Animal Profile

Easy Cheesy is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Cheesy has been observed to highly fearful while in care. During intake, Cheesy was observed to hard bark, lunge, growl, and muzzle punch when handlers were attempting to interact with them. In kennel, Cheesy has continued to be observed to be fearful. Noted to bark at handlers with a tense body when they attempt to interact. With a slow approach, Cheesy is observed to engage with enrichment. Medically, Easy Cheesy is underweight.

Let's get to know each other a bit more...

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 Easy Cheesy arrived at MACC as a stray with no known history. During intake, Cheesy was observed to hard bark, lunge, growl, and muzzle punch when handlers were attempting to interact with them. In kennel, Cheesy has continued to be observed to be fearful. Noted to bark at handlers with a tense body when they attempt to interact. Due to the detailed behavior, we recommend an experienced adult-only home.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 65 lbs

Medical Notes

10/27/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 4 years Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Stray. Lunging at agents and thrashing on leash. Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Standing at kennel door and hard barking. Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No Objective: P = 120 R = WNL BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Unable to examine PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Male intact MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: WNL externally Wood's Lamp Exam: Not done Assessment: High kennel reactivity Underweight Prognosis: Good Plan: Sedated with Dexdomitor 0.5mg/ml 1ml + Butorphanol 10mg/ml 1ml IM pet lying sternal but still awake Ketamine 100mg/ml 0.4 ml attempted to give IM but think it was wasted in environment One hour after dexdomitor/butorphanol injection pet is standing up and difficult to position for injection. Admin Trazodone 100mg 2 1/2 tablets, Clonidine 0.2 mg 2 tablets and Gabapentin 300mg 3 tablets PO at 1:12 PM. No sedation appreciated. Pet dodged leash but Behavior team was able to walk him quietly on a double leash to the intake room. 3 1/2 hours after oral meds, we administered DKM canine pre-mix 1.9 mls IM (Dexdomitor 0.5mg/ml 0.006 mg/kg + ketamine 100mg/ml 3 mg/kg + Methadone 10mg/ml ).2 mg/kg). Pet sedate but still reactive after 15 minutes. Admin Dexdomitor 0.5mg/ml 0.4 ml IM. Pet tolerated exam but was still reactive to palpation and able to walk back to kennel with sling under belly. Intake tasks Antisedan 0.4 ml IM Trazodone 100 mg 2 1/2 tablets po bid indefinitely Clonidine 0.3 mg 1 tablet po bid while in shelter Gabapentin 300mg 3 tablets po bid while in shelter SURGERY: Okay for surgery

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 4. Orange

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 10/26/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 10/29/2026

Summary:: Easy Cheesy has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to lunge, growl, and muzzle punch while handlers are attempting to interact. Due to the high level of FAS, Cheesy is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (7):: 10/29/26: (KSV) New handler approached Easy Cheesy and he jumped up on the door with an alert bark. He placed all four paws on the floor and handler gave him a treat to mark. Easy Cheesy takes treats very gently and slowly loosens his body. He eases his tails and ears. He comes forward to handler and continues taking treats. Handler is engaging with Easy Cheesy shaping a sit. Easy Cheesy barks and stiffens when a person is heard entering the room and apporachs the first handler. He recovers after a minute and takes a treat from the second handler. Second handler leaves and Easy Cheesy returns attention to the first handler. First handler jackpots him with treats and walks away. 10/29/26: Easy Cheesy is at the front of the kennel with a tense body, high flagging tail, and is barking at the handler when the approach. The handler tosses a few treats, and Murphy sniffs one of them. Ultimately, he is not receptive and continues to bark at the handler. The handler offers Cheesy another treat and his face becomes tense with a tense muzzle. The handler gives Cheesy a licki mat and he begins to readily engage with it. The handler ends the interaction. 10/27/26: Easy Cheesy is being moved to a different kennel. Handlers approach the front of the kennel. Easy Cheesy is laying down at the front of the kennel. He displays a tense body and face as the kennel is unlocked. He then begins alert barking and as the handler presents the leash. Easy Cheesy jumps up on his hind legs towards the handler tense. Two leashes are placed on Cheesy and he is removed from kennel. Cheesy pulls hard out of the room and is taken towards the other kennel. He is brought to his kennel and stops. He is muscled inside the new kennel. Easy Cheesy tries to push his snout out of the kennel. The leashes are removed with a hook. Easy Cheesy is then standing at the front of the kennel, stepping back and forth while whining. The interaction is then ended. 10/26/26: (Reported intake Behavior) It is reported that during intake Easy Cheesy was lunging repeatedly at the door of the crate and almost broke out multiple times. The crate was brought into the behavior office. He was occasionally receptive to spray cheese and squeaky sounds. Eventually one handler was able to use a hook to double leash Easy Cheesy. Easy continued to bark, growl, and muzzle punch throughout the interaction. Once leashed, Easy began to thrash. Once out of the crate, Easy was readily guided to kennel and entered with no further issue. It is reported that Easy Cheesy was triple leashed into kennel.

Date of intake:: 10/26/2026

Summary:: Hard barking and lunging

Date of initial:: 10/27/2026

Summary:: Hard barking, opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Easy Cheesy 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),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior, we recommend an adult only home. 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/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful Defensive: Easy Cheesy has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to hard bark, lunge, growl, and muzzle punch when handlers attempt to interact. During intake, Cheesy thrashed while on leash. It is important to move slowly with Cheesy, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression.