Animal Profile

Nala Bonita is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. Nala Bonita has not acclimated well the shelter environment despite best efforts to keep her comfortable. Nala Bonita is intensely fearful in care, avoiding interaction from handlers, remaining low to the floor and hide under objects during interactions. Medically, Nala Bonita is apparently healthy.

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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 Nala Bonita is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. Nala Bonita has not acclimated well the shelter environment despite best efforts to keep her comfortable. Nala Bonita is intensely fearful in care, avoiding interaction from handlers, remaining low to the floor and hide under objects during interactions. Medically, Nala Bonita is apparently healthy. Nala Bonita was surrendered due to her previous owner not having stable housing. She is described as an active, playful, dog who prefers contact on her terms, but can be fearful. Nala Bonita had full access to the home and would lounge in various areas. She is reported to hide and avoid strangers but has a history of defensive escalations. Nala Bonita is reported to guard toys and items that she should not have, is partially house trained, has escaped the house/yard, climbs counters, bites/chews leash on walks, has separation anxiety which causes destructive behaviors, and is reactive to bikes, scooters, skateboards, and motorcycles on walks. During her stay in the care centers, Nala Bonita has been highly fearful and avoidant of interaction with staff. Due to the behavior concerns noted in her previous home and the high levels of fear in care, we recommend placement in an adult-only home through a New Hope Partner. A volunteer writes: Though Nala is trying to put on a brave face, she isn't fooling anyone. Timid and shy in her kennel, and equally so outside, Nala has had a hard time adjusting to the hustle and bustle of the shelter. She's been wary of touch, often making space between her and volunteer and staff friends. The one thing she is sure of though, is that every time she gives us her paw, she gets a treat. She even knows variations of her trick: high five, give daps, or shake, she'll do it all. Nala has been through a lot recently, and we wish she had more time to acclimate, but time is not on her side, and she is desperately seeking placement outside of the shelter. Nala was surrendered after a move from another state and recent loss of stable housing. In her former home, she was described as active and playful and at times, solitary and quiet at others. Nala lived with 12 cats and was tolerant and outgoing with them. She even has had a bit of an identity crisis- her guardian said she, "Thinks she's a cat, and will climb the counters and groom herself like a cat!" Though Nala lived with kids from infancy to teens, due to her fearfulness, she will do best in an adult only home. We are unsure of how she is with other dogs. Nala can be fostered through a rescue.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 37.4 lbs

Medical Notes

1/11/2025

Blood drawn for Titer check. Performed In House - TiterChek Canine Distemper-Parvovirus Antibody Test Kit Results: CPV HI titer > 1:80 Considered protected.

1/11/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: dentition and conformation consistent w o reported age of 3 years Microchip noted on Intake? scanned NEGATIVE History: o surrender Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - timid, shaking, allowed for handling and tasks w muzzle Is there evidence of Cruelty? N Is there evidence of Neglect? N Is there evidence of Trauma? N Objective T = np P = wnl R = wnl BCS 4.5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: DNE muzzled PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: FI MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: DRENP, externally wnl Assessment APH Prognosis: good Plan: intake exam and tasks awaiting sort start traz at approx 8mg/kg PO BID indef SURGERY: Okay for surgery: Y

1/24/2025

Diarrhea present in kennel Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V. Diarrhea noted F/S: 6/7 Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4 NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed Diarrhea PLAN: Per standing orders -Start psyllium husk 2 scoops PO q24h x5days & proviable 1 capsule PO q24h x5days -Placed monitor log on kennel -CTM, recheck on 1/29

1/29/2025

Progress exam: Subjective: Diarrhea recheck Objective: None seen in kennel or reported on rounds board ASSESSMENT: Presumed Diarrhea appears resolved PLAN: Per standing orders -CTM while in QACC

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Allowed staff to scan for MC .

Date of Intake: 1/10/2025

Basic Information:: Nala Bonita is a 3 yr old not spayed MMB. She was surrendered due to client not having permanent housing. Nala is noted to have lived with children and cats.

