Date of intake:: 10/25/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Date of assessment:: 11/2/2026

Summary:: Swizel has been observed to be fearful and reactive while in care. Noted to lunge towards dogs and people while on leash. Due to the high FAS, Swizel is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 10/28/26: Swizle Stick is introduced to a novel intact male and when she sees the other dog closes her mouth and quickly decreases distance, putting her snout at the fence opening and tensing with a flagged nub, then bares teeth and attempts to muzzle punch through the fence opening and begins guttural growling while lunging towards the other dog.

Summary (4):: 10/31/26: Swizel Stick is the front of her kennel hard barking when the handler approaches. She is not receptive to treats but allows leashing with no issue. She exits the kennel and walks out of the room with strong forward leash tension, briefly attempting to pull toward the front kennels. Handler shortens the leash and redirects her toward the exit. She continues pulling through the hallways but passes dogs in pop-up crates and staff members without reaction. When she gets to the yard, Swizel relieves herself and begins exploring, moving between different areas to sniff. She engages socially with handler, remaining next to them for attention and petting. Swizel is not interested in treats but responds well to the squeaker toy and is engaged in playing with tennis ball. She displays a soft body and naturally slightly open mouth. When another dog enters the yard, Swizel turns her attention toward it and watches through the fence with a direct gaze. Her body becomes alert, but she does not display any other reaction (no bark, growl, lunge, or attempt to approach). She remains in the same place and is able eventually to shift her attention herself back to the handler and her tennis ball. Upon return handler clips the leash and brings Swizel Stick bac k into her kennel with no further issues.

Summary (5):: 10/29/26: Swizel Stick is at the front of her kennel when handler approaches. She is not receptive to treats and is focused on the bottom of the kennel, trying to break out. Handler is able to get her attention with a squeaker toy and make her look in another direction which helps open the door and put the leash on. Swizel quickly exits the kennel and pulls hard out of the room. She attempts to pull toward the front kennels but handler is able to shorten the leash and take her out. She continues pulling with strong leash tension in the hallways but does not react toward pop-up crates or staff members. Swizel is taken to the yard and, after entering the pen, she relieves herself. She starts discovering the pen, pulling toward specific spots to sniff, and relieves herself few more times. Swizel allows petting, responsive to basic cues and frequently looks back at the handler. She displays relaxed face with slightly opened mouth. Her body is soft. She is not receptive to treats but reacts to squeaker toy sound which helps get her attention when needed. After some time she sits on the ground next to the handler and gets more pets. When another dog enters the yard, she immediately gets up and gets tense. When she is able to see the dog through the fence, in next second she jumps from her hind legs toward the dog with rapid, deep growl. Handler is able to pull her away, but she is fully focused on the dog, displaying direst tense gaze toward them. She is distracted with a squeaker and pulled to different side of the pen where another dog is out of her vision. Swizel follows the handler and eventually disengages. She has no reaction to other stimuli in the yard (birds, staff members). After some time, handler clips the leash and brings Swizel Stick back into her kennel with ease. 10/28/26 (D2D): Swizel Stick is at the front of her kennel with a soft body; as the handler attempts to leash her, she moves side to side. The handler leashes Swizel and brings her out the kennel, keeping the leash short. Swizel barks at and attempts to pull towards select kennels, but as the leash is short, she stays next to the handler; she looks up at them once. Swizel is then brought to the yard for playgroup (see D2D notes). After the interaction, the handler walks Swizel to her kennel on a shortened leash; she enters her kennel with ease.

