Date of intake:: 10/12/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender (7 months)

Previously lived with:: Adults, children, and other dogs

Behavior toward strangers:: Shy but friendly and gentle

Behavior toward children:: Prefers contact on own terms, layful and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Social and friendly

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: No resource guarding reported

Bite history:: No bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Mickey is described as a high energy dog by his previous owners.

Other Notes:: Mickey's previous owners report that he is under-socialized as he has spent his life in the same home with the same people and dogs. He needs time to warm up on his own terms. He hides during fireworks and thunderstorms. His previous owners have never attempted to trim his nails.

Date of assessment:: 10/13/2026

Summary:: Mickey has shown highly fearful behavior and has not acclimated well to the shelter environment. He has been reluctant to leave his kennel, retreating to the back and avoiding leashing. During his handling assessment, when brought to the behavior room was tense and tucked-bodied, shaking and pressing against the handler's legs. Due to his high levels of fear, a handling assessment was not conducted.

Summary (7):: 10/19/26: Mickey is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approches. He is able to be leashed with ease and he then pulls with a tense body and low tail on the way to the behavior room. When reaching the behavior room door, he baulks to the ground and refuses to enter. He does not want to enter the room until his doggie brother (Blockbuster) approaches and they enter together. In the room, he is comfortable approaching the handlers to receive treats and pets, and engages in licking cheese off the couch with his brother. He is able to quickly return back to his kennel with no issues. 10/17/26: Mickey is laying on his bed at the back of his kennel as handler approaches. He is exhibiting some appeasement behaviors as handler crouches down. With some light, verbal coaxing from the handler, Mickey will approach and tolerate being leashed. He walks slowly out of the kennel and balks briefly in the room but begins walking again with light leash pressure. He is brought to the behavior room and attached to a drag leash. Shortly after his sibling enters the room and they are allowed to roam free together. Mickey begins to lean in to handlers in the room more often for pets and shows more social behaviors. After awhile he is easily leashed again and brought back to his kennel without issue. 10/15/26 (Playgroup): Mickey is sitting on his bed at the back of his kennel as the handler approaches. A second handler enters the room with his sibling and his ears prick up sand he comes to the front of the kennel. Mickey will then retreat to his bed and will allow the handler to clip his leash, licking his lips when they are done. Mickey will follow his brother out of the room and through the corridor, out of the building to the play yards. Mickey is introduced to a novel dog (See dog-to-dog for more information) along with his brother. Mickey will approach the handler slowly to solicit attention during the interaction. Mickey is removed from the interaction ands will baulk in the corridor when his brother goes to his kennel room. The handler will turn around and take a different route before safely returning him to his kennel. 10/13/26 (Assessment): Mickey is laying on his bed as the handler approaches. He does not come forward to be leashed, and the handler has to lasso him and use leash pressure to get him to the front of the kennel. He does not take treats. In the office, the handler is able to collar Mickey. He remains with his tail tucked the entire time. He sits in between the handler's legs and does not move. He is returned to his kennel with no issue. 10/13/26: Reported to refuse to leave the kennel and displaying FAS. Had a tense body, retreating, staff was unable to leash. -

Date of intake:: 10/12/2026

Summary:: Fearful

ENERGY LEVEL:: Mickey is described as a high energy dog by his previous owners. He 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 Mickey's high levels of fearfulness, we feel that an adult-only home would be most beneficial at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Mickey has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed 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: : Fearful

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful: Mickey's previous owners report that he needs time to warm up on his own terms to new people and dogs, and that he is scared of loud noises such as thunder and fireworks. Mickey has been highly fearful at the care center. He has been reluctant to leave his kennel and walk, avoiding leashing and encountering novel people and situations with a tense body and tucked tail. It is important to always go slow and give Mickey 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 Mickey's 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.