Animal Profile

Coco Couture is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Coco Couture has shown intense fearful and defensive behavior, including shaking, hiding at the back of her kennel, flattening herself against the kennel wall, growling, and snapping at handlers during kennel care. Coco Couture continues to struggle to acclimate to the shelter environment, and interactions have been kept brief to avoid increasing her stress. Medically, Coco Couture is apparently 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 Coco Couture is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Coco Couture has shown intense fearful and defensive behavior, including shaking, hiding at the back of her kennel, flattening herself against the kennel wall, growling, and snapping at handlers during kennel care. Coco Couture continues to struggle to acclimate to the shelter environment, and interactions have been kept brief to avoid increasing her stress. Medically, Coco Couture is apparently healthy. Coco Couture was surrendered to the care center by her previous owners due to their housing situation. They describe Coco Couture as an affectionate, active, and playful dog who loves water and knows several cues like sit, jump, and paw. Coco Couture has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. She has been extremely reluctant to leave her kennel, flattening herself against the back when handlers have attempted to leash her. While she seems to choose to avoid or retreat when given the opportunity, she has growled when interacting with staff and her previous owners also report that she is fearful of unfamiliar people, and if she does not hide may lunge, snap, and growl. For these reasons, we recommend placement with 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: 13 lbs

Medical Notes

10/11/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: ~1-3 years based on dentition / condition Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: OS Subjective: Prior to sedation - BAR pink moist mm, CRT <2s Observed Behavior - licked lips in back of kennel, once leash was on and tried bringing her out of kennel started rolling flailing, attempted to towel and P attempted to bite. Continued biting leash and alligator rolled when attempting to poke --> sedated for safety Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No Objective: P = WNL (sedated) R = WNL (sedated) BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Clean dentition PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2s, Lungs clear, eupneic, negative ITC ABD: Soft, nonpainful, no masses palpated U/G: Female - appears intact no tattoo or spay scar MSI: Prior to sedation - Ambulatory x 4 prior to sedation, full orthopedic exam not performed INT: Unkempt hair coat, diarrhea caked on fur near tail, no masses noted, no ectoparasites seen CNS: Prior to sedation - Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: soft stool, L anal gland full, expressed white liquid Wood's Lamp Exam: Not performed Assessment: High FAS Apparently healthy FI young adult SMB diarrhea r/o internal parasites vs. gastroenteritis vs. stress colitis vs. other Prognosis: Good Plan: SEDATED --> dexmedetomidine 0.12mL, butorphanol 0.12mL, ketamine 0.12mL IM --> adequate sedation achieved Antisedan 0.12mL IM for reversal OK for appropriate intake tasks ADD Trazodone 50mg (~8mg/kg) PO BID TFN ADD fortiflora 1pack SID x10d SURGERY: Okay for surgery

10/14/2026

Pre-Op Exam S/O: BAR, no c/s/v/d noted EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge noted Lungs: Eupneic, normal respiratory rate/effort ABD: No obvious distention MSI: Ambulatory x 4, no notable lameness CNS: Mentation appropriate A: Appears to be suitable candidate for anesthesia, ASA status I P: Accepted for surgery - spay/neuter today Was this dog in heat, pregnant or have a pyometra? no Ventral Midline Incision Ovaries Ligated with: 2-0 PDS, two circumferential ligatures Uterine Body Ligated with: 2-0 PDS, two circumferential ligatures Abdominal Closure: 2-0 PDS simple continuous pattern Skin closure: 20 PDS intradermal pattern Green Linear Tattoo Placed near Midline Surgeon: 990665 Additional Comments:

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 5. Red

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake when staff first entered the room Coco was immediately fleeing from staff as well as growling and hard staring. Upon the entire reaction when in the waiting room Coco, she remained eye contact with staff while growling and attempting to flee. Due to these behaviors counselors did not feel comfortable collaring or scanning for microchip. Counselors had client scan for microchip but did not collar due to not wanting to heighten Coco's stress. Upon removing Coco from her owner counselors had the client wrap Coco up in two towels with only her face revealed due to behavior. When client handed Coco off to counselors, she immediately turned her head, making direct eye contact proceeding to lunge and snap at counselors' face. Counselors quickly rushed Coco back to medical where she then proceeded to snap again at counselors' face and attempted to flee from the towels. Coco then out of fear urinated and defecated on herself. She was then vaccinated and walked back to her kennel where counselors were able to place her in a bottom kennel. Counselors had to remove Coco's leash with a hook where she then lunged and bit 2 times. Coco's leash was then removed. No further handling was done.

Date of Intake: 10/8/2026

Spay/Neuter Status: Unknown

Basic Information:: Coco Couture is an approximately 3-year-old, female, all white, small mixed breed dog. She was rescued by her previous owner and kept for a year before being surrendered into QUACC due to their previous owner becoming unhoused.

Previously lived with:: 2 Adults 5 Kids 1 Medium Mixed Breed Dog

How is this dog around strangers?: Coco will snap, lunge, hard bark/growl, hides/actively avoids, hides at first, and shy/contact on her terms around strangers.

How is this dog around children?: Coco has lived with kids ages 11-17 and hides at first, tolerant, playful, friendly and outgoing.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Coco has lived with a medium mixed breed dog and prefers contact on her terms, tolerant and playful.

How is this dog around cats?: Coco has no experience with cats or any other animals.

Resource guarding:: Coco has no known history of resource guarding.

Bite history:: Coco has no known bite history.

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: High (often playful/busy)

Other Notes:: Coco will jump up often or non-stop, she is anxious when left alone, fearful of loud noises, will hard bark/growl at strangers and at dogs on walks. Coco will bark/growl when she is held/restrained, is fearful when startled and isn't bothered when she is disturbed when sleeping, feet/paws touched or when her collar is grabbed.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: Coco has no known medical concerns.

For a New Family to Know: Coco is a social/affectionate, very active and playful. She likes to be where people are, the bedroom and in the living room. She loves bath time/water, allows family to bathe and brush her. She goes on 60min walks 1-2x daily with very little pulling and has never been crated. She has never been in the car and knows the cues for sit, lay, jump and paw.

Date of intake:: 10/8/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender (1 year)

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 5 kids, 1 medium dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Snap, lunge, hard bark/growl, hides/actively avoids, hides at first, and shy/contact on her terms

Behavior toward children:: Hides at first, then tolerant, playful, friendly, outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Prefers contact on her terms, then tolerant and playful

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: No resource guarding reported

Bite history:: No bite history

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Coco Couture is described as high energy by her previous owners.

Other Notes:: Coco will jump up often or non-stop, she is anxious when left alone, fearful of loud noises, will hard bark/growl at strangers and at dogs on walks. Coco will bark/growl when she is held/restrained, is fearful when startled and isn't bothered when she is disturbed when sleeping, feet/paws touched or when her collar is grabbed. She allows her family to bathe and brush her.

Date of assessment:: 10/13/2026

Summary:: Coco Couture has not acclimated well to the care center and has been highly fearful and reluctant to leave her kennel, turning away from handlers and flattening herself into the back of the kennel. Out of concern for her stress levels, a handling assessment is not conducted.

Summary (7):: 10/12/26: Coco Couture is visited in kennel and is shaking, hiding in the back of her kennel and growling when the handler approaches. Coco Couture's bedding is removed from under her due to it being soiled, and she snaps several times at the handler when doing so. The bedding is changed slowly so she can lay more comfortable, and is left alone. 10/09/26: Coco Couture is at the back of the kennel as the handler approaches. She turns her head and presses her body against the back of the kennel. Handler is able to get leash on her, but she turns away further and continues to flatten herself against the back, with a tense body. Out of concern for her high fear and stress levels, the handlers removes the leash with a hook and ends the interaction.

Date of intake:: 10/8/2026

Summary:: Fleeing, growling, hard staring

Date of initial:: 10/11/2026

Summary:: Rolling and thrashing on leash, had to be sedated

ENERGY LEVEL:: Coco Couture is described as high energy by her previous owners, and will need daily mental and physical activity to keep her engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct her energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 5): Due to Coco Couture's high levels of fear, we recommend an adult only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Coco Couture has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with 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.

Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Separation anxiety

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Coco Couture has shown highly fearful behavior while at the care center, and has been reluctant to leave her kennel, flattening herself and turning her head when handlers have attempted to leash her. During her medical exam, she thrashed and rolled on leash and needed sedation to examine; she also growled at staff during intake, and is reported by her previous owners to snap and growl at unfamiliar people on walks. It is important to always go slow and give her the option to walk away from any social interaction. She should never be forced to approach anything that she is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be her choice to approach a new person or thing. Coco Couture would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to her new surroundings. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Basic manners: Coco Couture is reported to jump up frequently by her previous owners. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Leave it", "Sit/Stay", "Down" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach her to control her impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic manners/impulse control. Separation anxiety: Coco Couture's previous owners report that she is anxious when left alone. While we do not know the nature or extent of this behavior, we recommend that potential adopters feel comfortable with separation anxiety behaviors and prepared to manage and positively modify them should they appear in a home environment. Please see handout on Separation Anxiety.