Animal Profile

Sugar is at risk due to behavior concerns. She was returned to the care centers, as an owner surrender, after being adopted. Her previous owner reported house training challenges, displayed separation anxiety, was fearful of loud noises, and would resource guard high value items. Sugar was noted to escalate to snapping or attempting to bite if approached with food. On leash, she was described as shy and prefers contact on her own terms, as she will escalate to hard barking and growling. In the care center she was noted to kennel fight and become tense, hard bark, and growl at another dog during playgroup. Sugar has tolerated handling, has been able to be redirected with treats, and engages with handlers on her walks. Medically, Sugar is overweight but otherwise 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. This pet is available only through ACC New Hope partners. To adopt or foster, please complete the pre-screener form below. Inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Sugar is at risk due to behavior concerns. She was returned to the care centers, as an owner surrender, after being adopted. Her previous owner reported house training challenges, displayed separation anxiety, was fearful of loud noises, and would resource guard high value items. Sugar was noted to escalate to snapping or attempting to bite if approached with food. On leash, she was described as shy and prefers contact on her own terms, as she will escalate to hard barking and growling. In the care center she was noted to kennel fight and become tense, hard bark, and growl at another dog during playgroup. Sugar has tolerated handling, has been able to be redirected with treats, and engages with handlers on her walks. Medically, Sugar is overweight but otherwise healthy. Sugar was surrendered by her previous owner due to landlord issues, behavior concerns, and not having time to provide care. Her previous owner described her as a social and active dog who can be very quiet. She spends her time where people are, in the bedroom of the home, or in the living room. Sugar allowed her family to bathe and brush her, and only pulls moderately on her leash during her usual 20min walks she goes on twice a day. She loves to cuddle and is not picky with food or treats. Her owner did report behavior concerns including resource guarding of food, barking and growling at strangers, hard barking and growling at unfamiliar dogs, house soiling, and more. During her stay in care, she has been loose and wiggly with handlers but is reactive to dogs in her kennel. Due to these concerns, we recommend that Sugar be placed in an adult-only home through 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.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 40 lbs

Medical Notes

5/7/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: approx 2-5 years based on dentition and conformation Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: os Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - timid, allowed for handling and tasks, food motivated Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? N Objective: T = np P = wnl R = wnl BCS 6/9 EENT: Eyes clear, mild dark brown ceruminous dc AU, no erythema, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: mild wear and staining to visible rostral dentition PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: F suspected intact, no OVH scar or tattoo MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: Overweight Prognosis: good Plan: intake exam and tasks ear cleaning fast track awaiting sort SURGERY: Okay for surgery: Y

5/8/2026

Pre-surgical exam, anesthesia, and surgery performed by offsite vet. Medical record uploaded to Vet Documents. Green linear tattoo placed lateral to incision. GIVE: 1 tablet of Rimadyl 75 mg by mouth for 4 days starting the day after surgery. Notes: MILD DENTAL DISEASE VULVAR ENLARGEMENT

5/15/2026

[Post Surgical Exam] Attitude/demeanor: N/A Appetite: N/A C/S/V/D: N/A Incision site: N/A Pain level: N/A Licking, chewing, or biting surgical site noted: N/A Additional notes: P left shelter before receiving post-op exam. -992230

7/10/2026

[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 5yrs based on dentition/conformation Microchip noted on intake? scans positive History: owner surrender Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - calm, loves treats, tolerated all tasks and handling Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? no Objective: P = 120 R = 24 BCS 7/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Adult dentition with mild staining PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: FS, tattoo present, no vulvar dc MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: externally normal Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment: Approx. 5yr FS canine apparently healthy Overweight Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks Will need gradual weight loss plan once placed SURGERY: spayed

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake, dog was easily leashed, walked, collared, pet, scanned, picked up, held, and placed in kennel.

Date of Intake: 7/7/2026

Spay/Neuter Status: Spayed

Basic Information:: MMB altered female dog who was surrendered to ACC by her adopters

Previously lived with:: adults & children

How is this dog around strangers?: She is shy and prefers contact on her own terms. She can escalate to barking or growling if boundaries are pushed.

How is this dog around children?: Friendly playful, and outgoing.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Is known to be shy and prefer contact on her own terms with all other dogs both on and off-leash. She may hard bark or growl when introduced.

How is this dog around cats?: Shy and prefers contact on her own terms. She may hard bark or growl when introduced.

Resource guarding:: Considers food an item of high value and will snap or attempt to bite if approached.

Bite history:: No history.

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Urinates indoors on a daily basis. Is fearful of loud noises, anxious when left alone, and destroys plush toys. She is unbothered by being held, restrained, or disturbed when sleeping. The client never attempted to startle her, and reported she is fearful when moved from furniture, when her paws are touched, and when her collar is grabbed.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: No known allergies or medical concerns.

For a New Family to Know: She is described as a social and active dog who can be very quiet. She spends her time where people are, in the bedroom of the home, or in the living room. She allows her family to bathe and brush her, knows the cue "sit", and only pulls moderately on her leash during her usual 20min walks she goes on twice a day. She loves to cuddle and is not picky with food or treats.

Date of intake:: 7/7/2026

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

Previously lived with:: adults & children

Behavior toward strangers:: shy and prefers contact on her own terms. She can escalate to barking or growling if boundaries are

Behavior toward children:: Friendly playful, and outgoing.

Behavior toward dogs:: shy and prefer contact on her own terms with all other dogs both on and off-leash. She may hard bark

Behavior toward cats:: Shy and prefers contact on her own terms. She may hard bark or growl when introduced.

Resource guarding:: Considers food an item of high value and will snap or attempt to bite if approached.

Bite history:: No known reports of a bite history.

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: Sugar is noted to have a Medium energy level in the prior home.

Other Notes:: Urinates indoors on a daily basis. Is fearful of loud noises, anxious when left alone, and destroys plush toys. She is unbothered by being held, restrained, or disturbed when sleeping. The client never attempted to startle her, and reported she is fearful when moved from furniture, when her paws are touched, and when her collar is grabbed. She is described as a social and active dog who can be very quiet. She spends her time where people are, in the bedroom of the home, or in the living room. She allows her family to bathe and brush her, knows the cue "sit", and only pulls moderately on her leash during her usual 20min walks she goes on twice a day. She loves to cuddle and is not picky with food or treats. 5/6/26: Was an owner surrender during her 1st stay; no behavioral profile was given.

Date of assessment:: 7/14/2026

Summary:: 7/14/26: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: noted to kennel fighting Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Explore room- seek exit, pacing Call over: Comes when coaxed- sniffs, lip licks, Sociability comments: timid Handling Soft handling: Allowed panting, stay in handling position, yawning Exuberant handling: Allowed panting, stay in handling position Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- sniffs, distract Arousal comments: Knock: No response Knock Comments: Toy: No response Toy comments: 5/7/26: Behavioral assessment upon request.

Summary:: 7/14/26: Sugar greets a novel male dog off leash through a barrier. Sugar walks up to the barrier, tenses and lets out a long bark, and then continues to hard bark at the gate until moved away. Sugar will stop once at a fair distance, but once the dogs comes back into her line of sight, she begins to bark again. The male dog also begins to bark, but will solicit attention from the staff members.

Summary (7):: 07/20/26: Sugar is at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She is leashed with ease and brought outside for a walk. While on the walk, Sugar sometimes hops and looks back at the handler for treats. She will fixate on other dogs if they are too close, but the handler is able to redirect her attention with treats. After her walk, she is returned to her kennel without issue. 7/16/26: It is reported via the whiteboard that Sugar is kennel fighting 7/9/26: Sugar is standing in her kennel with a loose and wiggly body as handler approaches. She is able to be quickly leashed and picked up out of her kennel. She then pulls on the way to the play yard for playgroup. In the yard, she quickly approaches the gate and play bows, then becomes tense with her hackles raised and begins to growl and howl at the other dog. Please see dog to dog for more details. She is able to be taken away and is returned back to her kennel with no issues.

Date of intake:: 7/7/2026

Summary:: easily leashed, walked, collared, pet, scanned, picked up, held, and placed in kennel.

Date of initial:: 7/10/2026

Summary:: calm, loves treats, tolerated all tasks and handling

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We reccomend sugar is placed in an adult only home at this time. No cats: We reccomend Sugar is placed in a home with no cats due to her hard barking and growling at cats in the prior home. Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Sugar has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that she should not visit dog parks and be the only resident dog. The Behavior Department recommends that she be socialized in a more controlled setting until she behavior towards other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Sugar associate dogs with things she enjoys like toys or treats. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment and during her stay in care, the behavior department recommends Sugar 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 Sugar to acclimate comfortably to her new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing her to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Sugar presents with outside of the care centers.

Potential challenges: : House soiling,Resource guarding,Fearful,Separation anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: House soiling: Sugar is noted to Urinates indoors on a daily basis.Continued support should focus on establishing a predictable bathroom schedule, increasing supervision, and reinforcing appropriate elimination behaviors outdoors. Please see the ahndout on House soiling. Resource guarding:Considers food an item of high value and will snap or attempt to bite if approached. Management and training should focus on building positive associations with people near her food while prioritizing safety and preventing situations that may trigger guarding behavior. Please see handout on Resource guarding Fearful: Sugar is noted to be fearful of loud noises in the prior home. To address her fearfulness, gradual desensitization and counter-conditioning, especially around people and new environments, will build her confidence. Please see the handout on the Decompression period. Please see handout on decompression period Separation anxiety: In the prior home Sugar is noted to be anxious when left alone. Her previous owner did not detail how this behavior manifested or what steps were taken to modify it. Please see handout on Separation anxiety On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: She is shy and prefers contact on her own terms. She can escalate to barking or growling if boundaries are pushed.Shy and prefers contact on her own terms. She may hard bark or growl when introduced. Is known to be shy and prefer contact on her own terms with all other dogs both on and off-leash. She may hard bark or growl when introduced. Please see handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration.