Date of intake:: 3/27/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (No Known History)

Bite history:: Officers were called for a wellness check on a man who was passed out on the street with his dog. Officers attempted to approach the man however, the dog lunged and bit/released the officer's hand. It is unknown which hand was bit. The officers mentioned the wound was not extreme but there was a small amount of blood present on the officer's hand. The officers stated that they received medical care from Downtown Pres and was released from work for the rest of the day.

Date of assessment:: 4/5/2026

Summary:: Since arriving at the care centers Jax has shown high levels of FAS, oftentimes growling in kennel at handlers and hard barking/jumping at the kennel door in a defensive manner. Jax has allowed minimal handling since arriving at MACC and has taken a significant amount of time to warm up even moderately to select handlers. He has also escalated to lunging and biting a police officer who approached his owner while passed out. Based on these behaviors Jax is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (5):: 4/10/26: Familiar handler approaches Jax's kennel, he is loose bodied, play-bows and makes soft eye contact with handler. Jax is easily leashed, he pulls hard out of kennel, straight out of kennel room. Jax is loose bodied on sidewalk, he pulls more mildly on sidewalk. Jax understands 'sit' command, takes treats gently from hand of handler. Jax allows petting of head, neck, and torso. Jax cooperates for photos and video to be taken. Jax sees a large dog, Jax looks but shows no change in body language as he passes within 10 feet of the dog. Jax pulls notably harder back to shelter. Jax pauses in front of kennel, but follows treats in without issue. 4/8/26: Jax is sitting at the front of his kennel presenting soft eyes. He is easily leashed and brought out the room. On the street, Jax walks ahead with mild leash tension, but occasionally pulls hard to spots he sniffs or relieves himself on; he doesn't react dogs or passersby. Jax is social with the handler, allowing pets, take treats softly, and following the 'sit' and 'paw' command. He pulls hard seemingly to another dog, but when walking past, he doesn't react. Upon entry, the handler clisp their leash and returns Jax to his kennel.

Summary (6):: 4/6/26: Familiar handler approaches kennel, Jax is standing toward front, neutral body, slow sweeping tail wag. Jax allows easy leashing. Jax walks out to yard, stops to sniff areas of interest along the way. Jax walks with a loose leash, neutral body. Jax is kept on leash, he is mostly aloof with handler, doesn't take treats, but does approach occasionally to sniff pant legs of handler. Jax sniffs but does not take treats. Jax is walked back into MACC, he allows clipping of leash and returns to kennel without issue. 4/3/26: Jax is laying in the middle of his kennel. His face is tense and eyes dilated. He does not stand when door is opened and leash presented. Handler uses a stiff leash to extend into the kennel and secure the loop. Once secured and the door open wide, he steps out of kennel. He is walked in the yard where he is aloof, sniffing and relieving himself. He watches other dogs nearby in the yard and is not receptive to handler calling, pressure is placed on the leash to move him away. He goes into kennel without issue but when handler picks up the hook to remove the leash, he growls and barks, tense body showing teeth towards the front of the kennel. Another staff member assists but Jax continues with this body language and place his face next to the hook 4/1/26: Jax is laying down, neutral body. He does not approach handler as kennel door is unlocked, however he allows leash to be dropped over his head, he steps out of kennel slowly but steadily. Jax is taken to the yard, he takes a treat offered gently from hand. He approaches fence-line, dogs are in neighboring play-yard, he looks, disengages and continues to sniff around. He relieves himself, is kept on leash for the interaction. Handler cues him verbally, Jax slowly approaches, sniffs the handlers' hand and pants. Handler pets Jax gently on torso, he allows with neutral body, appears indifferent. Jax allows clipping of leash, and is brought back to kennel safely. 4/1/26: Canine behavior asks medical staff member to look at Jax (kennel side) due to severe diarrhea observed in kennel. When medical staff approached Jax was head low-growling in kennel, he stopped when medical staff member left. 3/30/26: Jax is lying down in the kennel with a tense body. Handler attempts to leash him and he tilts his head away and stares at the handler with a tense face. Handler uses high value treats to lure his head through the leash. The kennel door is then opened and he remains there for a moment. Jax exits the kennel after some chicken that is tossed and he is brought out into the hallway. Handler tries to walk Jax towards the backyard but he does not get far. He turns and attempts to retreat back into the kennel room. Handler brings him to the behavior office. He walks around the office sniffing his surroundings and staring at people passing the office with a tense body and his tail pressed against his rear. After sometime, Jax is brought back to his kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 3/30/26: Jax is at the front of the kennel when the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and taken to the street. He relieves himself quickly and does not react to the other people or dogs. When returning to kennel the handler attempts to clip their leash. Jax head whips and begins hard staring at the handler. The handler returns Jax to kennel without clipping the leash. Once in the kennel Jax turns and rushes to the front. The handler uses a hook to remove the leash. Jax hard barks, vocalizes, growls, and snaps at the hook repeatedly. The handler is able to remove the leash with coaxing. 3/29/26 (PM): Jax refused his PM walk. Laying at the front of the kennel growling. The handler is able to leash him. However, when they open the door, Jax remains laying down. Mild leash pressure is used and Jax continues growling while laying down. The handler ends the interaction due to FAS. 3/29/26: Jax is laying near the front of the kennel when the handler approaches. The handler tosses treats and speaks in a soft tone. Jax hard stares at the handler with a tense body. The handler unlocks the kennel door and Jax begins growling. The handler attempts to leash him and Jax charges to the fron while growling. The handler attempts to lasso Jax and he retreats from the front. The handler is able to lasso Jax and he exits kennel. Jax balks in the hallway and moderate leash pressure and coaxing is required to get him to continue walking. Jack remains very tense in the yard. Jax balks often and has to be coaxed frequently. The handler is able to clip their leash and Jax coaxed back to kennel. 3/28/26 (PM): Jax is lying down as the handler approaches. The handler tosses treats into his kennel, and Jax gets up to eat them. As the handler slowly brings in their leash to leash him, but Jax immediately gets up and retreats to the back of kennel. The handler tries to lasso him, but he goes further back and growls. The handler steps away for a minute and comes back to Jax lying down again; they toss him treats and he eats them. The handler lures Jax with a long treat, and places the [pole leash in front; as they attempt to leash, Jax retreats again, but the handler lassos him. After he is leashed, Jax stays seated and doesn't move; the handler adds a little leash tension and Jax exis the kennel. They bring him to the yard; there, Jax relieves himself multiple times, and sniffs around. The handler offers him a treat, but he shows no interest. Jax also looks over at a dog and another handler with a neutral body; he doesn't engage with present handlers, even after the secondary leaves the pen. Before entering the building, Jax sniffs the handler and disengages. WHen walking through the hallway, Jax hesitates and retreats a bit, but continues the walk. The handler returns Jax to his kennel and removes the pole leash with a hook with ease.

Date of initial:: 3/28/2026

Summary:: Tense, growling and jumping on kennel door, sedated

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Jax so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No Children: Due to Jax' fearful disposition and need for contact on his own terms, we recommend a home with no children. Place with a New Hope Partner: 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: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Touch Sensitivity/Fearful/Potential for Defensive Aggression: Since first arriving at the care centers staff have reported Jax to be fearful of handling and avoid handlers. He has escalated to growling and when initially found by the police he lunged and bit an officer who was attempting to check on his owner. Jax should never be forced to interact, he should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people he finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Jax. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Jax's quality of life. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Bite History (Human): When initially found by the police Jax lunged and bit one of the responding officers breaking skin. Please see Bite History above for more information.