Date of intake:: 10/22/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 10/27/2026

Summary:: Basquiat has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to thrash intensely while on leash. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety, Basquiate is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (5):: 10/28/26 (PM): Basquiat is standing in his kennel with a neutral body; he is barking and moving around in kennel. As the handler attempts to leash him, Basquiat barks and dodges the leash; he continues with multiple attempts to be leashed. The handler uses another leash, but he continues to dodge and bark. The handler tosses treats into the kennel, and he eats them, but continues to dodge the leash when the handler attempts to. They also use a toy, but he shows no interest. Basquiat eventually snaps at the leash a few times, so the handler removes it and ends the interaction. 10/27/26: Basquiat is lying down in the left side of his kennel and approaches with high wags, taking a treat gently through the kennel bars. He remains at the front when the kennel door is opened, then flees when the leash is presented. The handler begins to give a treat for any contact Basquiat makes with the leash, then begins giving a treat while moving the leash in small motions. He remains flighty but does express more curiosity with the leash after repeated positive reinforcement, both with food and baby talk/praise. Once leashed, he exits kennel immediately and pulls to a pop up crate in his kennel room, pushing his snout through the crate bars with a loose body and high wagging tail. He is quickly pulled away and walks with no leash pressure while going outside, although he attempts to approach pop up crates and people from behind in a curious manner. He uses the bathroom once outside and explores a play yard. He is perked towards a dog in a neighbor yard with a soft body but is redirected without issue, taking treats gently. He is brought to the behavior office and greets a familiar handler, standing on his hind legs resting on their legs while he receives head scratches. He is non reactive to unfamiliar handlers entering/leaving the room. He engages with a squeaky toy, running after it and bringing it back to the handler. At one point, when trying to create space for a handler to walk by, the primary handler reached around him and he low growled. He relaxed once the other handler walked by and continued to engage in fetch. He would chew the toy over the legs/hands of the primary handler, sometimes play growling. He is non reactive to the toy making contact with the handler and allows it to be grabbed nearby him without issue. He leans into pets with the primary handler, attempting to burrow underneath their legs. He hops into kennel on his own and the leash is removed without issue.

Summary (6):: 10/27/26: Basquiat is lying down in the back of his kennel and approached the front with high wags, giving a short alert bark. He takes multiple treats gently through the bars, initially hard staring while being reached towards but loosening the more treats were given. He jumps back when the leash is presented and low growls, the leash is removed and he comes forward with high wags and takes more treats. The kennel door is opened and the leash is slipped in, he flees to the back and lifts a paw. He again reapproaches for treats, but will flee each time the leash is lifted. He gives a hard bark at one point but again continuously comes forward. He attempts to exit kennel a few times when coming forward. It takes many tries to be able to get the leash around him due to his size/speed. At one point the leash loops around his belly and he tenses and hard stares at attempts to loosen and remove it, but then continues taking treats and it is able to fall off on its own after some manipulation. Once successfully leashed, he jumps out of kennel immediately and walks with no leash tension to the play yards. He relieves himself once outside and sniffs independently in a yard. He is aloof outside but allows a head pet, not leaning in for more. He is taken to the behavior office and is non reactive to people or dogs. He explores independently in the office and takes treats from the primary and secondary handler. He allows head pets remaining neutral, but initially does not seek out more. After a while, he starts to nudge the handler’s hand for more pets and begins leaning in and scooching closer while giving high wags. After a couple consent checks, the handler is able to pick him up and put him on the couch and he independently explores with a loose body. When it is time to go back, he allows the primary handler to pick him up, clip his leash, and is placed in kennel.

Summary (7):: 10/25/26 - Handler approaches Basquiat's kennel and he is at the front of the kennel with tense body, handler gives him treats through the kennel which he takes fine, when handler opens door and slowly brings leash in to leash up he growls and moves to the back of the kennel. Handler slowly tries to bring leash in and lasso and he snaps at the leash, handler closes kennel door to give him a break then attempts a few more times but each time he grows increasingly more stressed and avoidance of the leash and growling and going on his hind legs snapping, for context Basquiat just came in and still decompressing and handler needed to move him into new kennel. Handler gives him a break before attempting again with a second handler where second handler uses a squeak toy to keep him distracted enough where he could finally be leashed. Handler opens door and he comes out a bit panicked with tense body and thrashing a bit on the leash, handler quickly puts him into the new kennel, handlers use a hook to remove the leash and he growled and snapped at the hook a few times but handlers were able to remove the leash, end of interaction.

Date of intake:: 10/22/2026

Summary:: Snapping at the officers

Date of initial:: 10/23/2026

Summary:: Tense and flails on leash, able to be picked up in towel and did well for tasks and exam

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Basquiat 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 addition 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 fearful behavior with the potential for defensive aggression, 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: Basquiat has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to thrash while on leash and flail while on leash. He was also noted to snap during intake. It is important to move slowly with Basquiat, 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.