Date of intake:: 1/18/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (no known information)

Summary:: Simba was brought to the care center after a bite incident to another dog. Simba and his housemate, a M LMB dog were begin watched by family member. After a walk, the 2 dogs were fed in the same room and left alone. The person watching the dogs herd growling, which would stop when he checked on them. He then hears a scuffle, and a dog scream. Simba bit, held and shook onto the other dog, leaving a puncture under his eye and blood coming from his mouth. In care he is strong and shows a low threshold for arousal. He is not a candidate for handling assessment.

Summary:: Simba will not be placed into playgroup due to bite history.

Summary (7):: 1/24: Familiar staff member approaches Simba's kennel and he is soft and wiggly. Once kennel door is opened, staff member attempts to leash him but he begins to bite on the leash. A treat is used to distract him, and staff says let's go on a walk. A leash is secured on the second time of trying and he is taken out in the yard. He sees another staff member approach and allows petting on his head and back. He explores in the yard for a few minutes and is brought back to the kennel. 1/22: Simba is easily leashed by the primary handler. He approaches the second staff and tolerates scratches on the head. He is walked in the lot, jumps up on the primary handler, accepts pets, and they continue on the walk. He offers behaviors such as sit. When being returned, he attempts to pull towards the neighboring dog (who is reacting in his kennel), then enters his kennel. 1.21: AM: Simba is at the front of his kennel when approached. He is easily roped and taken to a yard. In the yard Simba has a soft and wiggly body, he approaches staff with an exuberant body and jumps up against them. He corrects himself if staff attempts to walk away. Simba is easily leashed, when returning to his kennel he balks at the kennel door and needs to be walked into the kennel. PM: Simba is tolerant of being leashed. When passing the other dogs he pulls hard towards the first dog in the room, having to be pulled by handler into the hallway. He is brought to the yard and jumps up at the handler using his body weight. The second staff member pulls him from her, and he is put on a drag leash. He remains close to handlers, following them to the bench. He continues this jumpy behavior but is able to settle when walked back and forth a few times. He is clipped and when being returned he is avoidant of entering his kennel. 1/19: Simba was sitting at the front of the kennel when staff approached. Second handler used a treat to help first handler leash Simba. Simba was easily leashed and taken to the large yard. Once in the large yard second handler attached a drag leash without issue. Simba began exploring the yard with a soft body before coming over to handlers. First handler tosses treats which Simba ignores. Simba stays close to handlers and different treats are tossed which he also ignores. Simba then jumps up on first handler seeking attention. Handler steps back and Simba gets down on all fours and proceeds to jump up on second handler. Second handler gently pets Simba on the head which he tolerates. First handler calls his name to distract him, which he responds and gets off second handler. Simba allows first handler to remove drag leash and is taken back to his kennel without issue.

Date of initial:: 1/20/2026

Summary:: Friendly, high energy, allowed handling with gentle restraint, muzzled as a precaution

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 potential challenges, Simba should go to an adult only home. Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks: Simba was involved in a bite incident, which caused damage to the other M LMB dog. No one was present for the incident, may have been over food resources. We recommend he be the only pet in the home and does not visit the dog park. Place with a New Hope partner: 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: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Social hyperarousal,Leash-biting,Strength/leash pulling,Bite history (dog)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Simba was involved in an incident which may have been over food resources. The finder explained that after being walked then fed in the same room, there was an incident between the two dogs. Because no one was present we advise against ever removing items from Simba's possession without safely trading for an item of greater or equal value. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Basic Manner/Impulse Control: Simba lacks basic manners and impulse control. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Leave it", "Sit/Stay", "Down" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach him to control his impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see the handout on Basic Manners and Impulse Control. Social Hyperarousal: Simba becomes easily aroused when interacting with people, lacking basic manners and impulse control, jumping up, becoming mouthy. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach him to remain calm when people and other exciting things are around. He should be rewarded with treats when calm. If he escalates to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Simba. Please see the handout on Arousal. Bite history (dog): Simba was involved in a bite, hold and shake to another dog. Please see the handout on Bite History and Risk of Future Aggression. Leash-biting/Strength/leash pulling: Simba began to bite the leash in care, causing a staff member to cut themselves on his kennel door. He is a large, strong dog. We recommend walking him with treats or a toy to dissuade him from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training is advised to teach him to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash. Please see the handout on Leash Manners.