Animal Profile

Rhubarb is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Rhubarb has shown fearful behavior, needing to be coaxed out of his kennel at times, walking slowly with a low tail, freezing, and showing hesitation when approaching another dog. Rhubarb is able to be leashed without issue and can be coaxed by handlers but is struggling to acclimate. When brought into a quieter office space Rhubarb continues to display fearful tense body language, seeking exit, and keeping distance from staff. Medically, Rhubarb is receiving treatment for CIRDC.

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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 Rhubarb is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Rhubarb has shown fearful behavior, needing to be coaxed out of his kennel at times, walking slowly with a low tail, freezing, and showing hesitation when approaching another dog. Rhubarb is able to be leashed without issue and can be coaxed by handlers but is struggling to acclimate. When brought into a quieter office space Rhubarb continues to display fearful tense body language, seeking exit, and keeping distance from staff. Medically, Rhubarb is receiving treatment for CIRDC. Rhubarb was surrendered to the care center as a stray, so we have no history on his behavior in a home environment. He has not acclimated well to the kennel environment, and has shown fearful behavior such as reluctance to walk and freezing in place, and has been tense and avoidant of unfamiliar handlers in novel situations. Due to his fearful behavior, we recommend New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced foster home and a period of decompression, to re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home. Rhubarb is a handsome 4-year-old brown-and-white beauty who came to ACC as a stray, so his history is unknown. He has been very fearful in the shelter, often freezing, hesitating to walk, and avoiding handling when overwhelmed. He needs a patient person who will give him time to decompress and allow him to approach new people and experiences at his own pace. Rhubarb would benefit from a calm, adult-only environment and a patient New Hope partner who can help him build confidence using force-free, reward-based methods. He should never be pressured into interactions and will need plenty of time and space to feel safe. With a supportive placement and gentle guidance, Rhubarb deserves the opportunity to relax and show more of his personality outside the shelter.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 39.6 lbs

Medical Notes

10/4/2026

[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: ~ 4 years Microchip noted on Intake? No History: Stray (wear a red collar) Subjective: BAR 7% dehydrated Observed Behavior - Curious, interested in exploring, no restraint needed for exam, allowed all body parts to be touched. Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? Yes Objective: P = 80 R = 26 BCS 1/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Moderate tartar on all teeth PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: both testes down and wnl MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, Scabbing with superficial bleeding ulcerations on RH lateral thigh, tip of tail, right forearm. Generalized severe muscle atrophy- spine and ribs visualized. Overgrown nails on front paws. Urine stained fur on limbs. Feces caked in fur on hindlimbs and paws. CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities. Rectal: NE Wood's Lamp Exam: NE Assessment: 1. Emaciated 2. Dental dz 3. Multiple superficial wounds Prognosis: Good Plan: 1. Intake tasks completed 2. IH Adult wellness BW: increased BUN (50), mildly increased ALT (159), electrolytes wnl. 3. SQ LRS 200mL 4. Cerenia 1.1 mL SQ 5. Vitamin B12 0.4mL SQ 6. Convenia 1.1mL SQ 7. Strongid 1.2mL PO 8. Panacur powder SID x 5 days 9. 3x a day feedings x 14 days SURGERY: Temporary waiver due to emaciation

10/4/2026

[Spay/Neuter Waiver - Temporary] Your newly adopted is EMACIATED and the staff veterinarians are issuing a TEMPORARY waiver from the spay/neuter requirements of the City of NY. Follow up care at your regular veterinarian is recommended to ensure continued treatment through to the resolution of the issue. At the time of a full recovery you may choose to have your veterinarian perform the spay/neuter surgery, or make provisions to return the pet to ACC for sterilization.

10/8/2026

Recheck emaciation S/O: BAR, active, eating well, no c/s/v/d noted EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge LUNGS: Eupneic MSI: Amb x 4; emaciation - BCS 1-2/9 CNS: Appropriate mentation A: Emaciation P: Move out of ICU Okay to switch to regular feeding Recheck in one week and switch to TID feeding if still doing well CTM while at QACC

10/15/2026

Brief recheck: BAR, no c/s/v/d, no nasal/ocular discharge. Adding TID feeds x2 weeks. Recheck as scheduled

10/29/2026

39.6# - VA 2274

10/29/2026

Progress exam: CIRDC signs noted on rounds Subjective: BAR, no V/D. Coughing/sneezing noted Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: mild clear serous discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -Move to iso, ppe sign & monitor log placed on kennel -Start doxycycline 10mg/kg PO q24h x10days -CTM, recheck in 3 days

11/2/2026

CIRDC day 3 Noted to be BAR, A+A., no c/s/v/d, mod nasal dc A/P CIRDC CTM and recheck as scheduled

11/3/2026

DVM Behavior Medication Consult S/O/A: -P exhibiting significant shelter-associated FAS, including freezing, reluctance to leave kennel and difficulty acclimating. P: -Add Trazodone 200 mg PO BID (11.3 mg/kg/dose). -Add Gabapentin 300 mg PO BID (17 mg/kg/dose). -CTM for behavioral improvement and for side/adverse effects per routine shelter operations practices.

11/5/2026

Progress exam: CIRDC day 7 recheck Subjective: BAR, no C/V/D. Sneezing present. AS:3 per log Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: mild clear serous discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -CTM, recheck in 3 days

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 1. Green

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 10/4/2026

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

Date of assessment:: 10/31/2026

Summary:: 10/31/26: Rhubarb is brought to the behavior office for reassessment, but remains frozen in place with his ears pinned tightly back. He then seeks exit, moving to the door, and stands there with a tense body and tail tucked, lip licking, and does not approach handlers either with treats or coaxing. Due to his fear and discomfort, a handling assessment is not conducted. 10/10/26: Rhubarb showed fearful behavior on intake to the care center, and has been reluctant to walk and frozen on the way back to kennel when being handled by vet staff. When brought to the behavior office for his assessment he was tense with a tucked tail and low, crouched posture, and was avoidant of handlers and seeking exit. Out of concern for his stress levels, a handling assessment was not conducted.

Summary:: Rhubarb arrived as a stray, so her behavior with other dogs is unknown. Recommend no dog parks: Due to Rhubarb's behavior in playgroup, we recommend she does not visit dog parks. 10/17/26: Rhubarb greets a novel male dog through a barrier while displaying significant fearful and anxious body language with a tucked tail. Rhubarb does not approach the gate but intermittently orients toward the novel male before choosing to walk away and create distance.

Summary (7):: 11/03/26 (playgroup): Rhubarb is at the front of her crate barking as handler approaches. She is easily leashed and walks out of the room and to the elevator. A second member of staff enters the elevator and clips a leash to Rhubarb whilst he is distracted. Rhubarb is brought to the play yard to meet a novel female (see D2D for more information). Rhubarb is slowly re leashed and pulls moderately back to kennel where he is safely returned. 10/16/26 (playgroup): Rhubarb is at the front of her crate barking as handler approaches. He is leashed with food and led outside to the play yard where he greets a dog at the gate. He is a bit nervous and does not fully approach the gate (see dog to dog for more info). Rhubarb walks nicely back to the building and is returned without issue. 10/5/26 (VS): Rhubarb is seen lying down in his kennel. He notices handler approach and lifts his head. He is leashed without issue but needs to be coaxed out of the kennel. He walks with tail low and slowly. Upon returning to kennel he freezes outside the room. He is coaxed by the handler crouching low to follow. He is returned safely to his kennel.

Date of intake:: 10/4/2026

Summary:: Friendly, fearful

Date of initial:: 10/4/2026

Summary:: Curious, interested in exploring

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Rhubarb so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he will need daily mental and physical activity to keep her engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct her 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 Rhubarb's fearful behavior, we recommend an adult only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to the fearful behavior that Rhubarb has shown in the care center, we recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide a period of decompression and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Fearful

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful: Rhubarb has shown fearful behavior while at the care center. He has been reluctant to walk, moving with a low, tense body and freezing in place, when walked by vet staff, and showed similar behavior in two subsequent attempts to conduct a handling assessment, where he was tense and avoidant of handling. It is important to always go slow and give Rhubarb the option to walk away from any social interaction. He should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be his choice to approach a new person or thing. He would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period.