Date of intake:: 4/18/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Unknown History)

Behavior toward dogs:: came in with another dog

Date of assessment:: 4/21/2026

Summary:: 4/21/26: Ben is noted to be fearful, trembling in his kennel, and will refuse to walk and engage with handling. Due to this, an assessment will not be condcuted at this time. 4/20: Ben is noted to be highly fearful in Playgroup and could not collar/reluctant to leave kennel. Due to this, he is given more time to decompress.

Summary:: Ben was surrendered into care as a stray, along with another medium mixed-breed dog. Because the dog entered the facility as a stray, no prior dog-to-dog history is recorded. 4/26: Ben is introduced to the other medium mixed-breed dog he was surrendered with. Ben is initially hesitant to approach the gate, tail low, body tense, and hunched. He slowly inches forward, sniffing. His body immediately loosens, and he begins bouncing and play bowing with the other dog. They follow each other around; Ben listens to the other dog's correction when he becomes pushier with his solicitation and paw smacks the familiar dog. he briefly walks away, shakes off and then returns. 04/20/26 A gate greet is attempted but due to Ben and his counterpart's high levels of FAS, a greet is not completed at this time. Circle back.

Summary (6):: 4/28/26: Ben is at the back of his crate as the handler approaches and will remain there as they drape the leash over his head. He will come out on his own and will scurry to the behavior office with a crouched posture. In the office he remains on leash because the handler is not able to get near him enough to clip his collar. He will spend most of the time at the end of the leash leaning his weight against it while staring at the handler as if he is trying to get away. The handler will offer him treats and cheese but he will not take it. He will then pull hard back to his kennel where he is secured safely.

Summary (7):: 4/27/28: Ben is at the back of his kennel and is leashed. He will not come out with b coaxing or food. The handler will apply slight leash pressure and Ben will then come out. Once he is out of the kennel, he will walk to the elevator, stopping occasionally but will then continue to walk with slight leash pressure. Once in the play yard, Ben will seek exit and hit the end of the leash and then run in the other direction hitting the end of the leash. He will then pull hard to his kennel where he is secured safely. 4/26: Ben is at the back of his crate when a handler approaches. He curls into himself and does not take the handler's treats that are tossed towards him. When the handler opens the crate door, Ben attempts to bolt. The handler is able to leash him on one of his attempts to dodge. He is then brought to the behavior office while his crate is cleaned due to his fearfulness. Ben spends the time in the office racing between both office doors, whining and seeking an exit. He refuses cheese, spray cheese, and sausages, and toys. Once his crate is cleaned, he bolts back into the crate, running to the back. 4/25/26: Ben is siting at the front of his crate with a tense body as handler approaches. He is able to be slowly leashed while he lowers his head and would then hide behind the handler as he is walked into the behavior room. In the room, he would constantly approach and jump up at the door while whimpering to seek exit. He would try to pull away from the handler and towards the door as the handler sits on the couch. He begins to tremble as he sits and stares at the door. He has no interest in treats or toys. He pulls on the way back to his crate and tries to hide behind a rolling white board before quickly entering his crate. 04/23/26(D2D): Ben lowers his body during leashing and follows the handler with a tucked tail and pinned ears. He is brought to the play yard for a dog-to-dog interaction. Once inside, he avoids the handler’s attempts to place a drag leash and displays nervous behavior around his playmate. He disengages frequently and avoids interaction, showing displacement and avoidance behaviors. See Dog-to-Dog note. 4/20/26 (late entry - playgroup) Ben is at the back of his kennel laying down as the handle approaches. ben is coaxed over to the front of the kennel with baby talk and is leashed. He will not walk out initially so the handler will continue to coax him out. Ben will eventually walk out of his kennel and into the elevator. He is brought to the play yard for his greet. (see dog to dog for more information) Ben is then returned to his crate with no issue and secured safely.

Date of intake:: 4/18/2026

Date of initial:: 4/19/2026

Summary:: Nervous but froze for exam

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We reccomend Ben is placed in an adult-only home at this time due to his fearfulness. Place with a New Hope partner: Ben 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: Ben is noted to display fearfulness in the care center, trembling in his kennel, and will refuse to walk and engage with handling. Training should focus on slow, reassuring transitions, reinforcing calm behavior, and building positive associations with handling and time spent outside the kennel. Please see the handout on decompression period.