Animal Profile

Zucchini is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. Upon entering the care center, Zucchini was reported to growl and initially refuse leashing. He has continued to show fearful behavior, including a tense body, stiff tail, startling at sudden sounds, stopping or hiding behind handlers when unfamiliar people are nearby, and thrashing during leash removal. Zucchini has shown improvement with familiar handlers, becoming easier to leash, following them closely, leaning into them for attention, and accepting petting with consent checks but is struggling to acclimate to the care center environment. Medically, Zucchini is apparently healthy.

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 Zucchini is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. Upon entering the care center, Zucchini was reported to growl and initially refuse leashing. He has continued to show fearful behavior, including a tense body, stiff tail, startling at sudden sounds, stopping or hiding behind handlers when unfamiliar people are nearby, and thrashing during leash removal. Zucchini has shown improvement with familiar handlers, becoming easier to leash, following them closely, leaning into them for attention, and accepting petting with consent checks but is struggling to acclimate to the care center environment. Medically, Zucchini is apparently healthy. Zucchini came into the care center as a stray; therefore, his behavioral history in a home environment is unknown. Zucchini has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. He is also noted to display fearful behavior, such as growling, staying at the back of his kennel, and being reluctant to be leashed or to leave his kennel. Once out of his kennel, he avoids all forms of interaction and attempts to put as much distance as he can between himself and handlers. 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.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 62 lbs

Medical Notes

9/10/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: approx 1-3 years based on dentition and conformation Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: agency Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - A+A, high energy, lifts paw and turns head when approached from behind, slight whale eye but didn't escalate Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? N Objective: T = np P = wnl R = wnl BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: limited view, visible dentition clean/adult PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI, two scrotal testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: APH Prognosis: good Plan: intake exam and tasks start traz 8mg/kg PO BID TFN (225mg) awaiting sort SURGERY: Okay for surgery: Y

9/10/2026

NA

9/25/2026

Progress Exam – CIRDC signs noted on rounds: sneezing reported S/O: QAR, coughing, no v/d noted; log indicates good appetite EENT: Eyes clear, moderate mucoserous nasal discharge noted H/L: Eupneic, normal respiratory rate/effort CNS: Mentation appropriate Assessment: CIRDC Plan: Move to iso Placed monitoring log Start doxycycline 10 mg/kg PO SID x 10 days Recheck CIRDC day 10 CTM while at QACC

9/25/2026

Behavior team reports significant fear in shelter, has not warmed up. Currently on trazodone. PLAN: Add clonidine 0.03 mg/kg PO BID

10/2/2026

Progress exam: CIRDC day 7 recheck Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D noted at cage side. C/S & AS:3 noted on log, untouched medications Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: mild mucoserous discharge (unitaleral) MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -Will note to try different HVT for medications. -CTM, recheck in 3 days

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 9/10/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray; history unknown

Date of assessment:: 9/13/2026

Summary:: Zucchini has remained highly fearful, shut down, and avoidant. He has escalated to growling, is reluctant to leave his kennel, and can be avoidant of leashing. Once out of the kennel, he remains tense, hunched, and will remain in a corner of the room while trying to put as much distance between himself and handlers. Out of concern for his stress levels, a handling assessment is not attempted.

Summary:: Zucchini arrived as a stray, so his behavior towards other dogs is unknown. 9/19/26: Zucchini greets a novel female dog through a barrier. The novel female approaches the gate displaying loose body language. As she runs toward the barrier, Zucchini jumps back and creates distance before baring his teeth toward her. Zucchini then chooses to disengage and walk away without escalating further.

Summary (7):: 9/23: ACS staff report that Zucchini is still fearful with leashing and during walks. 09/20/26: Zucchini is laying at the front of his kennel as the handler approaches. He stands up and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is brought to the office where he sits next to the handler. When the handler gets up, Zucchini follows. At one point, Zucchini leans into the handler's legs, and the handler pets him, frequently stopping for consent checks. Zucchini is returned to his kennel with no issue. 9/19/26: Zucchini is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be slowly leashed, and he is then taken to the play yard for playgroup. Along the way, he has a tense body and stiff tail, and he would constantly stop behind the handler when he heard sudden sounds and saw unfamiliar handlers. Once in the yard, he is able to slowly approach the gate to greet the other dog and he then quickly flinches, backs away and bares teeth. Please see dog to dog notes for more details. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues, and he quickly thrashes the leash off as the handler unleashes him in kennel before closing and locking the door.

Date of initial:: 9/10/2026

Summary:: slight whale eye but didn't escalate

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to his high levels of fearfulness and his potential for defensive escalations, we feel that an adult-only home would be most beneficial for Zucchini at this time. Recommend no dog parks: Due to Zucchini's reaction in playgroup, we recommend he does not visit dog parks. Place with a New Hope partner: Zucchini 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 for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Zucchini gives clear warnings when he is uncomfortable and does seem to choose to avoid or retreat when given the opportunity, but 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 him, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow Ford to initiate interactions with new people. He should never be forced to greet or to interact if he is not comfortable and is not soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.