Animal Profile

Pimienta is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Pimienta has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and is not allowing for handling. She escalates to baring teeth, severe thrashing, alligator rolling, and flailing when attempting to leash and remove her from her kennel for walks or interaction. She has not taken any offered treats from handlers nor been receptive to any coaxing efforts or reinforcers. Medically, Pimienta has dermatitis and an ear infection.

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 Pimienta is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Pimienta has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and is not allowing for handling. She escalates to baring teeth, severe thrashing, alligator rolling, and flailing when attempting to leash and remove her from her kennel for walks or interaction. She has not taken any offered treats from handlers nor been receptive to any coaxing efforts or reinforcers. Medically, Pimienta has dermatitis and an ear infection. Pimienta was surrendered by her previous owner due to her ongoing allergies. Her previous family described her as a medium-energy dog who could be aloof at times, but was mostly social and affectionate with her people. She would follow her family around the home and enjoyed lounging in the living room. Pimienta was reported to love bath time/water, would go on 2-3 walks a day for about 20 minutes. Her favorite toys to play with were balls. Pimienta has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and has not allowed for removal from her kennel. She remains intensely fearful, begins thrashing, flailing, and/or gator rolling severely in her kennel once leashed, which has caused concern for her potentially injuring herself. Due to these concerns, we recommend that Pimienta to be placed in an adult-only home through a New Hope rescue partner in conjunction with force-free, reward-based training with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Pimienta presents with outside of the care centers.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 82 lbs

Medical Notes

6/25/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: ~4-7 years based on dentition / condition, consistent with O reported age of 5yrs Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned positive History: OS, hx of atopic dermatitis and otitis, was reported to be on apoquel previously Subjective: Prior to sedation - QAR, curled up on bed in back of kennel, does not want to interact. Lifts head with furrowed brow, whale eye, tongue flick when kennel is approached but does not get up. F stool in kennel, food appears minimally disturbed Observed Behavior - As above. Prior attempts to leash patient have resulted in severe thrashing -- sedating for safety / to limit FAS Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No Objective: P = WNL (sedated) R = WNL (sedated) BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, Moderate crusting dark yellow debris AU with mild erythema, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Mild staining of cranial dentition, muzzle in place unable to assess caudal dentition PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2s, Lungs clear, eupneic, negative ITC ABD: Soft, nonpainful, no masses palpated U/G: Female - appears spayed - ventral pigmentation of abdomen present so difficult to see a scar but palpable scar present at abdominal wall caudal to umbilicus (O reports P is spayed), no tattoo observed MSI: Prior to sedation was in sternal recumbency, ambulation not witnessed INT: Hypotrichosis of ventrum with pigmentation and mild papules, no masses noted, no ectoparasites seen CNS: Prior to sedation - Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Normal externally Wood's Lamp Exam: Not performed Assessment: High FAS Otitis AU Dermatitis - HX atopic dermatitis reported F spayed mature adult DSH Prognosis: Good Plan: SEDATED --> dexmedetomidine 0.7mL, butorphanol 0.7mL, ketamine 0.7mL IM --> moderate sedation achieved P still reactive 20min later, topped up with dexmedetomidine 0.2mL and butorphanol 0.3mL IM -- Light sedation achieved but sufficient for exam and tasks, muzzled as precaution Antisedan 0.9mL IM for reversal --> P monitored until sternal OK for appropriate intake tasks Replaced chain collar with martingale collar Cleaned and applied simplera AU ADD Trazodone 300mg (~8mg/kg) PO BID TFN (start tomorrow) ADD Apoquel 16mg PO SID x7d DVM visual exam (dt behavior) in 7d SURGERY: Already altered

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake, dog was easily scanned for MC, leashed, walked, and paced in kennel. She was not collared due to activity level.

Date of Intake: 6/20/2026

Spay/Neuter Status: Spayed

Basic Information:: LMB female dog who was surrendered to ACC but her family of 5yrs due to allergies

Previously lived with:: adults, children (11yo)

How is this dog around strangers?: Friendly, playful, and outgoing but may be shy and prefer contact on her own terms at first. May alert bark or actively avoid.

How is this dog around children?: Friendly, outgoing, playful, and tolerant.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Actively avoids all other dogs and has no experience with familiar dogs.

How is this dog around cats?: Actively avoids.

Resource guarding:: None reported.

Bite history:: No history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Knows to relieve herself outside on walks and will very rarely have an indoor accident. Only times has been when she get very excited. She is fearful of loud noises such as fireworks. On walks she can be reactive towards strangers that approach her family and small animals. He reaction is to bark or growl. She may present this behavior as well when strangers approach her home/yard. She is unbothered by being held or restrained, when she is disturbed while sleeping, when her paws are touched, or her collar is grabbed. She has never never been moved from furniture or been startled.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: No known medial issues but does have allergies for which she has taken the medication Apoquel since she was 11m old. Las vet check was in May of 2026 at Liberty Animal Clinic

For a New Family to Know: She is described as a social, affectionate, quiet, and aloof dog who spends most of her time in the living room of her home when she is not following her family around. She loves bath time and water, allows her family to bathe and bush her, and knows the cues sit, stay, paw, shake, come, no, and go ahead but is accustomed to hearing the cues in Spanish. She is known to be a calm, attentive, and sweet girl who goes on 2-3 walks a day for 20mins at a time during which she pulls moderately on her leash and she loves eating, playing with balls, and any treat she is offered.

Date of intake:: 6/20/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (5 years)

Previously lived with:: adults, children (11yo)

Behavior toward strangers:: may be shyt at first, actively avoid, once comfortable friendly, playful and outgoing

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

Behavior toward dogs:: actively avoids all other dogs

Behavior toward cats:: actively avoids

Resource guarding:: none reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Pimienta is reported to have a medium energy level.

Other Notes:: Knows to relieve herself outside on walks and will very rarely have an indoor accident. Only times has been when she get very excited. She is fearful of loud noises such as fireworks. On walks she can be reactive towards strangers that approach her family and small animals. He reaction is to bark or growl. She may present this behavior as well when strangers approach her home/yard. She is unbothered by being held or restrained, when she is disturbed while sleeping, when her paws are touched, or her collar is grabbed. She has never been moved from furniture or been startled.

Date of assessment:: 6/25/2026

Summary:: Due to Pimienta's intense level of fear, thrashing, flailing, and defensive behaviors in the kennel when handler's attempt to remove her from kennel, a handling assessment is not able to be conducted at this time.

Summary (7):: 6/23 (PM): Pimienta was at the back of her kennel when a handler approached. She begins baring her teeth during leashing and begins intensely gator rolling and thrashing when the hadnler attempts to coax her out of the kennel. She does not take any form of treats or is receptive to any form of reinforcers offered by the handler. Due to the behavior, the lead is removed with a hook, and she is left in a kennel due to her high levels of stress. 06/23/26: Pimienta is at the back of her kennel laying on her bed as the handler approaches. Her kennel is clean and she has not touched her breakfast. The handler is able to toss the leash around Pimienta's head, and Pimienta tenses. The handler attempts to coax her to the front with treats, but Pimienta does not move. She lip licks and looks away. The handler applies light leash pressure, and Pimienta leans all of her weight back and begins whipping her head around. She pushes the bed forward in an attempt to create distance. The handler places the leash on the ground and shuts the door. The leash is removed with the hook, and the handler locks the kennel and exits the room to avoid causing Pimienta more stress at that time.

Date of intake:: 6/20/2026

Summary:: easily scanned for MC, leashed, walked, and placed in kennel

Date of initial:: 6/25/2026

Summary:: whale eye, lip lick, when attempting to leash, begins thrashing severely, sedated for safety

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Pimienta's high levels of fearfulness and severe thrashing when attempting to remove from kennel, we recommend an adult only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Pimienta 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,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity | Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Pimienta has escalated to severe thrashing and flailing when leashed during attempts to remove her from her kennel for walks, her medical exam, or interaction with handlers. On one occassion she began baring her teeth. Her previous owner stated that she needs time to warm up to new people and can be avoidant; fearful of loud noises. She has been noted to hard bark or growl when handlers approach the home. Please see handouts on Handling/touch sensitivity and Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Pimienta is reported to be reactive to strangers who approach and small animals on walks. She will hard bark and growl. Please see handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration.