Date of intake:: 3/10/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Date of assessment:: 3/15/2026

Summary:: Zeus has been observed to be highly fearful. Noted to hard stare, low growl, lunge and bare teeth towards handlers when they approach. Due to the high level of fear, stress, and anxiety, Zeus is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (4):: 3/17/26 (PM walk)- Zeus was laying down at the back of his kennel with a neutral body when handler approaches, they softly speak to him and he comes to the front loose and wiggly. He slightly pushes his head out when leashing, handler closes the door a little more and he goes back; handler is able to easily leash him. He readily exits kennel and is taken to the play yard. Handler uses their stopper on their slip lead to make a drag leash. Zeus intensely sniffs around the pen, aloof to handler. They present treats but he keeps focused on sniffing various spots of the pen. As other handler pass with dogs Zeus will follow them along the fence with a neutral body high tail sniffing along, once they are past Zeus will try to see further past the pen to seek other dog. After a moment he will go back to exploring the pen. Handler sits down on the bench and pats it when Zeus is sniffing by them. He readily jumps up and becomes loose and wiggly while allowing handler to scratch his back, neck and head. He leans into handler's body then tries to sniff and lick at their face, handler moves their face away and Zeus keeps trying to sniff. Handler stands up for a moment and Zeus jumps down doing mild zoomies with a soft body and medium wagging tail. Handler calls to him and he comes over pushing his head into their legs, handler scratches his neck then his sides. He turns his body into handler's legs and leans in as they scratch. Another handler comes into the neighboring pen and Zeus goes to the fence being wiggly while looking at the other dog. He whines momentarily, handler tries to have him disengage but he moves back and forth on the fence. Handler picks up drag line and gives a light tug Zeus refocus on handler and follows them as they do a light jog away from the fence. He engages again with handler allowing them to scratch him, he goes to the bench and jumps up handler scratches his neck. They are able to pull the stopper on the slip lead away from his neck without issue and he allowed handler to clip him. He was easily returned to his kennel without issue.

Summary (5):: 3/17/26: Zeus is at front of kennel with neutral body, mid-height wagging tail. Zeus does not take a treat but is easily leashed. Zeus walks on sidewalk with loose leash. He is aloof, checks in with handler when verbally cued but quickly looks away and does not take treats. Zeus show no interest in construction sounds, or people passing by. Zeus is walked around the block. Zeus allows clipping of leash, and is returned to kennel without issue. 3/16/26: Zeus is at the back of the kennel when the handler approaches. He has a tense body and face with whale eyes. The handler crouches by his kennel and speaks in a soft tone. They toss treats and he is unreceptive. He remains at the back of the kennel and begins to vocalize (huffing noise). The handler unlocks the kennel and tosses more treats, Zeus continues to be unreceptive. The handler attempts to lasso him however he dodges the leash. The handler offers chicken, Zeus is unreceptive. The handler goes to lasso him again and Zeus lunges and snaps at the leash. The handlers closes the kennel door and Zeus approaches the front readily. However, when the handler opens the door again, Zeus immediately retreats to the back. Tense body, growling, with a rapid tail wag. Zeus then lunges and snaps again at the leash. The handler ends the interaction due to FAS. 3/14/26: Zeus is lying down and then stands up with a soft body. He is easily leashed and bought out the room. On the street, Zeus walk ahead of the handler with mild leash tension. He doesn't react to passersby; when seeing other dogs, he looks at them with a neutral body. He also looks back at a dog several feet behind but refocuses on the walk. Zeus then sees a few people doing construction and stops walking; when the handler turns around to walk back to the shelter, Zeus slightly increase leash tension. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and returns Zeus to his kennel with ease. 03/12/26: Zeus is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he is laying on his stomach and is offered treats by handler but he shows no interest in them and looks at handler with slight tension. Handler unlocks the kennel door and props it open slightly, Zeus approaches and is leashed while without issue. From there he is removed from kennel and taken to the street for his walk. Outside he is aloof and walks with mild leash pressure, he stops occasionally to sniff or to relieve himself and will turn to check in with handler at times during the walk. Zeus passes people on the street without issue and when seeing dogs from afar stops and stares at them briefly until called by handler. He walks for a while until he is brought back inside and his leash is clipped. He is returned to kennel without issue and interaction is ended.

Summary (6):: 3/11/26: (PM WALKS) Zeus is lying down in the front of the kennel with a tense body. Handler unlocks the kennel and offers him treats. He sniffs them but does not eat them. Zeus stands up and allows the handler to leash him. He exits the kennel and is brought to the backyard. Zeus is brought to the second pen where he sniffs around before relieving himself. He chases after a few birds that land nearby. They stay in the pen for awhile before handler leads Zeus back towards the shelter. Zeus then plants and refuses to walk forward. Handler uses a squeaker to get his attention and coax him forward but it is unsuccessful. He then begins bucking and thrashing heavily. Handler muscles Zeus into the first pen to which he relaxes. Zeus wanders around the pen sniffing again. Handler slowly coaxes him out of the pen. He plants and refuses to move. They remain for a moment before Zeus follows the handler out of the pen. He walks with the handler towards the entrance to the shelter. He begins to plant and back away. Handler closes a larger gate behind Zeus to prevent him from retreating. He jumps up on his hind legs and sniffs behind the fence before turning around and walking back into the shelter. He is pre-clipped without issue and is returned to kennel with ease. 3/10/26 (PM): Zeus is lying at the front of his kennel and stands up with a slightly tense body. the handler tosses treats, but he shows no interest. As the handler leashes him, Zeus headbutts the kennel door twice and exits the kennel and room quickly. The handler brings Zeus to the yard. There, he sniffs around and looks at the dogs in the adjacent pens. The handler presents a treat nd their hand, but Zeus shows no interest. He watches his surroundings with a neutral body. The handler then brings outside the pen to walk him around. Zeus baulks and thrashes when they add leash tension to continue the walk. So, the handler walks Zeus in the opposite direction, but he immediately stops to relieve himself. Zeus continues the walk, but baulks again; the handler jogs and he follows behind them. The handler clips their leash, but as they open the building door, Zeus thrashes again. once he stops, the handler gently adds leash tension and Zeus walks into the building and returns to his kennel.

Summary (7):: PREVIOUS STAY: 1/7/23: Zeus was reported to growl and thrash when being returned to kennel. Handler easily leashed Zeus and took him to the yard. Zeus was very social with handlers and solicited attention. He was brought back inside where he pancaked by the room door. Treat trail was used to bring him back to his kennel with no further issue. CG 1/4/23: Zeus is easily leashed and removed from kennel. When in a pen, he turns toward the handler and sits. He then jumps up high, making slight contact with her face. Handler pulls him away with the leash and Zeus bites at the leash, releases then jumps up and bits it again. Handler places a treat on the bench and he stops and takes the treat. He is then walked around the perimeter of the yard. At one point, he stops walking, sits, then jumps up at handler again and starts to leash bite. Treats are tossed and he stops this behavior. HE is then returned to kennel without issue. KD 12/30/22: Zeus is at the front of the kennel with a loose body when approached. He is easily leashed and taken to the yard where he relieves himself. Zeus remains aloof throughout the interaction and does not respond when called or when offered treats. Zeus quietly stalks the birds or dogs in the yard and then lunges at them. He is brought back inside and placed in his kennel with no issue. CG 12/26/22: Zeus is at the front of the kennel, body low but tail wagging. He is easily leashed and taken out of the kennel. Once he gets out of the kennel, he hears the dogs barking and jumps up and spins around fearfully. He bolts out of the room. He is walked out to the yard, where he relieves himself and sniffs around. He allows the leash to be clipped as he is being walked back inside. Zeus walks into the kennel room without issue, but once in front of his kennel he will not go in. When handler tries to get him in, he thrashes backwards in a panic, flailing. A second handler double leashes him and he continues to thrash backwards. Handlers are able to muscle him into the kennel while he is trying to flail backwards.

Date of intake:: 3/10/2026

Summary:: Growling, baring teeth, thrashing on leash

Date of initial:: 3/10/2026

Summary:: Hard staring, low growling, lunged, barked, and bared teeth. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Zeus 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, we recommend a home with no children. 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: Zeus has been observed to hard stare, growl, lunge bark, and bare teeth when handlers approach. He is also observed to thrash while on leash. It is important to move slowly with Zeus, 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.