Animal Profile

Leo is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. During intake toward staff, Leo displayed concerning behaviors including low growling, huffing, hard barking, lunging, and thrashing on leash when approached. During a recent incident in the care center, he escalated while being lifted into a top kennel and bit a staff member on the hand following a yelp, breaking skin. Medically, Leo is apparently healthy.

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 Leo is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. During intake toward staff, Leo displayed concerning behaviors including low growling, huffing, hard barking, lunging, and thrashing on leash when approached. During a recent incident in the care center, he escalated while being lifted into a top kennel and bit a staff member on the hand following a yelp, breaking skin. Medically, Leo is apparently healthy. Leo was originally surrendered into care as a stray, so his past behavior in a home environment was unknown. Leo was adopted and returned after spending close to 3 weeks in the adopter's home. They described him as a social and affectionate dog who liked being where his people were. He allowed them to bathe and brush him, loved car rides, and went on walks 3-4 times a day for about 10-30 minutes. minutes. During his stay in care, Leo has been initially fearful and has shown discomfort with handling at times. He has warmed up and sought attention from handlers, but he recently bit a staff member when they were in the process of lifting him up to place him back in his kennel. The bite did break skin and draw blood. Due to these concerns, we recommend that Leo be placed in an adult-only home through a New Hope rescue partner that can allow him to decompress and acclimate at his own pace. What my friends at ACC say about me: I would appreciate slow introductions to new people and places to help me feel safe. I will need daily physical activity to keep me healthy and happy! I am playful and cute! I would do best in a home without very tiny humans, although I could be open to older human children once I meet them.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 30.8 lbs

Medical Notes

11/28/2025

Estimated age: ~1-2 years based on overall appearance Microchip noted on Intake? scanned positive History: Stray found wandering outside Subjective: BAR on leash, coughing when pulling Observed Behavior - Tense body, licking lips; ate some spam & cheese readily and allowed all handling for exam/tasks with minimal restraint Evidence of Cruelty seen - None Evidence of Trauma seen - None Evidence of Neglect seen - None Objective: BCS 7/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Clean adult dentition PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, MM pink/moist, CRT < 2, lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non-painful, no masses palpated U/G: Neutered male MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy but unkempt hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally clean Wood's Lamp Exam: Not performed Assessment: Overweight, otherwise apparently healthy Prognosis: Good Plan: Recommend grooming and 4-7# weight loss with placement

12/24/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2 years Microchip noted on Intake? scanned positive History: Adoption return Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - friendly, no coughing observed Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective BCS: 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: minimal tartar PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: neutered male MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: apparently healthy - possible kennel cough will recheck Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks SURGERY: Permanent waiver due to previously altered

12/26/2025

Possible C+ heard on intake, none appreciated today, no ocular or nasal dc, eupneic. CTM on rounds and initiated tx as warranted.

12/30/2025

Recheck DOH exam S/O: BAR, no c/s/v/d noted EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge noted Lungs: Eupneic, normal respiratory rate/effort ABD: No obvious distention CNS: Mentation appropriate A: Apparently healthy P: CTM while at QACC

1/4/2026

On 01/04/26 at approximately 7:30 am, I examined Leo 242508. He has appropriate mentation at this time with no neurologic signs present, and has not exhibited any neurological signs while at ACC.

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

upon intake: When staff walked into the waiting room, he was low growling and huffing. Staff moved back towards the door to have the client sign and the dog lunged at staff while continuing to hard bark and growl. Staff had the owner place the leash on him and walked him towards the hallway and handed the leash to them. He thrashed lightly down the hallway and staff was able to prompt him with a soft voice.

Date of Intake: 12/24/2025

Spay/Neuter Status: Neutered

Basic Information:: Leo is an altered SMB who was adopted from ACC

Previously lived with:: 3 adults

How is this dog around strangers?: owner states he is tolerant

How is this dog around children?: no experience

How is this dog around other dogs?: tolerant

How is this dog around cats?: no experience

Resource guarding:: no known history of resource guarding

Bite history:: no known bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: low

Other Notes:: isn't bothered when he is held/restrained, disturbed when sleeping, startled, push/pulled off furniture, paws touched or when his collar is grabbed

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: Yes

Medical Notes: kennel cough

For a New Family to Know: He is social/affectionate and likes to be where people are and allows to be bathed and brushed. He goes on 10-30min walks 3-4x daily with very hard pulling. He loves car rides a d knows the cues for sit and stay and eats Caesars wet and dry food

Date of intake:: 11/26/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (in previous adopter's home for over 3 weeks)

Previously lived with:: 3 adults

Behavior toward strangers:: tolerant

Behavior toward children:: unknown

Behavior toward dogs:: tolerant

Behavior toward cats:: unknown

Resource guarding:: none reported

Bite history:: none reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Leo was reported to have a low energy level.

Other Notes:: Leo is reported to not be bothered when he is held/restrained, disturbed when sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled off furniture, paws touched, or when his collar is grabbed. He goes on 10-30min walks 3-4x daily with very hard pulling. He loves car rides. 12/26: Leo was being put back in his top kennel after a walk. The staff member was able to pick him up without issue and had almost placed Leo back into the kennel when he yelped and bit the handler on the right hand.

Date of assessment:: 12/8/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: moderate pulling Reactivity to humans: inconclusive - did not pass Reactivity to dogs: inconclusive - did not pass Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): highly social - briefly explores the room but quickly returns to handlers to seek petting, loose body Call over: approaches readily Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: leans in, licks assessor, jumps up for more contact Exuberant handling: leans in, licks assessor, jumps up for more contact Handling comments: Arousal Jog: follows, bouncy Arousal comments: Knock: no response Knock Comments: Toy: grips, moves away Toy comments:

Summary (7):: 12/27/25: Leo is at the front of his kennel with a loose body, is easily leashed and taken out of kennel where he pulls hard down the hallway and into the behavior office. Leo is clipped to a drag, jumping on staff members, rolling over for belly rubs and continues to engage with staff that enters the room. Leo is walked back to kennel after awhile in the room, and is easily lifted back into kennel and his leash is removed, Leo also allows his water bowl to be adjusted while he is in kennel. 12/08/25: Leo is standing at the front of his kennel with a loose and wiggly frame and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is escorted to the assessment room for enrichment, where he allows placement of a drag leash and collar. Leo roams the room freely, sniffing and exploring. He engages with the snuffle mat periodically but quickly disengages to run toward the door, becoming distracted by sounds or activity outside. He sniffs intensely underneath the door and remains focused on external stimuli. The handler attempts to redirect him with a cheese lick mat, but Leo does not show interest. When the session concludes, Leo is returned to his kennel safely without any issues. 12/07/25 (Assessment): Leo is at the front of his kennel with a neutral frame as the handler approaches the kennel. As the handler gets their leash ready, Leo will lip lick slowly but is ultimately leashed with ease. He will hop out of his kennel and pull hard to the behavior office where his collar is clipped to a drag leash for his assessment. (See assessment for more information) Leo will then carry a toy out of the room but drops it in the hallway. Leo will hesitate entering the kennel room but the handler uses another toy to lure him into the room, before tossing it into his kennel and unclipping him. He is secured safely.

Date of intake:: 11/26/2025

Summary:: social with staff, tolerated intake tasks

Date of initial:: 11/28/2025

Summary:: Tense body, licking lips; allowed exam with high value treats

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to the fearfulness, discomfort reported during his medical exam, and escalating to a bite when being lifted into his kennel, we recommend a home wihtout children at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Leo 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,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful: Leo was reported to become tense and lick lip during his medical exam. While this behavior was not observed during his handling assessment, it is important to go with Leo's pace and not to force interactions. Please see handout on Decompression Period. Handling/touch sensitivity | Bite history (human): Leo has been noted to become uncomfortable with handling at times, especially when abeing picked up. He has bitten a staff member while being picked up to be placed back into his kennel. It is important to always go slow and give him the option to walk away from any social interaction. Leo should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Leo’s choice to approach a new person or thing. He may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. Please see handout on Handling/touch sensitivity.