Animal Profile
Bella Wella
Hello, my name is Bella Wella. My animal id is #219630. I am a female white dog at the Manhattan Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 3 years 3 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a owner surrender on 1/31/2025, with the surrender reason stated as person circumstance- landlord won't allow.
Bella Wella is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Bella Wella's previous owner state that she is friendly and social with strangers, children, and dogs. In the care centers, she has remained social and soft-bodied with handlers. However, Bella Wella has been observed to be having a difficult time settling in kennel as well cage fighting. She has also been noted on multiple occasions to be licking the corner of her kennel, as well as her kennel bars. Even when given enrichment, she still diverts back to licking the kennel bars or the top right corner, near the wall adjacent to the neighboring dog. Medically, she is underweight 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. Bella Wella is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Bella Wella's previous owner state that she is friendly and social with strangers, children, and dogs. In the care centers, she has remained social and soft-bodied with handlers. However, Bella Wella has been observed to be having a difficult time settling in kennel as well cage fighting. She has also been noted on multiple occasions to be licking the corner of her kennel, as well as her kennel bars. Even when given enrichment, she still diverts back to licking the kennel bars or the top right corner, near the wall adjacent to the neighboring dog. Medically, she is underweight but otherwise healthy. Bella Wella came to ACC after their owner's landlord stating they can not have them in their place. Bella Wella was described by her previous owner as a lazy couch potato who was social and friendly with the people she knows (although she can take some time to get used to new people). In care, Bella Wella has been a social wiggly butterfly when with staff and volunteers, but is struggling to settle in the stressful shelter environment. Bella Wella is looking for a comfy couch to lay on where she can decompress and be her best doggy self! What my friends at ACC say about me: I would appreciate slow introductions to new people and places to help me feel safe. I love getting pets and - you guessed it - snuggles! I'm ready to learn! I need a patient person who has the time to work on training with me. I would do best in a home without very tiny humans, although I could be open to older human children once I meet them.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 41.2 lbs
1/31/2025
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: reported to be 1 year, suspect older based on dentition 2-4 years more likely Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Owner surrender, owners reported had for 1 week and got from another person. Reluctant to give information. Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - friendly, eager to interact, ravenous for food + treats Is there evidence of Cruelty? Yes, emaciated Is there evidence of Neglect? Yes, dirty haircoat that has lead to irritation of underlying skin/paws Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective T = P = 120 bpm R = WNL BCS: 3/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Adult dentition, mild tartar (PDDZ 1/4) PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Externally WNL, intact female, no OHE scar or tattoo noted MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, dirty hair coat. Skin along legs and ventral abdomen is irritated from dirt/debris. CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally WNL Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment Dermatitis on ventral abdomen + legs- r/o secondary to prolonged dirty haircoat vs. allergies vs. other Emaciated but ravenous appetite Intact female Prognosis: Fair Plan: Intake tasks + exam Await sort TID feedings start 2/1 Clean fur/skin with warm water Photos SURGERY: Temporary waiver due to emaciation
2/4/2025
Re weigh: 36.5 lbs BAR, good appetite
2/7/2025
Behavior team notes kennel reactivity, licking/chewing at kennel bars A: High FAS P: Rx: Trazodone 225mg PO BID indefinitely Rx: Gabapentin 300mg PO BID indefinitely
2/17/2025
BAR BCS 4/9 Gained weight A: ok for surgery P: Updated surgery group
2/20/2025
Kennel stress is persistent and continues to lick walls. Starting Clonidine 0.4mg PO BID indefinitely
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 1. Green
Basic Information:: Bella is a 1yr old mmb female dog.
Previously lived with:: 2 adults. & children
How is this dog around strangers?: noted to be friendly/outgoing, playful, tolerant with both visitors and strangers. Bella will hide at first or actively avoid strangers.
How is this dog around children?: noted to be friendly/outgoing, tolerant, playful and shy with children but prefers contact on her own terms.
How is this dog around other dogs?: noted to be friendly/outgoing, tolerant, playful with familiar dogs. noted to be friendly/outgoing, tolerant, playful but actively avoids unfamiliar dogs-on leash. noted to be friendly/outgoing, tolerant, playful but hides at first from unfamiliar dogs-off-leash.
How is this dog around cats?: reported to be noted to be friendly/outgoing, tolerant, playful with cats.
Resource guarding:: it is unknow if bella has any resource gaurding issues.
Bite history:: no bite history reported.
Housetrained:: Partially
Energy level/descriptors:: medium energy
Other Notes:: it was reported that during walks, she will react to small animals and will attempts to bite small animals during walks. she isn't bothered when held/restrained and when disturbed while sleeping/resting. she becomes fearful when she is startled. she has never pushed/pulled off furniture. she isn't bothered when her paws or collar is touched.
For a New Family to Know: Bella wella is described as a quiet, lazy/couch potato dog. she spends most of her time where people are or in the bedroom. On the leash, she pulls moderately to hard pulling. for exercise she was used to 1-2 walks a day. she was crated before but doesn't do well. Bella loves to eat. reported to know the cue sit.
Date of intake:: 1/31/2025
Spay/Neuter status:: No
Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender
Previously lived with:: 2 adults. & children
Behavior toward strangers:: Bella is friendly, will hide at first
Behavior toward children:: Bella is friendly and prefers contact on her terms
Behavior toward dogs:: Bella is friendly and outgoing
Behavior toward cats:: Bella is friendly and playful
Resource guarding:: None reported
Bite history:: None reported
Housetrained:: Partially
Energy level/descriptors:: Medium energy
Other Notes:: Bella's previous owner describes her as a couch potato that spends most of her time where her people are. Bella may know the cue sit.
Date of assessment:: 2/5/2025
Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Distracted Call over: Approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Sniffing around the room Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily with loose bpdy Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily Toy Toy comments: No interest, no reaction
Summary:: 2/12/25: Bella Wella greets another dog at the gate with a soft body and soft eyes.
Summary (7):: 2/17/25: Same behavior was observed as previously stated in 2/16 EN. However, the behavior was displayed NOT during quiet time. Handler gave Bella Wella enrichment which she briefly engaged with, but ultimately returned to licking the corner of her kennel after only a couple seconds. 2/16/25: Bella Wella is observed to be licking the corner of her kennel, the top right corner, the wall adjacent to the neighboring dog. This was observed during cleaning time. 2/8/25: Bella Wella is observed to be licking the corner of her kennel, the wall adjacent to the neighboring dog. 2/7/25- ACS have reported that Bella Wella attempts to cage fight when being brought up and down out of the top kennel. When ACS moved her to a bottom medium kennel, she was licking the bars and biting/ licking on the ceiling of her kennel trying to get to the dog above her. 2/5/25: Bella Wella is standing in the top kennel with a soft body and wagging tail. She is easily leashed and picked up from the top kennel. When placed on the ground she immediately pulls towards the other dogs in their kennels. She is walked on the street where she will crouch down low and watch the nearby birds. She will jumps or run towards them. In the behavior room she is soft and social. She allows handler to pick her up and place her in the top kennel.
Date of intake:: 1/31/2025
Summary:: Soft body
Date of initial:: 1/31/2025
Summary:: Friendly
ENERGY LEVEL:: Bell Wella is described as medium energy. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for them.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 2
Recommendations:: No young children (under 5)
Recommendations comments:: No young children (under 5): Due to on leash reactivity we recommend a home with no young children.
Potential challenges: : On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration
Potential challenges comments:: On Leash Reactivity: Bella'a previous owner states that she will attempt to bite small animals while on walks. Bella will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other stimuli. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.