Date of intake:: 3/27/2025

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

Date of assessment:: 3/30/2025

Summary:: 3/30/25: Ophelia continues to escalate when leashed due to her fear. She is leash biting, flailing, and thrashing while urinating and defecating on herself. Ophelia ends up crashing into the floor; out of concern for staff safety and concern she may injure herself, Ophelia is not a safe candidate for a handling assessment at this time. 3/28/25: Due to Ophelia's intense levels of fearfulness, thrashing, and gator rolling, a handling assessment could not be conducted at this time.

Summary (5):: 4/3/25: Ophelia retreated to back of kennel but did not flatten herself all the way to the floor. Handler placed leash loop over head and she exited kennel willingly. The floor in the hallway was very slippery, which caused Ophelia to panic and flail. Handler paused until she caught her footing and they proceeded outside. Ophelia relaxed once on a non-slippery surface and walked to the yard. She relieved herself outside and observed passers by on the street with a neutral frame. When handler crouched down, Ophelia would approach and lean into pets under her chin. She accepted pets on her back and neck without displaying distance increasing behavior. Handler lay collar out for her to sniff before collaring her on first attempt with ease. She was clipped to a drag leash and continued to follow handler around the yard. When a volunteer approached the fence, Ophelia sat right in front of handler pressing her back into their legs. She accepted many pets. Ophelia walked back to the care center with a loose wagging tail. She walked straight into kennel and briefly flailed, causing the leash to fall off on its own. She came back to the front of kennel while handler was standing there.

Summary (6):: 4/1/25: Staff advised Ophelia's transfer door was broken. Ophelia's kennel was soiled, so two handlers opted to remove her from kennel. Ophelia was lying on her blanket with her head lowered. Handler offered cheese which she showed no interest in. Ophelia retreated to back of kennel and lay down as handler crouched in doorway and presented leash. Ophelia lowered her body to the floor and urinated as handler slowly placed lease loop over head. Ophelia tolerated this and exited kennel willingly. Ophelia walked to the BA room where she relieved herself. Handlers opted to take her outside for some fresh air. She walked to the yard where she observed passers by through the fence. She gave a slight tail wag when other dogs passed by. Ophelia would make body contact with handlers by brushing against them. She accepted brief pets from handler 2 and offered a paw. After some time in the sunshine, Ophelia was returned to the care center. Handlers noticed her tail was untucked and wagging on the way back inside. Ophelia was startled by traffic in the hallway so handlers crouched down and spoke to her in a soft voice until her kennel was ready. Handler found that stopping in place and relieving leash pressure helped her overcome the beginning signs of flailing. Handler clipped leash to a figure 8 without issue. Ophelia walked down the hall with a wagging tail and rushed into kennel. 03/29/25: Ophelia is lying at the back of kennel with a tense, trembling frame as handler approaches. Handler kneels down and tosses her treats which she shows no interest in. Ophelia scrambles over to the corner of kennel, urinating and defecating as handler cracks open the kennel door. Handler slowly drops their lead over her head and waits until she picks up her head to tighten the lead into place. Once Ophelia exits kennel, she immediately begins thrashing and alligator rolling, at one point flailing high into the air and landing on her back. Handler ushers her quickly out of the kennel room and she walks with a tense, trembling frame to the Canine Behavior Office. She begins pacing the room but as handler sits on the couch, she will come close and allow light petting on her hind end before laying at handler's feet. She remains planted in front of handler for the remainder of her time in the room. Once her kennel is clean, handler walks her back to kennel, and she immediately rushes to the back and begins to thrash, and alligator roll again. Handler waits for her to settle and uses a hook to slowly remove the lead.

Summary (7):: 03/28/25: Ophelia is in the back corner of her kennel, crouching down and pancaking herself into the floor. The handler lassos her, prompting her to head whip before bolting out of the kennel. Once outside, she attempts to run into a kennel across from her, but the handler shortens the leash to keep her close. Ophelia then begins to alligator roll, doing so five times in the middle of the room while also leash-biting. To prevent potential harm to herself or staff, the handler promptly returns her to her kennel. 03/28/25: Ophelia is lying at the back of kennel with a tense, trembling frame as handler approaches. Handler kneels down at the front of kennel and speaks to Ophelia with a soft tone and tosses her pieces of ham, but she shows no interest. Handler pushes the kennel door inward and uses a lasso technique to leash her, but she begins to crawl under her kuranda bed. Handler leaves for several minutes to allow Ophelia to decompress. Upon handler's return, Ophelia is standing at the front of kennel and retreats to her bed as they unlock the kennel door. Handler uses a lasso technique and drops the lead over Ophelia's head. Handler moves away from the door and Ophelia exits with a low, tense frame. Once in the hallway, Ophelia begins to thrash and alligator roll with mouth open, biting toward the lead. Handler stops and stiff arms Ophelia, releasing tension as soon as she stops thrashing. She pancakes in the middle of the hallway and handler allows her a minute to decompress and stand up on her own accord. Ophelia walks a few feet down the hallway and will begin thrashing and alligator rolling again. Due to her kennel being soiled, and a TDO being housed behind her, handler decides to continue to the Behavior Office rather than returning her to kennel. Once in the office, Ophelia paces and pants heavily for several minutes. She will slowly approach other handlers and scents them as she is walking by. She will sit next to a second handler and accepts light petting with a slightly loosened frame. After her kennel is cleaned, Ophelia follows second handler back to her kennel and a hook is used to remove the lead.

Date of intake:: 3/27/2025

Summary:: growling, avoiding, thrashing, refusing to walk

Date of initial:: 3/28/2025

Summary:: timid, retreating when approached, muzzled and flailed during exam

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Ophelia's high levels of fear and handling sensitivity, we recommend for her to be placed in an adult-only home. Place with A New Hope Parter: Ophelia 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: During her intake, Ophelia began growling at staff with her head lowered, staying close to the other dog she was surrendered with, trying to increase the distance. When leashed, Ophelia began thrashing and refusing to walk. Since her intake, Ophelia has allowed for limited handling and is reluctant to leave his kennel. She has escalated to alligator rolling, defecating, and urinating on herself once removed from the kennel. It is important to always go slow and give her the option to walk away from any social interaction. Ophelia should never be forced to approach anything that she is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Ophelia’s choice to approach a new person or thing. She may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to her new surroundings. Please see handouts on Handling/Touch Sensitiity and Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.