Date of intake:: 9/17/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (No Known History)

Date of assessment:: 9/19/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate – dog pulls on and off, zig zag Reactivity to humans: Fearful Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive – did not pass dogs on walk Leash walking comments: Hides behind handler, stops multiple times Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Distracted, does not approach – active, exploring environment Call over: Approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Soft handling: Tolerates contact – not relaxed, lip licks, tail tuck Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact – not relaxed, lip licks, tail tuck Comments: Initially avoids Arousal Jog comments: Follows, neutral Knock Knock comments: No response Toy Toy comments: No interest

Summary:: 9/30/25: Rocket greets another dog at the gate with a tense body. He pushes his snoot into the fence, raises his lip then snaps towards the other dog.

Summary (4):: 11/11/25: Rocket is laying quietly as handler approaches kennel, he approaches the front with neutral body as handler unlocks kennel door. Rocket is easily leashed. Rocket pulls hard out of kennel, briefly turns head toward kennels, stands on hind-legs exiting kennel room. In hallway Rocket pulls hard, shows no interest in pop-up crates. In elevator Rocket shows no interest in treats. Once on sidewalk Rocket is pulling hard, intermittently thrashes, turns facing handler, then turns away repeatedly. Rocket relieves himself, takes a few steps on walk (going away from MACC) however darts across street, and back toward MACC. As hander resists by staying place, Rocket begins to thrash with increasing intensity. Rocket is walked back to MACC and enters kennel without issue.

Summary (5):: 11/7/25: Rocket is lying towards the back of his kennel as handler approaches. Rocket is easily leashed and removed from his kennel where he would have a hard pull out of the room and attempt to 'leap' ahead of the handler. Rocket would exuberantly jump onto handlers at they pass by as handler waits for the elevator. Rocket is then kept on a short leash as they wait, and then taken out for a street walk. Rocket would easily relieve himself and walk ahead with the handler while having a mild pull. Rocket would then begin to slightly thrash and flail on the leash, while occasionally biting the leash. Handler tosses treats in his direction, which he would show no interest in. Handler then attempts to use a squeaker sound which he would still continue to show no interest in. Handler then decides to walk back towards the shelter and Rocket would continue the same behaviors on leash. He would continue to randomly thrash up until he's back into the shelter. Shortly after, he is then returned back to his kennel and interaction is then ended. 11/05/25: Rocket is reported to dart on leash frantically and zig zag back and forth on leash as well as leash bites randomly during his walk. He is observed by a member of K9 behavior to pull and jump in the elevator heading back into kennel and becomes over aroused, to the point of almost thrashing on leash, he is redirected with a treat. 10/25/25: Rocket is at the front of the kennel with a loose body. He is easily leashed pulls hard out of the room. As he is brought into the hallway, Rocket head whips slightly at the leash tension. Turning to the leash with an open mouth. He is brought to the street where he relieves himself. Rocket then pulls hard ahead of the handler but when he reaches the end of the leash, he whips his head at the tension. Rocket then pulls hard and runs forward on his hind legs before spinning with the tension. He continues to repeat this behavior several times during the walk before he is walked back to the shelter. He pulls hard back to kennel and is returned without issue. 10/22/25: Staff reported that Rocket lunged at them in kennel when reaching for the kennel card. K9 Behavior accompanied them to the kennel side and Rocket is lying down. He stands up and stares at the staff member with a tense body. His lip begins to curl. K9 offers him a treat and he takes it gently. When K9 Behavior walks away he can be heard hard barking towards the staff member.

Summary (6):: 10/21/25: ACS report that Rocket will bare teeth, snap and vocalize towards other dogs that are passing his kennel. It is also reported that when handlers go to leash him, he will "nip" at their fingers. 10/21/25: ACS report that Rocket would hard stare at dogs passing by on the street, isn't easily redirectable. 10/20/25: ACS reports Rocket is highly reactive to mopping and sweeping. 10/18/25: Rocket is lying towards the front of his kennel as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and removed from the room, once out of the room Rocket would slightly head whip and quickly mouth the handlers hand while keeping him away from another dog passing by. He is then taken for a street walk where he would relieve himself with no issue. As handler applies mild leash pressure to switch sides with Rocket, he would slightly thrash on the leash and handler continues to walk forward. He would continue to walk ahead and would periodically attempt to head whip towards the handlers leash. Handler then returns Rocket back to the shelter and he would readily go back into his kennel with no further issue. 10/13/25: ACS notes Rocket will "spin and jump" (thrash) when leash pressure is applied. 10/11/2025: Rocket is at the front of the kennel with a neutral body. He is easily leashed and taken out of the kennel. Rocket is brought to the elevator where handler offer him treats, he sniffs them but does not take. Rocket is walked to the street with a loose body, pulling hard to moderate. When reaching the end of the leash he begins to spin around in reaction to the tension, before bouncing back and forth around the handler. Rocket relieves himself and he walks back to the shelter. He picks up a small ball and drops it. Handler gives him another ball which he chews and plays with before dropping it again. Rocket is returned to kennel and given another tennis ball. The leash is removed without issue and the interaction is ended.

Summary (7):: 10/04/25: Rocket is laying at the back of his kennel as handler approaches. Handler presents a treat and waits for Rocket to approach, he stands and walks to the front and accepts the treat offered. He is leashed without issue and taken to the street for his walk, Rocket walks well with handler and crosses the street where Rocket stops and relieves himself. Once he finishes handler attempts to begin walking with him but Rocket begins pacing and panting while darting back and forth on leash. Handler waits a moment and Rocket continues pacing and begins jumping on his hind legs and shaking his head on leash. He continues this again and pulls slightly back toward the driveway so handler walks with him back to the driveway. For the remainder of his walk he waits in the driveway, once he is finished outside he is brought back inside and returns without issue. 09/19/25:Rocket is laying near the back of his kennel as handler approaches. He is avoidant of handler and the leash initially and does not accept treats when offered. Rocket is eventually leashed and slowly exits kennel following handler to the street for his walk. Once outside Rocket pulls mildly and will frequently stop walking directly in front of handler out of nowhere making it difficult to walk with him. He fixates on children on the other side of a gate yelling and playing basketball, Rocket begins frantically pulling around in different directions and shaking his head slightly. Handler is unable to redirect or calm Rocket so they walk back to the care centers quickly, he begins settling as he comes back inside. He is brought to the behavior office for a behavior assessment and once complete he is brought back to kennel and returned without further issue. 9/19/25: It is reported on the behavior board that Rocket is nervous at first but calms down after some time in the yard

Date of intake:: 9/17/2025

Summary:: Allowed leashing, walks into kennel without issue

Date of initial:: 9/17/2025

Summary:: Tense with tail tucked throughout, but allows for placement of muzzle and all handling

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Rocket so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Rocket's fearfulness, Rocket should go to a home with older children. Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Rocket has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that Rocket should not visit dog parks and be the only resident dog. The Behavior Department recommends that he be socialized in a more controlled setting until his behavior toward other dogs can be further addressed.

Potential challenges: : Fearful,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/Anxiety: Rocket is fearful and anxious in the Care Centers. Rocket has been observed to thrash, spin, and head whip when feeling tension on the leash. He will need time to decompress in a new environment, and should get daily enrichment. Please see the handout on Decompression and General Anxiety On Leash Reactivity/Barrier Frustration: Rocket is obsvered to bare teeth, snap and vocalize towards other dogs when they are passing his kennel. He is also obsvered to hard stare towards other dogs while on the street. This behavior is not easy to redirect. Rocket will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.