Date of intake:: 10/19/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Unknown History)

Date of assessment:: 11/7/2026

Summary:: 11/07/26: When Bessie is brought to the behavior office to attempt another handling assessment, she is tail-tucked, tense-bodied, and seeks exit, sitting by the door and whining whenever a handler approaches. She is able to be coaxed out and will follow the handler on leash, but then hides under the desk next to a second seated handler and is reluctant to move further. She will accept gentle pets but remains very tense. Due to her continued level of fear, a handling assessment is not conducted. 11/02/26: Bessie enters the behavior office with a tense body. She does not approach the assessor and does not readily take high-value treats. While the assessor is setting up a collar and drag leash for her, Bessie begins to eat the high-value treats off the ground. The handler continues to feed her while the assessor is able to successfully collar her. Bessie immediately flees and hides behind the couch. Due to her fearfulness, she is returned to the kennel. When the handler approaches her to pick up the end of the drag leash, Bessie's tail is tightly tucked as she trembles and backs away while grumbling that ends in a whine. The assessor distracts Bessie with the sound of a squeaker so the handler can pick up the drag leash. She is then leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 10/20/26: Bessie is noted to display high levels of FAS and will become avoidant of handlers; she is noted to flinch from loud noises, and display a tucked tail, shaking behavior, and pancake. Due to this, a behavioral assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary:: Bessie arrived as a stray, so her behavior towards other dogs is unknown. 10/24/26: Bessie greets a novel male dog through a barrier while displaying significant fearful body language with a tucked tail. Despite her fear, Bessie remains at the gate and shows interest in the novel male. The novel male displays raised hackles along his back and rear but otherwise maintains a loose body, intermittently moving away to sniff before choosing to reapproach.

Summary (6):: 11/07/26 (Assessment): Bessie is at the back of her kennel as the handler approaches. The handler kneels to offer her a treat and Bessie retreats. The handler stands up and holds the slip leash in the kennel, and Bessie readily puts her head through the loop. She is brought to the office where she spends most of the time whining and sitting behind the handlers legs. She accepts gentle pets. She is returned to her kennel without issue. 11/6/26: Bessie was standing with a neutral body at the front of her kennel where she was easily leashed and taken to the backyard. Once she is in a play pen she starts to sniff and investigate the area. She then comes over to handler and nudges them. Handler pets Bessie on her back and sides and she leans into the pets. Bessie then moves over and sits down and watches the street below. After some time handler returns her to her kennel with no issue

Summary (7):: 10/25/26:Bessie is lying down on her bed as handler approached. She comes forward when handler unlocks her kennel, and she is easily leashed and take for a street walk. While walking she startles when a sudden movement or sound catches her attention, but she recovers quickly. She side eye looks at handler numerous times during the walk. She stopped at a few places to sniff and investigate. After her walk she is returned to her kennel with no issue. 10/24/26 (playgroup): Bessie is laying down on her kuranda bed with a neutral body as handler approaches. She comes to the front as the door is unlocked and is easily leashed. She scurries out of her kennel and mildly pulls on leash. She will often head whip towards handler and whale eye; handler maintains a distance and walks her to the yard for playgroup (see dog-dog notes). Bessie is returned to her kennel without issue. 10/21/26: Bessie comes forward as the handler approaches the kennel, but retreats to her bed as the handler opens the door and presents the leash. She has a tense body and lowers her head slightly, but is gently lassoed and exits the kennel easily. While walking outside she flinches and cowers when she feels any spatial pressure from the handler, but will keep moving after a pause and some soft verbal coaxing. She also flinches at road noise, and attempts to flee from a loud truck. She is given some time in a yard, but sits close to the handler with a tense body and does not explore further. She pulls moderately back to her kennel, and is returned with no issue. 10/19/26: Bessie is at the back of the kennel with her back pressed up against the wall, her eyes wide and head lowered as she looked up at the handler who is crouched at the kennel door. She will whale eye as the handler attempts to baby talk her up to the front of the kennel. Bessie's body remains tense and she will begin to lift her paw and look away so the handler will secure the door and bring cheese to offer her. She will eat the cheese at first when the handler is not looking. Throughout the interaction, Bessie will maintain a tense frame and wide eyes but will begin to eat in front of the handler and will approach the center of the kennel. The interaction is left at that and her kennel door is closed and secured.

Date of intake:: 10/19/2026

Summary:: growl, hard bark or snap at counselors.

Date of initial:: 10/19/2026

Summary:: Body tense; allowed for examine, tail tucked under; retreats against the wall

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Bessie's high levels of fearfulness, we reccomend she is placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Bessie came into the care center as a stray; due to this, her behavior in a home environment is unknown. She 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: On intake, Bessie is noted to growl, hard bark or snap at counselors. In the care center, she is noted to show high FAS tucked tail, stiff body, whale eyes, panting, and whining. Upon being brought back to medical Bessie would pancake and then rush down the hallway pulling very hard on the leash. Bessie is noted to become avoidant of leashing. She also flinches at road noise, and attempts to flee from a loud truck.Continued support should focus on low-pressure handling, allowing Bessie to approach on her own terms, and building positive associations through calm, predictable interactions to help increase her confidence and reduce fear-related responses. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.