Animal Profile

Celery Salt is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Celery Salt arrived at the Care Center as a stray with no known history. Upon his arrival he was noted to be highly fearful with tense body, tucked tail, and allowed for minimal handling, and during his medical exam he had to be sedated. Despite efforts to keep Celery Salt comfortable, he has become increasingly difficult to handle safely on leash. At times he refused to approach front of kennel to be leashed. Most concerning is Celery Salt as been noted to intensely thrash on leash and vocalize when returning to kennel unable to be coaxed with treats or verbal cues, requiring the assistance of a secondary handler. While in play-yard, Celery Salt has been noted vocalize anxiously and lip lift while being pet around the neck area. Celery Salt was also observed to be leaning into handler for contact, and engage in play briefly with tennis balls in play-yard. Medically, Celery Salt 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. Due to the detailed behavior issues, this animal is only available for foster/adoption through one of ACC's New Hope Partners. If you are interested in adopting or fostering, please fill out the pre-screener form. This animal is not directly available for adoption through ACC and is only available by completing the pre-screener form. Adoption inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Celery Salt is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Celery Salt arrived at the Care Center as a stray with no known history. Upon his arrival he was noted to be highly fearful with tense body, tucked tail, and allowed for minimal handling, and during his medical exam he had to be sedated. Despite efforts to keep Celery Salt comfortable, he has become increasingly difficult to handle safely on leash. At times he refused to approach front of kennel to be leashed. Most concerning is Celery Salt as been noted to intensely thrash on leash and vocalize when returning to kennel unable to be coaxed with treats or verbal cues, requiring the assistance of a secondary handler. While in play-yard, Celery Salt has been noted vocalize anxiously and lip lift while being pet around the neck area. Celery Salt was also observed to be leaning into handler for contact, and engage in play briefly with tennis balls in play-yard. Medically, Celery Salt is apparently healthy. Celery Salt arrived at MACC as a stray with no known history. During intake Celery was observed to be very fearful and had a tense body and low tail. Throughout his stay Celery has remained fearful and during one instance escalated to thrashing intensely while on leash. Other handlers had to step in to diffuse the situation. He has also been observed to head whip towards handlers. Due to the detailed behaviors we recommend an experienced adult only home.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 67.6 lbs

Medical Notes

9/6/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2-5y Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Stray dog brought in through police Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Tense, tail tucked, reactive to leash around neck. Whale eyed and flinches from muzzle. Elected sedation to decrease FAS. 0.7ml dexmedetomidine 500mcg/ml and 0.7ml butorphanol 10mg/ml IM Evidence of Cruelty seen -no Evidence of Neglect seen-no Evidence of Trauma seen -no Objective T = P =wnl R =wnl BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: muzzle in place, but appears to have adult dentition with minor staining on incisors PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: male intact 2 scrotal testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat, dermaitis on tail base CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: empty anal glands, formed feces in rectum, unable to palpate prostate Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment dermatitis Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks neuter new home Trazodone 300mg PO BID indefinitely for in shelter FAS SURGERY: Okay for surgery

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 9/5/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 9/9/2025

Summary:: Celery Salt has been observed to be highly fearful during his stay in the care center. Observed to have a tense body and noted to thrash intensely while on leash. Due to the high levels of fear observed Celery is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (6):: 9/9/25- Celery salt was at the front of the kennel with a neutral body, he is pushing at the kennel door to get out and after a couple of attempts handler is able to leash. He is taken to the play yard and a drag leash to attached to his harness. He jumps on handler, pushing his head into their body then pushing his head onto their back side. Handler tosses a tennis ball and Celery chases it. He sniffs at the ball and nudges it with his nose. Handler tosses another tennis ball Celery chases it then starts to run back and forth momentarily while whining. Handler goes to sit down and Celery follows them. They sit down and he again jumps on handler, pushing his body into them while wide eyed. He then starts to mount handler, they stand up and tosses treats. Celery stops and eats the treats. Handler sits down again and Celery follows them, he starts to rub his body again into handler's legs back and forth. Handler scratches his back and he stops rubbing into handler. They start to scratch his neck and he is wide eyed with a slight lip lift, handler stops petting. He is easily releashed, when handler went to walk down the steps Celery baulks hard then thrashes. Handler tossed treats but he showed no interest. They tried to softly talk to him to encourage him to walk forward. He turns towards the steps and when handler tries to go forward Celery again baulks/ thrashes. Handler went to call another K9 behavior to assist then another K9 behavior came into the play yard. The first handler again tried to walk forward, Celery repeating the same behavior. Second handler put a second leash on him and placed slight pressure on it, Celery started to scream and thrash backwards. Leash pressure is softened a bit briefly, but he continues to retreat and is flailing. Celery is brought in on a double rope, he continues to escalate in intensity, flailing, thrashing, alligator rolling. He also lunges towards both handlers multiple times as he is brought in the room. Handlers had to use a lot of muscle to hoist and secure him in kennel, as he was being muscled in, he passes out due to the leashes

Summary (7):: 9/9/25: Celery Salt is laying at the back of his kennel when handler approaches. He does not initially come forward and remains at the back. Handler tosses treats but he does not show interest. He does not come forward when the door is opened. Handler kneels and tosses in more treat. He comes forward but retreats again when leash is presented. Spray cheese is put on the kennel door and treats tossed at the front but he does not engage if the leash is present. He is briefly distracted by something and handler makes an attempt to leash, but he moves his head away and retreats. He only comes forward again when leash is no longer present. Interaction is ceased due to stress levels. 09/07/25: After the emergency alarm was pressed multiple staff and K9 behavior arrived to assist an ACS who reported that Celery Salt had begun thrashing intensely on leash without being able to be redirected or settle. A member of K9 behavior tethered their leash over the ACS' already attached leash and began walking him inside on a double leash. Celery baulks and whips his head around intermittently but continues inside when pulled forward, another member of k9 behavior arrives and takes the leash from the acs replacing them in the return. He is muscled into kennel and a hook is used to retrieve the leashes

Date of intake:: 9/5/2025

Summary:: Anxious, tense body, low tail

Date of initial:: 9/6/2025

Summary:: Tense, tail tucked, reactive to leash around neck. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Celery Salt 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 additional 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 a home with no children. 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 challenges comments:: Fearful: Celery Salt has been observed to thrash intensely on leash and head whip towards handlers. It is important to always go slow and give Celery the option to walk away from any social interaction. They should never be forced to approach anything that they are uncomfortable with or submit to petting or handling. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Celery would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period.