Summary (6):: 10/28/26: Swizel Stick is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he pushes his head against the kennel door as handler unlocks it and begins attempting to push out while simultaneously avoiding the leash. He is eventually leashed and exits kennel pulling hard toward passing dog kennels. Swizel Stick is brought to the street for his walk and once out of the kennel room he pulls forward for a bit more before handler stops for a moment to allow a dog to pass. Once they continue Swizel is less frantic and walks with mild leash pressure outside. While outside Swizel does not react to people or dogs he passes but he also rarely stops to sniff and does not relieve himself on his walk. He is taken on a long walk and is generally aloof throughout the walk and does not accept treats. After a while he is brought back inside and allows handler to clip his leash before being brought back inside, he pulls toward neighboring kennels again and attempts to lunge toward passing dogs before returning to kennel. 10/27/26: Swizel Stick is at the front of her kennel with a neutral body; as the handler attempts to leash her, she dodges the leash; she then comes to the front and headbutts the kennel door. Once she is leashed, Swizel is brought out the kennel; while exiting, she barks at a dog in kennel who is intensely reacting to her. Swizel is walked in the hallway, and she doesn't react to dogs or people. Swizel is brought to the yard; she walks around the pen and sniffs. As the handler sits down, they present a treat, but she shows no interest. As the handler begins to pet her, Swizel allows it and leans into the handler; she nudges their hand when they stop. As they walk her around again, Swizel notices a medium dog in the adjacent pen; when that dog barks at her, she growls and lunges towards the shared fence, barking at them briefly before the handler pulls her away. She also attempts to lunge towards some pigeons in the playpen, but the handler shortens the leash. Swizel is brought inside, but as her kennel isn't clean, the handler walks her back outside. As she is brought back to the same playpen, Swizel lies down; she continues to lie down until she sees another dog and reacts to it in the same manner as before. The handler calls her and she approaches them; she leans in for more pets. When it's time to bring her back in, the handler clips their leash and walks her to her room. Swizel barks at the same dog in kennel, and pulls towards another while walking back to her kennel. She enters and the handler removes the leash with ease

Summary (7):: 10/26/26: Swizzle Stick is lying down flat in the kennel upon approach. Handler crouches down and tosses treats to her while speaking softly. She approaches slowly and eats the treats. Handler tosses more treats and coaxes her to the front of the kennel. When the leash is presented, Swizzle stick will retreat to the back of the kennel. She has a lowered head and wide eyes. She is tense. Another handler attempts with high value and she will approach and eat the high value and retreat when the handler attempts to place the leash over her head. After a few attempts, Swizzle retreats to the back of the kennel and lies down. She is coaxed to the front again with treats. Handler opens the kennel door inward and leans in to leash her. Swizzle dodges the leash back and forth. She is then successfully leashed and exits the kennel. Swizzle Stick pulls her way out of the kennel and out towards the backyard. She then walks with a slack leash slightly ahead of the handler and panting quietly with a strained expression. Handler offers her treats and she takes them and spits them out. Swizzle is walked a few times around the yard. She relieves herself and paces around. Handler sits on a bench. They present their hand and Swizzle nudges it slightly. Handler pets her on the head and consent checks. Swizzle nudges their hand again and handler pets her. Swizzle Stick then walks towards the handler's side and sits on the ground leaning against their leg allowing petting. After sometime, Swizzle is walked back towards the shelter. She flinches as the handler brings her towards the kennel room. The leash is pre-clipped without issue and Swizzle Stick is brought to her kennel without issue. 10/26/26: Swizel is at the back of the kennel when the handler approaches. The handler speaks in a soft voice and tosses treats. Swizel approaches with a low body and quickly eats the treats before retreating to the back of the kennel again. The handler attempts to leash her several times; however, Swizel dodges the leash each time. The handler gets the pole leash and attempts to leash Swizel. Swizel begins trying to seek exit. She begins to run into the transfer door, shows intense whale eye and then attempts to flee the kennel. Due to the the high FAS the handler ends the interaction.

Date of intake:: 10/25/2026

Summary:: Hard bark, growl, and lunged towards a staff member

Date of initial:: 10/25/2026

Summary:: Soliciting attention at first, then escalated to thrashing and head whipping. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Swizel Stick 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),Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to on leash reactivity and fearful behavior, we recommend an adult only home. Single-Pet Home/Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Swizel Stick has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that she should not visit dog parks and be the only resident dog. 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: : Fearful,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful: Swizel has been observed to be highly fearful. Noted to seek exit when the handlers attempt to leash her. They should never be forced to approach anything that they are uncomfortable with or submit to petting or handling. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Swizel would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period. On Leash Reactivity: Swizel has been observed to bark and lunge towards a person while on leash. In the kennel room, Swizel has been observed to bark and pull towards the other dogs in the room. Swizel has also been observed to growl and lunge at other dogs while in the yard. Swizel will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than dogs and other stimuli. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.