Animal Profile

Bento is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Bento has not acclimated well to the shelter enviornment and is not allowing for minimal handling. His finder reported that he would growl while in their care and growled at other dogs that they passed on the street. During his intake, Bento would have bouts of refusing to walk, thrashing, and vocalizing while walking with staff. During his stay in care, Bento has been difficult to remove from the kennel safely due to his defensive escalations and evading leashing attempts. He has escalated to hard barking, growling, snarling, lip curling, lunging, and snapping at handlers and their leads. On one occasion, he closed the distance, moving forward while snarling and snapping at a handler. Medically, Bento 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 Bento is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Bento has not acclimated well to the shelter enviornment and is not allowing for minimal handling. His finder reported that he would growl while in their care and growled at other dogs that they passed on the street. During his intake, Bento would have bouts of refusing to walk, thrashing, and vocalizing while walking with staff. During his stay in care, Bento has been difficult to remove from the kennel safely due to his defensive escalations and evading leashing attempts. He has escalated to hard barking, growling, snarling, lip curling, lunging, and snapping at handlers and their leads. On one occasion, he closed the distance, moving forward while snarling and snapping at a handler. Medically, Bento is apparently healthy. Bento was surrendered to the care center as a stray, so there is limited history. Bento was found in a public park; Bento's finders report that Bento would growl at dogs on the street but was friendly with the finders' resident dog. During his stay in care, Bento was noted to be highly fearful. Bento has been noted to thrash, cry, and refuse to walk on a leash with staff. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and reevaluate his behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 41 lbs

Medical Notes

9/3/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: ~1-3 years based on dentition / condition Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Stray Subjective: BARH, pink moist mm at distance, NATA CRT dt behavior Observed Behavior - In kennel - bearing teeth, low growl, curled up in corner of kennel. Came to front and allowed leashing cautiously. Freezing and whale eye in exam room --> attempted to muzzle and P screamed / flailed / attempted to bite. Allowed P 2min to calm down but P did not. Sedated for exam but P persistently screaming / flailing / attempting to bite with a high dose of sedation when attempting to muzzle. Performed limited exam with minimal restraint and towel over head -- P still reactive intermittently (trying to head whip) but not as severe of a reaction compared to attempting to muzzle. Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No Objective: P = WNL R = WNL BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Clean incisors and 204, not able to assess other dentition dt behavior PLN: No enlargements noted at distance, unable to palpate LNs dt behavior H/L: NSR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic, negative ITC ABD: NE dt behavior U/G: Male - intact, two symmetrical scrotal testicles MSI: Ambulatory x 4, full orthopedic exam not performed INT: Healthy hair coat, no masses noted, no ectoparasites seen CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Normal externally Wood's Lamp Exam: Not performed Assessment: High FAS Apparently healthy MI young adult mixed breed Prognosis: Good Plan: Sedated with dexmedetomidine 0.4mL, ketamine 0.4mL and butorphanol 0.4mL IM --> light sedation achieved, insufficient for complete exam OK for appropriate intake tasks Antisedan 0.4mL IM --> P monitored closely until sternal / ambulatory ADD Trazodone 175mg (~10mg/kg) PO BID TFN - start tomorrow If P still behaving in fractious manner recc add clonidine SURGERY: Okay for surgery Heartworm test at time of surgery due to behavior

9/4/2026

Behavior staff reporting P acting aggressively and they are unable to handle P safely. Sedation required to move P to TDO kennel. OK to sedate with dexmedetomidine 0.5mL, ketamine 0.5mL and butorphanol 0.5mL IM to facilitate safe transfer to TDO kennel. Antisedan 0.5mL IM for reversal - monitor closely until sternal / ambulatory START TOMORROW: ADD Clonidine 0.6mg (~0.03mg/kg) PO BID TFN

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 4. Orange

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 9/3/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Other Notes:: Finder reported Bento appears to be selective with people and other dogs but has not escalated past growling. He reported the dog growled at other dogs on the street and at his mother one time.

Date of assessment:: 9/4/2026

Summary:: Due to persistent lunging, thrashing on leash, and refusing to walk Bento will not get a handling assessment.

Summary (7):: 9/14: Bento is standing quietly at the front of the kennel when a handler approaches. Once the handler is fully standing in front of their kennel, Bento immediately bares teeth and growls. The handler offers treats, and Bento quickly quiets. The handler sees Bento freeze and lip curl. The handler slides the treats under the door, and Bento begins lunging and snapping. 9/5/26: Bento is laying down on his bed with a tense body and while whale eyeing as handler approaches. He begins to stand up with his hackles raised and begins to bare teeth after the handler slides treats inside of his kennel. When the handler begins to try to speak to him, he the lunges forward to the door with a tense body with his hackles raised while growling and baring teeth. He then retreats to the back when the handler squeaks a squeaker but then begins to growl again. The handler then ends the interaction and walks away. 9/4/26 (Late entry): Bento was lying on their bed at back of kennel, when handler approached they jumped forward snarling, growling and snapping and then hard barked at handler. Handler decided it wasn't safe to try since they closed the distance in that manner and left them alone. 9/4/26: Bento is laying down at the back of his kennel on his bed as handler approaches. She begins to growl and raise his hackles as the handler unlocks the door. When the hander then tosses treats inside, he begins stand up with a tense body with his hackles raised and begins to bare teeth. The handler then squeaks at toy and he then turns to side and lowers his head. When the handler slowly presents their leash, he remain tense while turned away while growling. He allows the handler to lasso him for a few attempts. He would then shake off the leash each time the handler got the loop around his head. When the handler then locks the door to end the interaction, he bares teeth hard barks before laying down on his bed.

Date of intake:: 9/3/2026

Summary:: Allowed handling

Date of initial:: 9/3/2026

Summary:: Baring teeth, attempt to bite, sedated

ENERGY LEVEL:: Positive reinforcement training should be used to teach Bento to check in with his adopters when he sees his triggers. Please see the handouts on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression and On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Bento's fearfulness in the care center, we recommend he goes to an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Bento's fearfulness in the care center, we recommend he is placed with one of our New Hope Partners.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Bento has been observed to be highly fearful in the care center. He has been noted to thrash, cry, and refuse to walk. During his exam, he attempted to bite staff. Positive reinforcement should be utilized to teach Bento to associate new people with things she likes such as treats and toys. Please see the handout out on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Finder stated Bento would growl at dogs while on leash. Positive reinforcement training should be used to teach Bento to check in with his adopters when he sees his triggers. Please see the handouts onOn-leash reactivity/barrier frustration.