Animal Profile

Chica is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Chica has shown fearful behavior, including retreating from the leash, remaining tense, raised hackles, flinching, and lip licking during handling. Chica has shown some improvement over time, becoming easier to leash and completing walks with a neutral body, though she remains reserved with handlers but still remains intensely fearful in the care center despite best efforts to keep her comfortable. Medically, Chica 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 Chica is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Chica has shown fearful behavior, including retreating from the leash, remaining tense, raised hackles, flinching, and lip licking during handling. Chica has shown some improvement over time, becoming easier to leash and completing walks with a neutral body, though she remains reserved with handlers but still remains intensely fearful in the care center despite best efforts to keep her comfortable. Medically, Chica is apparently healthy. In the Care Centers, Chica presents as fearful and has been observed escalating to thrashing and biting at slip leads. During her veterinary exam, she head-whipped and snapped. When staff allow her to move at her own pace, she remains fearful and tense. According to her previous owner, Chica will lunge at other dogs and unfamiliar people while on walks. However, with people, she can be friendly when allowed to approach and interact on her own terms, including with children. Chica would benefit from placement with an adult foster through a New Hope Partner who has experience managing fearful and reactive behaviors and can provide a structured, low-stress environment while using positive reinforcement-based training.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 48 lbs

Medical Notes

8/5/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: approx 3-7 years based on dentition and conformation Microchip noted on Intake? scanned positive History: os Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - low growling, hard barking, hackles up, whipped head and snapped at handlers feet, staff able to leash and bring into intake room for exam, sedation as precaution Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? N Objective: T = np P = wnl R = wnl BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, mild-mod dark brown ceruminous dc AU, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: muzzled, can only visualize mandibular incisors, mild wear and staining PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: FS, OVH scar visualized MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: APH Prognosis: good Plan: intake exam and tasks sedated with 0.5mL dex/torb IM- adequate sedation achieved ear cleaning reversed with equal vol antisedan IM SURGERY: Already altered

8/11/2026

Shelter operations staff requesting behavior modification medication due to FAS. P not currently on any behavior modification medications. ADD Trazodone 175mg (~8mg/kg) PO BID TFN

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 4. Orange

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake, staff were unable to collar or scan due to FAS. She was walked and placed in kennel

Date of Intake: 8/4/2026

Spay/Neuter Status: Spayed

Basic Information:: MMB female dog who was surrendered to ACC

Previously lived with:: adults

How is this dog around strangers?: Prefers contact on her own terms but is known to be friendly, playful, and outgoing

How is this dog around children?: Prefers contact on her own terms but is known to be friendly, playful, and outgoing

How is this dog around other dogs?: No experience with familiar dogs Is known to lunge at unfamiliar dogs both on and off-leash and may snap at them as well

How is this dog around cats?: No experience

Resource guarding:: Considers food an item of high value but the client never attempted to take food from her

Bite history:: No history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Knows to relieve herself outside during walks or on wee-wee pads On walks she pulls hard on her leash and may lunge at other dogs and strangers who approach her family. She may escalate to snapping at other dogs when on walks depending on the interactions. She is fearful when held or restrained. The surrendering client never attempted to disturb her while sleeping, startle her, move her off furniture, or touch her paws. She is fearful when her collar is grabbed.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: No known allergies or medical concerns

For a New Family to Know: She is described as a social, affectionate, active, and playful dog who prefers contact on her own terms. She spends most of her time in the bedroom, kitchen, or living room of her home when she is not following her people around. She allows her family to bathe and brush her, is accustomed to going on two walks a day for ten minutes at a time and during her walks she is known to pull hard on her leash. She has never been crate trained and does not know any cues but is very playful, loving, and is not picky with food or treats.

Date of intake:: 8/4/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Previously lived with:: Adults

Behavior toward strangers:: Contact on her own terms, friendly, playful and outgoing, will lunge at strangers on leash

Behavior toward children:: Contact on her own terms, friendly, playful and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Will lunge and snap both on and off leash

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: None reported-did try to take items away

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Chica is noted to have high energy

Other Notes:: Knows to relieve herself outside during walks or on wee-wee pads On walks she pulls hard on her leash and may lunge at other dogs and strangers who approach her family. She may escalate to snapping at other dogs when on walks depending on the interactions. She is fearful when held or restrained. The surrendering client never attempted to disturb her while sleeping, startle her, move her off furniture, or touch her paws. She is fearful when her collar is grabbed.

Date of assessment:: 8/10/2026

Summary:: During her intake, Chick became highly fearful of the slip lead, screeching and biting. She hasn't warm up to staff, remaining fearful and tense when they interact with her. Due to these behaviors, Chica will not get a handling assessment.

Summary:: According to Chica's previous owner(s), she has no experience with familiar dogs and is known to lunge at unfamiliar dogs both on and off leash and may snap. 08/12/26 Chica is introduced to a novel male while on a loose leash (does not tolerate collaring). She approaches the gate with a neutral frame and stands there for a moment. Does not interact with the male and then walks away.

Summary (7):: 8/14/26: Chica is standing at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She would back away, and dodge the leash each time the handler attempts to leash her. She is able to be quickly leashed when she tries to quickly walk out of the kennel. She is then taken outside for a walk. On the walk, she has a neutral body as she explores around with sniffing. She would stop and hard stare at people nearby and has no interest in treats or toys. She is able to return back to her kennel with no issues. 8/11/26: Chica is at the front of the kennel as the handler approaches. She will wag her tail briefly when the handler baby talks to her. The handler opens the door and leashes her while she is still focused on the door opening. She will then walk out of kennel with a neutral frame and is brought out on a walk where she will maintain a neutral frame, sniffing and relieving herself. She is then returned to kennel with no issue. 8/10/26: Chica is standing at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She retreats to the back of her kennel when the handler unlocks the door and presents their leash. She is able to be leashed when she quickly tries to step out for the kennel and is then taken outside for a walk. On the walk, she has a neutral body frame as she pulls ahead. She would constantly pull towards trees and towards the fence to sniff. She has no reactions to dogs or people and does not interact with the handler. She is able to return back to her kennel with no issues. 08/06/26: Chica is standing with a tense body at the front of the kennel as the handler approaches. The handler cracks the door open and tosses in cheese. Chica eats it tentatively. The handler places their leash into the kennel and she backs away from it. A cheese trail is thrown around and through the leash. Chica eventually places her head through the leash and the handler is able to quickly pull it closed. She walks with a tense body to the canine training room. Chica stands with a tense body and raised hackles in the room. She flinches and lip licks when the handler touches her back with the leash. The handler does not attempt to clip the leash and instead uses a hook to remove it. Chica enters the kennel and allows the handler to remove the leash without issue.

Date of intake:: 8/4/2026

Summary:: Screeching and biting slip leads

Date of initial:: 8/5/2026

Summary:: Low growling, head whip and snapped, sedated

ENERGY LEVEL:: Chica is described as high energy. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for them.

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 the behaviors seen in the Care Centers, Chica should go to a home with older behavioral savvy children. Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks: Due to the behaviors reported in the previous home, Chica should be the only dog in the home and not visit dog parks. Place with a New Hope partner: Chica should go to a New Hope Partner that can manage her fearful behavior.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Chica is highly fearful in the Care Centers and was thrashing and biting staff slip lead. She snapped at Vet staff during her exam, showing she remains fearful with some handling. Positive reinforcement should be used to help Chica feel comfortable with novel handling and people. Please see the handouts on Handling/touch sensitivity and Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Chica is noted to lunge and snap at dogs and strangers. Positive reinforcement should be used to teach Chica to check in with her handler when she sees her trigger. Please see the handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration.