Date of intake:: 2/22/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Date of assessment:: 2/23/2026

Summary:: Texas Toast has been observed to be very fearful while in care, noted to escalate to growling when handlers approach and is reluctant to exit kennel or allow pickup. Due to the high level of fear, stress, and anxiety Texas is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 3/9/26- Texas toast doesn't approach to gate greet the other dog. Handlers tries to coax but again doesn't engage. She just stares at the other dog with a tense body with a high tail and hackles raised.

Summary (5):: 3/7/26: Texas Toast is sitting and leaning against kennel door coughing as handler approached. She was easy to leash and pull from kennel. She walked slowly thru the building, and once outside she slightly picked up her pace. After walking a short distance Texas Toast turned around and wanted to head back to ACC, so handler took her back. She was returned to kennel with no issues. 3/2/26: Texas Toast is at the front of her kennel with a soft/neutral body. She is easily leashed on a pre-clipped leash and brought out the room. Texas immediately relieves herself when entering the street. She walks slightly hae with mil lash tension. Texas is mainly aloof during the walk, as she doesn't react to any dogs or passersby, as well as pay no mind to the handler unless they use their squeaker. The handler then presents a treat but she shows no interest. Upon entry, the handler returns Texas Toast to her kennel with ease. 2/28/26: Texas Toast is lying down at the back of her kennel. She becomes tense when the handler approaches. The handler tosses treats, which she ignores unless they land right by her head. The handler gets high-value treats (chicken), and she begins to come forwards for this. She continues to dodge the leash but is eventually leashed, and exits the kennel willingly. She walks to the street slowly and relieves herself. She is moderately hypervigilant, but still stops to sniff things. She does not take treats on the street. She returns to her kennel willingly.

Summary (6):: 2/28/26: Texas Toast is laying down in kennel with neutral body initially. When handler approaches she begins to lip lick, becomes tense, but does approach front, she does not takes treats. Texas Toast dodges the leash, low growls intermittently when handler attempts to lasso. Texas Toast is leashed exits kennel slowly, steadily. Texas Toast walks ahead of handler, ears pinned back, somewhat tense but become neutral halfway through the walk. Texas Toast is walked back to kennel, hook is used to remove leash without issue. 2/27/26: Texas Toast is lying down in back of kennel as handler approaches. When handler opens kennel door she moves to the front of kennel where she is leashed with a pre clipped leash and pulled from kennel. On walk Texas Toast has a neutral body and walks next to handler. She doesn’t take treats that handler offers her. She tends to ignore people and dogs on the street. She is returned to kennel with no issue. 2/26/26: Texas Toast is at the front of her kennel with a neutral body. The handler lassos her with a pre-clip leash and brings her out the kennel. On the street, Texas walks to the handler with no leash tension. She has no interest in passersby. The handler presents their hand and a treat, which Texas sniffs, but shows no interest to it. Upon entry, the handler returns Texas Toast to her kennel with ease. 2/25/26 (late entry)- Texas toast is laying at the back of her kennel curled up with a tense body. Handler softly talks to her and as they unlock the door she stays laying down then after a moment slowly comes to the front with her head and tail low. Handler is able to easily leash and she slowly exits kennel looking around in the hallway. She is taken to the play yard and she pauses outside the pen. Handler softly talks and she comes into the pen keeping her head/ body low. She sniffs around the pen for a moment then looks around with a tucked tail. Handler goes to the bench and sits, handler pats the bench seat and Texas toast comes up. She sits and looks around with a tight body. Texas toast allows handler to gently pet her and she is aloof with handler. She looks at a dog in the neighboring pen and just stares with a tight body. She just looks around then and handler continues to pet her. Handler gets up and she follows being aloof showing no interest in treats offered. When back inside handler is able to slowly clip her and she readily goes back into kennel without issue

Summary (7):: 2/23/26:(PM WALKS) Texas Toast can be heard growling in her pop-up crate. She is curled up in the back of the crate with a tense body and dilated eyes. Handler talks to her softly and tosses a few high value treats. Texas eats the treats but does not approach. Handler sits in front of the crate door, tossing treats. She eats the high value but is does not approach the front. Handler grabs a fishing pole like leash. They place it over her head and Texas Toast growls and turns her head away from the leash. Handler is able to leash Texas and opens the crate. She does not move forward and the handler places tension on the leash. She exits the crate and walks with the handler downstairs. Texas occasionally whale eyes the handler when they walk. She is taken outside. Texas walks back and forth. After sometime, Texas is returned back to the kennel. She plants outside the kennel but enters with gentle leash pressure. The leash is then removed without issue. 2/23/26: Texas Toast is reported to be growling at staff as they approach. Canine Behavior assists. Texas Toast is growling and retreating to back of kennel. A pole style leash is used to lasso Texas Toast. She takes high value treats but does not approach. Leash pressure is used to pull her toward the front. He remains wide eyed, lip licks, and tense bodied. After a brief pause, Texas Toast jumps out with gentle support of the underside of her torso from handler. Texas Toast becomes more neutral outside of kennel, remains somewhat wide eyed. and vigilant. Texas Toast relieves herself, sniffs areas of interest and is relatively unaffected by heavy snowfall and wind. Texas Toast is returned to MACC and placed into a pop-up crate on the ground. A hook is used to remove the leash as a precaution. 2/22/26: Staff approached the kennel and Texas Toast was curled up in the back of the kennel. He low growls and remains in the back with dilated eyes. Handler tosses him a few treats and he sniffs them but does not eat them. Handler ends interaction.

Date of intake:: 2/22/2026

Summary:: Whale eye, tail tucked, allowed pick up

Date of initial:: 2/22/2026

Summary:: Tense body, whale eyed, tail tucked, reluctant to exit kennel

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Texas Toast so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay 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.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to growling at handlers when approached, we recommend an adult only home. 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful Defensive: Texas Toast has been observed to growl at handlers when approach and be reluctant to allow handling or pick up. It is important to move slowly with Texas, 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.