception. -*Left Eye*: Traumatic corneal ulceration with secondary uveitis. Prognosis: Good Plan: Standard Intake Procedures for Dogs Performed Sedation protocol: Dexmedetomidine (0.47 mL) and Butorphanol (0.47 mL) IM, reversed with Atipamezole (0.47 mL) IM. -NeoPolyBac ointment applied OS once; not to continue d/t behavior-related handling constraints. -Carprofen 105 mg (2.1 mL) SQ once. -Carprofen 100 mg PO SID x 3 days, starting tomorrow. -Trazodone 200 mg PO BID, ongoing. -Gabapentin 600 mg PO BID, ongoing. -Recheck left eye in 5 days. SURGERY: Okay for surgery

6/25/2026

recheck OS- corneal ulceration noted on intake, unable to admin meds d/t behavior S/O BAR, A+A at the front of the kennel, no c/s/v/d appreciated EENT: OD: wnl OS: corneal edema, episceral injection and suspected neovascularization, central corneal defect visible, suspected hyphema, no blepharospasm A. Corneal ulceration with possible uveitis P. Extend carpro x 1 week disc with CB possibilty of admin topical drops. Seek placement asap - p may need ophtho consult with adopts/placement recheck in 5 days CTM closely on rounds

7/6/2026

Staff report P is biting metal food and water bowls and blood was present in kennel BARH - rushes to front of kennel with stiff body language, tense mouth but pants intermittently pink moist mm at distance No blood seen in kennel OS as prior at a distance, unable to examine closely due to behavior Behavior staff requesting behavior modification medication due to persistent signs of FAS. P on trazodone ~8mg/kg and gabapentin ~25mg/kg PO BID. INCREASE Trazodone 250mg (~10mg/kg) PO BID TFN INCREASE Gabapentin 900mg (~37mg/kg) PO BID TFN (for FAS and analgesia for corneal ulceration) Attempt DVM recheck OS 7/8 with new anxiolytic doses - if unable to examine consider sedation

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 4. Orange

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 6/18/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray; history unknown

Date of assessment:: 6/21/2026

Summary:: Due to Kowalski the Smartest's escalations when attempting to remove him from his kennel and avoidance of handlers once out of the kennel, a handling assessment is not conducted.

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, no prior dog-to-dog history is recorded. 06/21/26 Kowalski The Smartest is introduced to a novel female while off leash. He readily approaches the gate with a loose frame and will sniff in the direction of the female, but the female does not come forward. He remains at the gate.

Summary (7):: 7/2/26: Kowalski is observed to scream and jump off his kennel door persistently during cleaning. 06/26/26: Kowalski the Smartest is at the front of his kennel when the handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and brought outside. He pulls hard throughout the building and outside, frequently coughing. He does not show interest in the handler or treats. Kowalski the Smartest brought back into the building. He slips on the floor and stops outside of his kennel, but the handler is able to guide him in with just leash pressure. 06/23/26: Kowalski the Smartest is at the front of his kennel as the handler approaches. He backs up slightly the first time the handler attempts to leash him, but allows the handler to easily slip the leash over his head the second time. Kowalski the Smartest walks at the end of his leash for the majority of the walk, but he does not pull. He does have interest in treats or interaction with the handler. When returning to kennel, Kowalski the Smartest stops in front of his kennel, but enters with light leash pressure. 6/22/26: Kowalski The Smartest is at the front of the kennel as the handler approaches. He is slightly avoidant of the leash but when the handler opens the door slightly wider he will approach so they put the leash in the opening and encourage him to walk into it. He is leashed and will then pull hard to the play yard where he will sniff around. He will then pull hard back to his kennel. The handler jogs him into the kennel and he is secured safely. 6/21/26: Kowalski is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is comfortable taking a few treats and then stops eating them when the handler slowly opens the door. He begins to growl and turn his head away as the handler presents their leash. He would re-approach the front when the handler removes the leash and offers treats again with high value cheese. He has no interest in the high value cheese and remains at the back of kennel again. He then begins to bare teeth and he snaps at the leash as the handler is able to lasso him. Once leashed, he is then taken to the play yard for play group. In the yard, he becomes loose bodied as he greets the other dog at the gate. Please see dog to dog notes for more details. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. He then eats the remaining treats that was left on the ground in his kennel.

Date of intake:: 6/18/2026

Summary:: fearful, stressed, chewing on crate bars, reluctant to enter kennel, bared teeth with collar removal

Date of initial:: 6/20/2026

Summary:: Hard barking, leash biting, leash dodging, growling, and hard staring observed in kennel, sedated

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Kowalksi's potential for defensive escalations and his handling sensitivity, we recommend that he be placed in an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Kowalksi the Smartest has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

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

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity | Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Kowalski the Smartest has escalated to growling and lunging on multiple occasions, both at intake and during his medical exam. His signs of discomfort must be respected; Kowalski should never be forced to interact, and he should always be allowed to walk away from situations or people he finds uncomfortable. He has also been uncomfortable with the leash being removed from his kennel. We recommend a slow approach, and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Kowalski. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Kowalksi's quality of life. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity and Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.