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 3 children and 12 DSH

How is this dog around strangers?: Noted to be shy, avoid contact, actively avoid, hide, hard bark and growl.

How is this dog around children?: Lived with 3 children aged 14, 7 yrs and 7 months. Nala is noted to be playful, outgoing and friendly.

How is this dog around other dogs?: No experience

How is this dog around cats?: Lived with 12 DSH and noted to be tolerant and outgoing. Client says that Nala Bonita thinks she is a cat and will climb counters and groom herself like a cat.

Resource guarding:: Noted to resource guard toys and items she should not have. Noted to snap.

Bite history:: None noted

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: high

Other Notes:: Nala Bonita is noted to escape the house and yard. Has general anxiety, mouthy when taking treats. She jumps up and bites / chews on leash. is anxious when left alone. Destructive tendencies. During walks Nala Bonita reacts to strangers that approach home, family and owner. She reacts to bikes, skateboards, scooters and motorcycles. She is noted to lunge and hard bark/growl. Nala Bonita is fearful when held and restrained. She isn't bothered when disturbed while asleep. She fearful when startled. She isnt bothered when pushed or pulled off furniture. She is fearful when her collar is grabbed or touched.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

For a New Family to Know: Nala Bonita prefers contact on her own terms, very active, playful, vocal, quiet, solitary and fearful. Nala Bonita spent most of her time anywhere in the home. Nala Bonita does not allow family to brush or bathe. Does not allow family to trim nails or touch paws. Noted to bark, growl and snap during grooming. During walks she is noted to pull hard and maintain tension thru ought walk. She is walked 3-4 times a day. She has never been crated. During car rides she has accidents. Nala Bonita knows how to give high 5, paw and sit.

Date of intake:: 1/10/2025

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 3 children (7 months, 7 yrs, 14 yrs) and 12 DSH

Behavior toward strangers:: shy, avoid contact, actively avoids, hides, hard bark, growl

Behavior toward children:: playful, outgoing, social with resident children

Behavior toward dogs:: unknown

Behavior toward cats:: tolerant, outgoing

Resource guarding:: Nala Bonita is noted to resource guard toys and items she should not have; which will escalate to snapping.

Bite history:: none reported

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Nala Bonita is noted to have a high energy level.,

Other Notes:: Nala Bonita's previous owner reports that she would jump on counters and groom herself like a cat. Nala Bonita is noted to escape the house and yard, has general anxiety, mouthy when taking treats. She jumps up and bites/chews on leash, and is anxious when left alone with Destructive tendencies. During walks, Nala Bonita reacts to strangers who approach their home, family, and owner. She reacts to bikes, skateboards, scooters and motorcycles. She is noted to lunge and hard bark/growl. Nala Bonita is fearful when held and restrained. She isn't bothered when disturbed while asleep. She is fearful when startled. She isn't bothered when pushed or pulled off furniture. Nala Bonita does not allow the family to brush or bathe. Does not allow the family to trim nails or touch paws. Noted to bark, growl, and snap during grooming. During walks, she is noted to pull hard and maintain tension throughout the walk. She is walked 3-4 times a day. She has never been crated. During car rides she has accidents. She is fearful when her collar is grabbed or touched.

Date of assessment:: 1/13/2025

Summary:: 1/23/25: Nala Bonita is taken to the behavior office for a handling assessment. Nala Binitas displays a low body tucked tail and avoidant of handler. When attempting to conduct a handling assessment, Nala Bonita is tense with a tightly tucked tail, and whale eyes, while trembling. Due to her fearfulness a handling assessment was not conducted at this time. 1/13/25: Nala Bonita's previous owner stated that she is fearful of strangers and will actively avoid or hide but has a history of growling and hard barking at them. When attempting to conduct a handling assessment, Nala Bonita is tense with a tightly tucked tail, and whale eyes, while trembling. She seeks an exit, is avoidant, or hides under the desk.

