Date of intake:: 9/21/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults and 3 children (Ages 12,6,2)

Behavior toward strangers:: Cherry is aggressive toward strangers and will lunge toward them

Behavior toward children:: Cherry is reportedly friendly and protective only of the familys children

Behavior toward dogs:: No experience

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: No Resource Guarding

Bite history:: No Bite History

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High Energy

Other Notes:: Plays a lot, Jumps With strangers Cherry will not allow to be restrained, bathing, groomed, approached etc.

Date of assessment:: 9/25/2026

Summary:: 09/25/26: Since arriving at the care centers, Cherry has displayed high levels of reactivity toward people and dogs they see. When exiting and returning to kennel Cherry will react intensely to dogs they pass and has been observed to growl and bark at staff during interactions. Due to her escalation in behavior particularly when exiting kennel, she is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (4):: 9/27/26: Cherry is lying down at the back of her kennel as handler approaches. When handler speaks Cherry stands up and comes forward. Handler offers a treat thru kennel bars and she accepts with a soft mouth. Handler offers another treat at a different location and Cherry quickly moves to that location. Handler then begins to play the back and forth game with Cherry. At different points thru the game handler would also ask for sits and downs and Cherry would sometimes comply, Once she realized she was getting rewarded consistently her compliance with the commands increased. After a few minutes handler ends interaction by walking away. 9/23/26 [pm]: Cherry is at the front of her kennel when the handler approaches. She immediately becomes jumping against the kennel door and barking intensely. Her tail is held high, and she remains focused on pawing at the kennel door while vocalizing. She is receptive to treats and handler is able to leash Cherry with using a treat lure and take her out of the kennel. As Cherry exits the kennel, she immediately focuses on the neighboring dog. She pulls strongly toward the kennel, lunges toward the door with open mouth, muzzle punches the kennel fronts, and continuously barks and vocalizing. Her body remains tense with a forward weight shift, and she does not respond to treats or verbal cues while focused on the dog. Handler shortens the leash and muscles Cherry out of the room. Once she is out, she attempts to turn back and jump toward the handler. However she disengages by her own before handler is able to redirect her. She continues pulling through the hallway shifting her body in front and pants heavily. While outside (street is empty, no dogs, people or different stimuli) Cherry continues to pull with strong leash tension and is difficult to settle. She does not respond to treats or verbal cues, is not interested in treats and is not seeking any interaction. She is focused on moving forward and maintains a heavy open-mount pant. Her body is lowered and eyes are wide. When she is back to the driveway, she sees a pigeon and attempts to lunge towards it putting her body weight forward, and continues pulling toward the spot few more times until the bird is gone. She is not redirectable. During return to the shelter, Cherry continues pulling hard in the hallways again causing herself cough and choke. Handler is able to pre-clip the leash; Cherry becomes tense again as she approaches the kennel room. Handler in advance shortens the leash and is able to prevent kennel fight and return Cherry into her kennel with no further issues.

Summary (5):: 9/22/26: Cherry is standing at the front of her kennel with a neutral body; as the handler unlocks her kennel, she repeatedly jumps on the kennel door and barks at them. The handler lures Cherry with treats so she can jump down, and she is leashed. As she is being walked out the room, Cherry immediately reacts to the kennel closest to the front; she pulls very hard towards and barks at the dog, who is also reacting back; the handler shortens the leash, causing her to stand on her hind legs until they are out the room. The handler walks Cherry to the yard; she walks with moderate leash pressure in the hallway and into the yard. Cherry notices a large in the playpen while walking on the perimeter and pulls towards the fence; s the dog reacts to her by barking, she jumps up on the fence. The handler walks her away. She is then brought into the pen; she walks and sniffs around the pen. When she notices a bird, she pulls moderately towards them; as dogs are walked by or in the adjacent pens, she follows them alongside the fence. Cherry engages with the handler; at times, she exuberantly jumps towards their face twice. For the most part, she allows pets and takes treats with moderate pressure; she solicits pets by pawing the handler, as well as follows the 'paw' command. After some minutes, the handler walks Cherry inside; she pulls moderately while walking through the hallway. Cherry is returned to her kennel. 9/21/26: (Intake Behavior) Cherry is sitting with her owner and wearing a muzzle when the handlers approach. When the primary handler goes to give the slip leash to the owner, Cherry attempts to lunge at the handler. However, she is unable to move due to the handler having her on a very short leash. The owner is able to place both leashes on Cherry. Cherry begins walking forward with the handlers and then begins growling. She continues to growl while walking through the hallway and into kennel. When the handlers attempt to use a hook to remove the leashes, Cherry begins hard barking, snarling, and vocalizing. She also attempts to snap/bite the hook but is unable to due to the muzzle. The primary handler attempts to distract her with treats and squeaky sounds; however, she is not receptive.

Summary (6):: 8/02/26: Cherry is at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She repeatedly jumps high on the kennel door while barking intensely. Her body is tense and tail is carried high. Before the leash is attached, she repeatedly attempts to push out of the kennel toward the neighboring dogs (room is active and loud). The handler is able to put the leash on using a treat lure and take Cherry out of the kennel. Upon exiting, Cherry immediately redirects her attention to other dogs, and starts lunging toward the kennels, muzzle punching the kennel doors, and barking continuously. Her body remains tense. She is not redirectable with treat trail or verbal cues. The handler shortens the leash and have to muscle her out of the room. Cherry pants heavily while walking through the hallway and continues panting in the elevator. She pulls hard all the way outside. In the driveway, the handler is able to cue Cherry to sit with treats. She visibly calms down, muscle tension decreases, her tail lowers, and her body becomes more relaxed. She is able to briefly engage with the handler. Cherry allows petting and gently takes treats. When Cherry sees another dog, she immediately becomes alert. Her body stiffens, tail rises and she fixates on the dog. She begins growling and barking while pulling hard forward. She is not redirectable and handler have to continuously moving her away until the dog is out of her vision. When other people passing by, Cherry will hard bark at them but handler is able to keep her close with more treats and verbal cues. During return handler is able to pre-clip the leash; Cherry starts pulling towards the room with tense body again. Handler shortens the leash and Cherry is slightly muscled back into her kennel. 8/1/26: It is noted on the behavior board that Cherry is reactive to birds and not redirectable with treats. Also that she is kennel fighting with Roxie. 7/30/26: On the whiteboard, Cherry is noted to pull really hard. She is also reported to be reactive towards a dog in kennel, even as there's a kennel cover. 7/27/26: It is reported via the whiteboard that Cherry will become frustrated and bark if not given items she thinks are toys 7/23/26: It is reported via whiteboard that Cherry did really well for her morning walk; a small dog was walked close by, but she didn't react to it. However, in the evening, Cherry hard barked and lunged at older people walking with canes.

Summary (7):: 7/20/26: Cherry is at the front of the kennel with a soft body and wagging tail. She is easily leashed and taken out of the kennel towards the elevator. In the elevator, Cherry approaches the handler with a soft and wiggly body sitting besides them. Handler pets her back and she becomes tense and whale eyes. Cherry then sits down next to the handler and nudges their hand. She allows petting on the head and under the chin, handler will stop for a moment and she nudges the handlers hand for more petting. Cherry is then taken to the street and walks with a loose leash. She pulls mildly towards various spots. A dog passes nearby and stares towards the dog with a tense body. When her line of sight is broken, she continues trying to look for the dog. Looking behind her and between parked cars. She then stops this behavior and is walked back to the shelter. Cherry pulls moderately back inside. As she is returned to kennel, Cherry pulls forward and snaps at the neighboring kennel. She is muscled into kennel without further issue. 7/11/26: It is reported via white board that Cherry lunged at scooter during PM walk. 7/9/26: Cherry is at the front of her kennel with a neutral body, nudging her nose at the bottom of the ajar kennel door; she is easily leashed and brought out the room. On the street, Cherry walks with mild to moderate leash tension; she doesn't react to people or dogs. Cherry jumps on the handler with a soft body; she also allows pets. Upon entry, the andmer clips their leash and returns Cherry to her kennel. 07/08/26: Cherry is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches, she is leashed without issue and taken to the street for her walk. Outside Cherry walks with handler outside for a while, she passes people and dogs on the street without issue. She walks uneventfully for a while before being brought back inside and returning to kennel without issue. 07/08/26: Cherry is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches, she is easily leashed and taken to the street for his walk. Cherry walks with handler outside and passes people on the street without issue, she pulls forward moderately and rarely stops to sniff. She sees dogs during her walk but does not react and walks around the perimeter of the yard. After walking for a while she eventually relieves herself and after a while is brought back inside. She allows handler to clip her leash and she returns without issue. 7/7/26: (PM WALK) Cherry is at the front of the kennel with a neutral body. Handler unlocks the kennel an she paws at the kennel bars. She is easily leashed and walks besides the handler out towards the backyard. In the yard, Cherry walks around, sniffing her surroundings. She relieves herself and after sometime, Cherry is then walked back inside and returned to her kennel without issue. 7/7/26: It is reported that Cherry growled at handlers during intake.

Date of intake:: 9/21/2026

Summary:: Lunging at staff upon intake

Date of initial:: 9/22/2026

Summary:: heavy panting in kennel

ENERGY LEVEL:: Cherry is described as active and enthusiastic. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend only force-free, reward-based training techniques for Cherry.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No Children: Due to Cherry's defensive behavior and capacity for defensive aggression, we recommend a home with no children. Single-Pet Home/No Dog Parks: Due to her high levels of reactivity and difficulty redirecting from dogs, we recommend a single pet home. Place with a New Hope Partner: We recommend placement with a New Hope rescue partner who is able to provide an experienced, adult-only foster home. Force-free, reward based training and/or consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling,Kennel presence

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/Touch Sensitivity: Cherry's former owners have reported that she does not tolerate being held or restrained by unfamiliar handlers. Cherry should never be forced to approach anything that she is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Cherry’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Cherry may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to her new surroundings. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful/Potential for Defensive Aggression: There have been multiple reports of fearful defensive behavior in which Cherry has escalated to growling and snapping at handlers. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Cherry. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Cherry's quality of life. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Anxiety: Staff as well as Cherry's former owner have reported that he will pant heavily throughout interactions and will whine when being walked or while in kennel. We recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving her other things to focus on to alleviate her anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training only should be used. Please see handout on Generalized Anxiety. On-Leash Reactivity/Barrier Frustration/Kennel Presence: Since arriving at the care centers Cherry has been observed to pull hard toward neighboring dogs and react intensely toward them by hard barking, growling, and lunging toward them. Cherry may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On-Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration. Strength/Leash Pulling: Cherry has been observed to pull hard on leash and will at times lunge toward unfamiliar people approaching on the street. Her adopter must be prepared and able to handle a dog of this size and strength. It is recommended that she be walked on a front clip harness or head halter, which help diminish her strength through leverage, and that she be trained using positive reinforcement, reward based training to not pull on leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners.