Date of intake:: 6/14/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray; history unknown

Bite history:: Carl bit one of the ESU officer's while being handled, but they were wearing tactical gloves, so the bite did not break skin. It was reported that the bite was a quick bite and release.

Date of assessment:: 6/18/2026

Summary:: Due to Carl's continued escalations towards staff, a handling assessment is not conducted.

Summary (5):: 6/18/26: Carl was at front of kennel, snarling and vocalizing. When the handler went to open kennel he jumped at kennel and muzzle punched the door and got a bloody nose. Handler decided to let him remain and see if someone else could get him. 06/17/26 (PM): Carl is standing at the front of his kennel taking treats through the kennel bars from the handler. Once the leash is placed around his neck, the handler steps back and uses treats to encourage him forward. Carl slowly approaches while taking treats and eventually exits the kennel. He is then brought to the assessment room where he remains on leash and spends time exploring the environment while wagging his tail and socializing with handlers. Upon returning to his kennel, Carl enters appropriately, as the handler begins closing the kennel door while Carl remains attached to the leash, Carl turns abruptly and growls before attempting to bite the handler’s foot from inside the kennel.

Summary (6):: 6/17 (AM): Carl is lying at the front of the kennel when a handler approaches. He is startled by an ACS that is cleaning the kennel next to his, and he begins growling at them. Carl turns to the handler when he sees the cheese offered by the handler but is still growling. He takes the cheese hard, muzzle hitting the kennel bars each time. As he eats, he growls, body stiff, but the handler is able to leash him. He pulls to the behavior office; he does not shake off, and his body remains stiff. He wanders the room, relieves himself, and then is returned to the kennel. As the handler nears his kennel, Carl begins snarling, and they see his head drop towards the handler's foot. They instinctively move their foot away as they maneuver him into the kennel. Carl snarls louder, lunging his mouth open. He bites the lead as it slides off him. 6/16 (pm): Carl is at the front of his kennel with a loose body and a helicopter tail. As the kennel is unlocked and he sees the handler's lead, Carl begins to growl, and his eyes harden as he slowly begins to back away. The handler does not put the lead in as yet and only feeds Carl cheese until he stats at the front. The hadnler slowly introduces the lead and continues to feed Carl through it unitl they can secure it. He does not flinch or back away once the lead is on. The handler opens the kennel door and steps to the side to allow him ot exit. He remains at the front but is hesitant to exit. He takes cheese out of the kennel and then exits. He pulls to the behavior office and greets a second handler who is in the room. Carl alternates between soliciting between the handlers. He shows no interest in toys. The handler attempts to bring Carl outside but he is hesitant to walk up the stairs towards the exit. The handler steps onto the first step and Carl follows. Once outside, Carl immediately balks and begins trembling into a pancaked position. He no longer takes treats or cheese but readily returns to the building. Carl pulls back to the office and returns to seeking attention. He rolls onto his back, exposing his belly, but begins growling. Neither handler had made an attempt to touch Carl before he exposed his belly or after. He is immediately returned to his kennel. Carl lunges, growls, and bites the hadnler's lead once, once he is back in his kennel and the lead is being removed.

Summary (7):: 06/16/26 (AM): Carl is at the front of the kennel as the handler approaches. He backs up, but will return to the front and take treats, chicken, and sausages. The handler places the leash in the kennel and feeds him treats without actually attempting to leash him. He will occasionally back up and growl, but he is quick to come back forward and eat more treats. The handler is able to leash him, but Carl does not exit the kennel initially. He will stretch his neck forward to try to reach more treats, but will not exit. At one point, he begins urinating, and when finished, Carl exits his kennel and walks to the office with no other issues. In the office, he is extremely social with other handlers, including one he hadn't met yet. At the request of vet services, he is then brought to the medical for his intake exam. 6/15 (PM): Two handlers approached to check on their colleague, who had been gone for an extended period to take Carl out of his kennel for his evening walk. When they reached the room, they saw the handler had successfully leashed Carl, but he was pancaked in his kennel, with only his head out. One of the other 2 handlers enters the room to assist in coaxing Carl out. He begins growling at the second handler, but takes the chicken from the first handler holding the lead. After several minutes of treats trailing and moving slowly with Carl, he finally crawls out of his kennel and out of the room. Once in the hallway, Carl trots to the behavior office. He readily solicits attention but becomes increasingly pushier as he jumps up into laps and paws at handlers. After he relieves himself, he is returned to his kennel. Once in the kennel, he growls as the lead is removed. 6/15 (AM): Carl is standing at the front of kennel as handler approaches. He lightly wags his tail and will take offered treats. He retreats to the back of kennel but will come forward and is slowly leashed with treats. Carl slowly exits the room and will walk to the Canine Behavior Office where he will approach handlers and lean into them in appeasement, becoming slightly tense whenever pet but resoliciting attention whenever it is discontinued. He takes treats gently from hand and allows handlers to slowly remove his collar. After his session, Carl tolerates having the lead clipped as he is eating treats. He walks back to his kennel and walks in. He bolts to the back of the kennel, causing the lead to tighten. Carl begins snarling and hard staring as he pulls back, adding more tension to the lead. The handler is finally able to slide it off as he continues to snarl. Once the lead is removed, Carl softens.

Date of intake:: 6/14/2026

Summary:: growling, baring teeth, hard barking, lunging at staff while in crate

Date of initial:: 6/16/2026

Summary:: oose and wiggly at first, started to low growl when trying to palpate or auscultate ; sedated

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to the intensity of Carl's escalations towards handlers, we recommend for Carl be placed in an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed during his stay in care, the behavior department recommends Carl be placed with a New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow Carl to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward-based training only is advised when introducing Carl to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior he presents outside of the care centers.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Leash-biting,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity | Fearful/potential for defensive aggression | Bite history (human) | Leash-biting: Carl has escalated to high-level warnings during leashing, when being taken out of the kennel, and during interactions with handlers. It was reported that he had bitten an officer during his pick up, but the bite did not break skin. Guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is recommended to assess behavior after decompression in a new home environment. Force-free, reward-based training is advised when introducing or exposing Sasha to new and unfamiliar situations. Please see handouts on Handling/touch sensitivity, Fearful/potential for defensive aggression, and leash manners.