Date of intake:: 8/12/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 8/19/2026

Summary:: Due to fearful behavior and allowing limited handling, Damson is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: According to Damson's previous owner(s), Damson is noted to have dog reactivity. 8/19/26: Damson is introduced to a novel intact male and is neutral at the gate with a low tail, lip licking. He gives a couple mid level wags as he sniffs the other dog nose to nose through the gate. When let into the yard, he approaches the other dog with a forward leaning body and soft mid level wagging tail. He sniffs the other dog with a lowered body but when the dog attempts to sniff him as well, he retreats. He toe taps and retreats behind his handler. He periodically reapproaches remaining soft but will then avoid eye contact and retreat while lip licking. 8/18/26: Damson is introduced to a novel intact female and is loose at the gate with mid level circular wags. He looks to handlers through the gate and then shakes off, remaining loose at the gate. When let into the yard, Damson pulls towards the other dog with a lowered body and low wagging tail. He sniffs the other dog but begins to retreat when the other dog sniffs him in return, becoming increasingly panicked with time as they are being separated. Once separated, Damson lip licks and is hyper vigilant but remains non reactive.

Summary (6):: 8/20/26: Damson is at the front of his kennel hard barking when handler approaches. Handler attempts to put the leash on but he dodges the leash and retreats. Damson is not receptive to treats or verbal cues and continues avoiding the leash. After few attempts handler is able to lasso him and Damson willingly exits the kennel once the door is wider. Damson pulls hard all the way out of the room without interest to other dogs in neighboring kennels. Damson is walking ahead of the handler in the hallways and has no reactivity to pop-up crates or staff members; he is fully focused on moving forward. Once he gets to the driveway he pulls toward the gates and eventually relieves himself. Damson continues walking slightly ahead of the handler with moderate leash tension. He is not engaged with handler, is not responsive when called and remains aloof. Damson constantly scanning his environment and pulls side to side during the walk. He doesn't react towards other dogs or people passerby. Damson pulls harder, shifting his body weight forward, on the way back to the shelter and in the hallways. During return, Damson was brought back into his kennel with no further issues. 08/19/26: Damson is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he is leashed on a pre-clipped leash and bucks off the leash a few times before eventually conceding and allowing leashing. Damson exits out of kennel and pulls moderately toward the street, he walks forward and stops when feeling leash pressure and will slow down for a bit before continuing forward at a moderate pull. He walks for a while and passes people without issue. When seeing dogs he shows mild curiosity, Damson pulls toward them slightly but when pulled away is redirected. He walks with handler and returns to kennel without issue. 8/18/26 (midday): Damson is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body. The handler leashes him with a pre-clipped leash; he tries to retreat from it, but once he feels the pressure, Damson comes to the front and exits the kennel. The handler brings Damson to the yard for playgroup (see D2D notes); before the interaction, the handler is able to place a collar on him with some ease. After the interaction, Damson avoids the handler's leash a few times but then walks with them as it's placed on. He is returned to his kennel. 8/18/26: Damson is at the front of his kennel alert barking at the handler. The handler leashes him with a pre-clipped leash; he tries to retreat from it, but once he feels the pressure, Damson comes to the front and exits the kennel. Damson walks with moderate leash pressure on the street; he frequently looks back at and slightly walks behind them. He doesn't react to people or dogs. He briefly looks at the handler when they call his name. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and returns Damson to his kennel.

Summary (7):: 08/17/26 (Midday): Damson is at the back of his kennel laying down as handler approaches, he approaches and handler unlocks the kennel door. Damson is leashed with relative ease on a pre-clipped leash and follows handler out of kennel however due to multiple dogs passing in the hallway Damson and handler are forced to wait in the kennel room, Damson is tolerant of the dogs reacting to him. He walks out to the street, outside he is vigilant and is tense when large groups of people pass but he is otherwise unreactive to people or dogs. Damson does not pull and walks alongside handler well, he rarely stops to sniff and will at times check in with handler. After walking for a while Damson is brought back to kennel, he returns without issue and interaction is ended. 08/17/26 (AM): Damson is at the front of his kennel lying down as handler approaches, he stands and begins barking and pawing at the door as handler unlocks the door. Damson is offered a treat but he does not accept it and attempts to push himself out of kennel. Handler begins attempting to drape the leash over Damson but he moves away, head whips and barks at the leash. He quickly becomes more stressed and teeth begin displaying more visibly in his bark so handler closes the kennel door and ends the interaction. 8/17/26: Damson is lying on his kuranda bed with a neutral body. Handler greets him in a high pitched tone. He begins to pant and presents with a soft wagging tail. Handler unlocks the kennel and he approaches the front of the kennel, he leans his head forward as the leash is presented. Handler places the leash over Damson's head and he backs away. He drops his head and pulls it away. The leash falls off his head. Handler makes a few more attempts and the leash is successfully placed over his head. Damson walks out of the kennel and is taken out towards the driveway. He wanders around the driveway pacing back and forth. He relieves himself. Handler walks him towards the street. Damson walks forwards briefly before turning around and pulling back into the shelter. Handler walks him back into the shelter and towards the behavior office. He wanders around the office, panting. He greets another handler with a neutral body and soft tail wag. After sometime, Damson is returned to his kennel without issue. 8/13/26: Damson is lying in the back of his kennel looking at the handler; the handler tosses treats into his kennel, and he sniffs them, but doesn't eat them. As they slowly unlock his kennel, Damson stands up and alert barks at them; he then slowly goes back to lie down. The handler tosses high value treats into his kennel, and he sniffs but doesn't eat them. They bring the leash into the kennel, but Damson remains in the front; they also use their squeaker, and he tilts his head to the sound of it, but doesn't approach. The handler closes the kennel door and ends the interaction.

Date of intake:: 8/12/2026

Summary:: Fearful

Date of initial:: 8/12/2026

Summary:: Tense and frozen in kennel, did not approach the front, opted to sedate

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 challenges comments:: Fearful: Damson has been observed to be highly fearful, noted to retreat from the leash when handlers are attempting to leash him. While outside he is noted to be hypervigilant. 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. Damson 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.