Animal Profile

Bella Brown is currently at risk due to behavior reasons. Bella Brown is reported by her previous owner to be highly reactive to dogs, cats and other small animals. She will lunge, bark and pull hard towards them. In one instance, she bit the owners hand as they attempted to redirect her as she was reacting. This bite did not break skin. This behavior has been observed at the care center as well. Upon intake, she was reacting towards another dog in the hall, then lunged towards a cat in a kennel. The handler pulled her away and she whipped her head around towards handlers leg. She did not make contact. The previous owners favorite things about Bella Brown is how cuddly and sweet she is. At the care center she has been very social with handlers, seeking and allowing petting. Medically, Bella Brown is healthy.

Let's get to know each other a bit more...

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 Bella Brown is currently at risk due to behavior reasons. Bella Brown is reported by her previous owner to be highly reactive to dogs, cats and other small animals. She will lunge, bark and pull hard towards them. In one instance, she bit the owners hand as they attempted to redirect her as she was reacting. This bite did not break skin. This behavior has been observed at the care center as well. Upon intake, she was reacting towards another dog in the hall, then lunged towards a cat in a kennel. The handler pulled her away and she whipped her head around towards handlers leg. She did not make contact. The previous owners favorite things about Bella Brown is how cuddly and sweet she is. At the care center she has been very social with handlers, seeking and allowing petting. Medically, Bella Brown is healthy. Bella arrived at MACC as a stray. Her previous owner describes her as a social and friendly dog. During her stay in the care center Bella has been observed to be highly reactive. During intake Bella was observed to hard bark and lunge towards dogs that were passing by. In the care center Bella was observed to lunge towards a cat, when pulled away Bella head whipped towards the handler. Her previous owner states that two months ago when they attempted to redirect her from reacting, Bella turned and bit them on the hand. This bite did not break skin. Due to the detailed behaviors we recommend an experienced adult only home. What my friends at ACC say about me: My history is a mystery and my friends here do not know much about me yet! I am finding the shelter a little overwhelming, but when it's just you and me and some peace and quiet you'll see what a love bug I am. I will need daily physical activity to keep me healthy and happy!

My medical notes are...

Weight: 51 lbs

Medical Notes

5/2/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 11 months to 1.5 years based on dentition Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned positive History: Stray Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - loose wiggly body and allows all handling Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective T = P = 120 bpm R = 28 bpm BCS: 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Adult dentition, mild staining PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated. Non-reducible umbilical hernia. U/G: Externally WNL, spayed female, green tattoo noted MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally WNL Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment Non-reducible umbilical hernia Otherwise apparently healthy Spayed female Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake tasks + exam Await sort SURGERY: Already spayed

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of Intake: 5/2/2025

Spay/Neuter Status: Unknown

Basic Information:: Bella is a 16 month old pit mix. Owner had her for 6 months and went to a vacation, gave the dog back to the original owner. Also surrendered due to owner working too much and living in a small apartment.

Previously lived with:: 1 adult.

How is this dog around strangers?: Bella with strangers is very friendly, outgoing. Sometimes she will lunge at people she doesn't know.

How is this dog around children?: No experiences with kids.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Familiar Dogs : growl, hard- bark, her hackles will come up, will lunge and pull owner towards them. Unfamiliar dogs - on leash : growl, hard- bark, her hackles will come up, will lunge and pull owner towards them. Unfamiliar - off leash : growl, hard- bark, her hackles will come up, will lunge and pull owner towards them.

How is this dog around cats?: Growl, lunges, hard barks.

Resource guarding:: Bella does not resource guard her toys or food, she will allow owners to take them from her.

Bite history:: Bella had bit her owner when he was walking the dog, owner was trying to redirect her as she is very dog reactive, but upon pulling her away, Bella ended up biting her owner on the hand. She did not break skin. It happened 2 months ago.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: high

Other Notes:: Bella allows for owner to touch her paws, will growl if she is woken up. She can be very protective of the home. Is very reactive to dogs of any size, rodents, and cats. She has some destructive tendencies when left alone, she will have anxieties going on, Will destroy furniture and clothes, and shoes.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

For a New Family to Know: Bella allows for bathes, she enjoys water and bath time. Bella is very social, friendly, very energetic. She is rated a level 5 when walking, will pull a lot and will attempted to flee if off leash. Bella would only eat hard dog food, blue buffalo. She likes the milk bones, the pupperoni, bacon strips. Bella loves card rides, she does will and behaves well. She would go out for 30 minutes twice a day. Bella doesnt really know any commands, but will listen when owner tells her "go to bed" or "Sit" or "Go up" and will climb the steps. She loves to play with balls, kong toys, pulling toys. Owner loves how she is loveable, affectionate, cuddly, and very sweet.

Date of intake:: 5/2/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, with history (6 months)

Previously lived with:: 1 adult

Behavior toward strangers:: Bella may lunge, can be friendly

Behavior toward children:: No experience

Behavior toward dogs:: Bella will growl, hard bark, and lunge towards familiar and unfamiliar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: Bella will growl, lunge, and hard bark

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: March 2025: Bella had bit her owner when they were walking her. The owner was trying to redirect her from reacting, when the owner pulled her away Bella bit them on the hand. This bite did not break skin.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Bella allowed her previous owner to touch her paws. Bella will growl when woken up. Bella has some destructive tendencies when left alone, she will become anxious, and may destroy furniture, clothes, and shoes. Bella's previous owner describes her as a social and friendly dog that may know the cue sit.

Date of assessment:: 5/5/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Moderate Leash walking comments: Hard barks and lunges towards dog Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Loose wiggly body, jumping up on handlers, whining and pacing persistently after assessment is completed. Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact Comments: Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily, jumps up then begins biting the leash Toy Toy comments: Grips firm, engages with toy enthusiastically

Summary (7):: 5/5/25 - Bella brown is at the front of her kennel with a loose and wiggly, she is easily leashed and taken for a street walk. She has a moderate pull and is social with handler, she gently takes treats from their hand. She has no reaction to any stimuli. When she sees another dog, she lunges forward and hard barks at them. Handler tries to get her attention with treats but she stays barking at the dog. Handler walks in the other direction from the dog and she follows handler. When returning to the building she sees a dog down the block and stares at them with a slight tense body with no vocalization. Handler pulls her away and she follows them. She is taken for her assessment where she is easily collared and is social with handlers. When handler returns from knocking Bella brown starts to do zoomies and bite at the leash. Handler tosses treats and she goes to eat those. She whines when she isn't getting attention from handlers. She is easily releashed and returned to kennel without issue.

Date of intake:: 5/2/2025

Summary:: Very dog reactive, lunging growling when seeing dogs, head whipping

Date of initial:: 5/2/2025

Summary:: Loose wiggly body and allows all handling

ENERGY LEVEL:: Bella is described as active and enthusiastic. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for Bella.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),No cats,Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to the potential for redirection we recommend an adult only home No Cats: Due to lunging towards a cat in a kennel we recommend a home with no cats. Single Pet Home/ No Dog Parks: Bella has been observed to hard bark and lunge towards dogs while on leash. Due to these behaviors we recommend a single pet home with no trips to the dog park. 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: : Destructive behavior,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Separation anxiety,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Destructive Behavior/ Separation Anxiety: Bella's previous owner states that she becomes anxious when left alone and will become destructive in the home. With items such as furniture, clothes, and shoes. We recommend that potential adopters feel comfortable with separation anxiety behaviors and be prepared to manage and positively modify them should they appear in a home environment. They would do best in a home where a person is home for a large part of the day or with a plan so they are not alone for long periods of time. Please see handout on Separation Anxiety. Please see handout on Destructive Behavior. Basic Manners: Bella has been observed to jump up on handlers in a social manner. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Sit" and "Off" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach them to control their impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Fearful Defensive: Bella's previous owner states that she may lunge towards strangers. They also state that she will growl when woken up. It is important to move slowly with Bella, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Bite History (Human): Please see bite history above for more details. Please see handout on Bite History and Potential for Future Aggression. Anxiety: Bella has been observed to begin whining and pacing in the office after her assessment was completed. If Bella displays anxious behavior in their future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving them other things to focus on to alleviate their anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used. Please see handout on Generalized Anxiety. On Leash Reactivity: During intake Bella was observed to hard bark and lunge towards dogs that were passing by. In the care center Bella was observed to lunge towards a cat, when the handler pulled her away Bella head whipped towards them. Bella will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than dogs and other stimuli. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration. Leash Biting: Bella has been observed to jump up and bite the leash. We recommend walking them with a toy to dissuade them from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training is advised to teach them to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners.