Animal Profile

Rocky is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Rocky has shown fearful and defensive behavior during handling, including growling and reportedly biting staff when being picked up from his kennel. Rocky has also shown the ability to tolerate handling with a towel, allowing staff to pick him up and return him to his kennel without further issue and is improving with handling slowly, but still is extremely fearful in the care center. Medically, Rocky has moderate dental disease and an ear infection.

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 Rocky is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Rocky has shown fearful and defensive behavior during handling, including growling and reportedly biting staff when being picked up from his kennel. Rocky has also shown the ability to tolerate handling with a towel, allowing staff to pick him up and return him to his kennel without further issue and is improving with handling slowly, but still is extremely fearful in the care center. Medically, Rocky has moderate dental disease and an ear infection. Rocky was surrendered to the care center by his previous owner due to their housing situation. They had previously had Rocky for eight years, and describe him as a social, affectionate, playful dog who loves to play fetch with a ball. Rocky has not acclimated well to the care center environment, and had shown highly fearful behavior around handling, escalating to attempts to bite during his medical exam and when being picked up. Due to these concerns, we recommend placement in an adult-only home with a New Hope partner, who can allow for a period of decompression, 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.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 18.7 lbs

Medical Notes

10/2/2026

[Spay/Neuter Waiver - Age] It is the policy of ACC not to perform surgery on any animal over the age of 8-10 years due to the higher risks incurred in a shelter setting. The veterinarian is hereby issuing a permanent spay/neuter waiver, from the spay/neuter requirements of the City of NY due to the estimated age of this animal. ACC does recommend you consult with your veterinarian to determine if surgical sterilization is appropriate.

10/2/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 8.5 years Microchip noted on Intake? Positive History: Owner Surrender Subjective: BAR-H, MM pink and moist Observed Behavior - Red; Unable to safely examine while awake, trying to bite and flailing with handling, did not tolerate muzzle once placed; sedation required for exam and intake tasks Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No Objective: P = 50 hr (sedated) R = WNL BCS 5/9 Weight = 18.7 lbs EENT: Eyes clear, AU with thick light brown pasty debris, redness and swelling, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Moderate generalized dental calculus and enamel discoloration, R dentition worse than L PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: Bradycardic while sedated; no heart murmur appreciated, though full auscultation limited by sedation/bradycardia; lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI, two testicles descended MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate prior to sedation - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: Apparently healthy, except for: -Otitis externa AU - treated and expected to resolve without complication -Moderate dental disease Prognosis: Good Plan: Standard intake tasks for dogs performed Sedated for intake tasks: Dexmedetomidine 0.17 ml IM + Butorphanol 0.17 ml IM; Atipamezole 0.17 ml IM for reversal Ears cleaned AU Simplera applied AU Nail trim performed Trazodone 75 mg PO BID indefinitely (~8.8 mg/kg/dose) Recommend dental care after placement SURGERY: Permanent waiver d/t age

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 5. Red

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake Rocky was shy and timid at first but warmed up to counselors becoming tolerant and docile to handling. He allowed counselors to scan for microchip, collar and pick up to be taken back to medical. He was then vaccinated and placed into his kennel. All done without any concerns.

Date of Intake: 9/30/2026

Basic Information:: Rocky is an 8 Year and 6-Month-old, male, gray and bronze small mixed breed dog. He was bought from a pet shop and kept for 8 years. He was surrendered due to his previous owners becoming unhoused.

Previously lived with:: 5 adults and 2 children

How is this dog around strangers?: Rocky will bark alert bark at visitors and will actively avoid strangers.

How is this dog around children?: Rocky is friendly, outgoing and playful around children.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Rocky will actively avoid other dogs.

How is this dog around cats?: Rocky will actively avoid cats. He has no experience around any other animals.

Resource guarding:: It is not reported if Rocky resource guards.

Bite history:: Rocky has no bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Rocky is potty trained and will use the bathroom on wee-wee pads. Rocky is fearful of loud noises (ex: storms/thunder, fireworks, arguments) and becomes anxious when left alone. Rocky is fearful when held/restrained, disturbed while resting/sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled off of furniture and when his collar is grabbed/touched. He is not bothered when his paws are touched.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: Rocky has no known medical concerns.

For a New Family to Know: Rocky is known to be a social/affectionate vocal, very active and playful dog. He will spend most of his time in the bedrooms. He loves bath time/water. He will not allow his owner/family to trim nails due to being fearful. He is a level 2 when out for a walk and on a leash meaning he experiences very little to mild pulling. Rocky is crate trained and will do well inside of a crate for up to 3 hours. Getting inside or being in a car makes him nervous, he will also have accidents in the car. He knows the following command sit. His previous owners stated their favorite things about Rocky are how he cuddles, when he plays fetch and how cute he is. Rocky enjoys playing with balls and likes snacks.

Date of intake:: 9/30/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender (8 years)

Previously lived with:: 5 adults, 2 children

Behavior toward strangers:: Alert bark at visitors, actively avoids strangers

Behavior toward children:: Friendly, outgoing, playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Actively avoids

Behavior toward cats:: Actively avoids

Resource guarding:: No resource guarding reported

Bite history:: No bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Rocky is described as a medium energy dog

Other Notes:: Rocky is potty trained and will use the bathroom on wee-wee pads. Rocky is fearful of loud noises (ex: storms/thunder, fireworks, arguments) and becomes anxious when left alone. Rocky is fearful when held/restrained, disturbed while resting/sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled off of furniture and when his collar is grabbed/touched. He is not bothered when his paws are touched. He will not allow his owner/family to trim nails due to being fearful.

Date of assessment:: 10/6/2026

Summary:: Rocky has not acclimated well to the care center and has shown high levels of fear when being handled. During his medical exam, he flailed and attempted to bite, and was sedated for tasks. He has also attempted to bite handlers when being picked up to be placed in his kennel. Due to these concerns, a handling assessment is not conducted.

Summary (7):: 10/15/26: Rocky water bowl was flipped in his kennel and needed to be removed from kennel due to the placement of the bowl. Rocky is fearful, allows to be leash and toweled and removed from kennel. Rocky does growl a little but is placed on the floor and taken for a quick walk outside where the sniff there surroundings and is aloof the handler. Rocky is picked up again with a towel to be put back into kennel, and allows the handler to do so without issue. 10/12/26: Rocky is reported to bite staff members upon pick up out of kennel.

Date of intake:: 9/30/2026

Summary:: Shy and timid at first but warmed up to counselors becoming tolerant and docile

Date of initial:: 10/2/2026

Summary:: Trying to bite and flailing during handling, did not tolerate muzzle, sedated

ENERGY LEVEL:: Rocky is described as medium energy by his previous owners, and 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 (under 13): Due to Rocky's fearful and defensive behavior, we recommend an adult only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Rocky has not acclimated well to the kennel environment, showing fearful and defensive behavior and allowing only minimal handling since intake. 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,Separation anxiety

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity | Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Rocky has been highly fearful when handled at the care center, attempting to bite when being examined for his medical intake, and when being picked up to be placed in kennel. His previous owners report that he becomes fearful when restrained, disturbed while resting, moved from furniture, or when his collar is grabbed. He also did not allow them to trim his nails. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Rocky to be more comfortable with this. While his previous owners note that he does seem to choose to avoid or retreat when given the opportunity, if prevented from moving away there is a potential to escalate to higher-level warning behaviors and possible fear-based aggression. It is important to move slowly with Rocky, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow him to initiate interactions with new people. He should never be forced to greet or to interact if he is not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handouts on Touch/handling sensitivity and Fear/Potential for defensive aggression. Separation Anxiety: Rocky's previous owners report that he is anxious when left alone. We recommend that potential adopters feel comfortable with separation anxiety behaviors and prepared to manage and positively modify them should they appear in a future home environment. Please see handout on Separation Anxiety.