Summary (7):: 1/28/25: Nala Bonita greeted handler with a loose, wiggly frame. She approached front of kennel and was leashed with ease. Nala walked on a loose leash to the live room. Nala was switched to a slip leash with stopper and free to move around the room. Nala took treats very gently hand fed. Handler let her approach on her own terms and after some time in the room she accepted pets on her head and neck with a low wagging tail. She seemed uncomfortable when pet down her back. Nala was disinterested in toys and spent much of the time exit seeking or sniffing. She was switched back to the slip leash while eating a treat and walked back to kennel on a loose leash. Nala hopped straight into kennel and remained at front of kennel as handler was locking it. 1/24/25: Nala Bonita is sitting in front of her kennel with pinned ears, tucked tail and is easily leashed and brought into the behavior office. Nala Bonita remains low to the floor, ducking away from sudden sounds of the kennels and remains fearful during her entire time in the behavior office. (See Behavior Assessment for more details). Nala is intensely fearful walking back to her kennel, whale eyeing and lip licking when the handler goes to clip her. Nala is brought back to her kennel and her leash is taken off with a tool due to her uncomfortability with the handler clipping her. 1/22/25 Nala Bonita is sitting in front of her kennel door, pawing at the door. Nala is sitting with a tense frame and a tucked tail. The handler will leash her slowly, taking her for a walk. Nala will maintain a stiff, tense frame as she slowly walks behind the handler. In some cases, she will dart forward, fearful, whipping around and looking at the handler with whale eyes. Nala Bonita maintains her tucked tail, while scanning the area in a hyper-vigilant way. Nala Bonita will walk at a moderate pace as she is returned to the facility. Nala Bonita is brought over to a new kennel and will enter the kennel with no issue. 1/13/25: Nala Bonita is at the front of her kennel and shaking as handler approaches. She is leashed with ease and walked slowly to the behavior room for her assessment. In the room, she would try to sit near the doors and would hide under the desk. She was not comfortable being collared and would duck down and whale eye when the handler got close. Due to her being fearful, her assessment will be done on a later date. She was able to be taken back to her kennel slowly with no issues,

Date of intake:: 1/10/2025

Summary:: allowed staff to scan for microchip

Date of initial:: 1/11/2025

Summary:: shaking, allowed handling for tasks after muzzling.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Nala Bonita's resource guarding, potential for defensive escalations, leash biting, and on-leash reactivity, we recommend that she be placed in an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope Partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment, the behavior department recommends Nala Bonita be placed with a New Hope placement partner who can provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow Nala Bonita to acclimate comfortably to her new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing Nala Bonita to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior she presents with outside of the care centers.

Potential challenges: : House soiling,Resource guarding,Destructive behavior,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Separation anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: House soiling: Nala Bonita is noted to be partially housetrained and will likely need guidance in her future home. Please see the handout on House soiling. Resource Guarding: Nala Bonita is noted to resource guard toys and items she should not have; which will escalate to snapping. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Destructive Behavior | Separation Anxiety: Nala Bonita is reported to become anxious when left home alone with destructive tendencies, but did not elaborate on how this behavior manifested. Please see the handout on Destructive Behavior & Separation Anxiety. Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition: Nala Bonita is reported to be mouthy when taking treats. Please see handout on Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition. Handling/touch sensitivity: Nala Bonita is fearful when held and restrained, does not allow the family to brush or bathe. Does not allow the family to trim nails or touch paws. Noted to bark, growl, and snap during grooming, and is fearful when her collar is grabbed or touched. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Nala Bonita is reported to avoid contact, actively avoid, hide, hard bark, and growl at strangers. She is noted to also have lunged at them during walks. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for Defensive Aggression. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: During walks, Nala Bonita is reported to lunge hard bark and growled at scooters, bikes, skateboards, motorcycles, and strangers. Please see handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration. Leash Biting: Nala Bonita was reported to leash bite when on walks with her previous owner. Similar behaviors have not been observed in care. Please see handout on Arousal.