Date of intake:: 5/1/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (No Known History)

Date of assessment:: 6/8/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate- pulls when exiting the building Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Jumps up on handler seeking treats Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Distracted Call over: No approach Sociability comments: Sniffing around the room for treats Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact Comments: moves legs away from contact Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily Toy Toy comments: Becomes tense and moves toy away

Summary:: 5/31/25: Bella greets another dog at the gate with lowered tense body. Handler calls to her and she disengages and focused on handler with soft body, sitting for treats.

Summary (3):: 8/19/25- Bella is at the front of her kennel jumping up on the door and barking at handler with a wiggly body. Handler lays a toy on the ground outside her kennel and uses a treat lure to leash her. She is easily leashed and exits the kennel grabbing the toy. Once in the hallway she drops the toy and starts to bite at the leash. Handler picks up the toy and tosses it at her, she shows no interest and continues to bite at the leash. Handler tosses treats and Bella stops, she goes to eat the treats. Handler continuously tosses treats and she goes to eat them. She allows handler to clip to her harness in the elevator and is taken for a street walk. She pulls hard to various spots to sniff while walking, handler presents a treat and she gently takes it from them. She has a slight pull towards people with a soft body wanting to greet. Handler calls to her and she comes to them and is rewarded. After some time walking Bella walks on a looser leash and at some point lays down momentarily. Handler calls to her and starts to walk Bella follows them. At some points Bella pulls into the street, handler would call her and present a treat she come to them. She allows handler to releash with the slip lead around her neck and handler is able to unclip from her harness. She goes into kennel without issue. 8/18/25 (late entry)- ACS reported that Bella has become harder to redirect. They use a toy but she drops it and leash bites.

Summary (4):: 8/16/25: Bella is standing at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She begins jumping at the door and is able to be leashed while being distracted with treats. She then pulls hard out of kennel and tries to jump up on the handler. The handler is able to toss a treat trail on the ground and she follows the treats and eats them. She is then taken outside for walk. On the walk, she had a loose body and would slowly walk next to the handler. She was comfortable approaching the handler and would sit for treats. She had no reactions to dogs or people. She is able to return back to her kennel with no issues. 8/14/25: ACS report that Bella was leash biting intensely and was not able to be redirected. 8/11/25:It is reported on the behavior board that Bella is leash biting badly and was not distracted by a toy. 08/09/25: Bella is at front of kennel with wiggly body. Bella stands on hindlegs with wiggly body intermittently as handler begins to unlock kennel door. Bella takes treats, and is easily leashed. Bella comes out quick but walks with minimal pulling, outside of kennel room allows for easy clipping of leash to harness. Bella grabs a toy, takes with her to elevator, eventually drops toy for treats. Bella walks on sidewalk with loose leash, relaxed, loose body. Bella is social, allows petting. Bella checks in with handler visually for verbal cues, takes treats. Bella occasionally pulls to areas of interest to sniff, immediately pancakes when any leash pressure is applied; this happens twice on the walk. Bella can be coaxed forward verbally and with treats. Upon re-entry Bella walks into MACC and kennel without issue, takes treats in kennel. 8/3/25: Bella is at the front of the kennel with a loose and wiggly body, she is easily leashed with treats and taken out of the kennel. A treat trail was made out of the room as she began attempting to jump up towards the handler. The treats were successful and Bella began eating the treat as she was lead out of the room. A leash is easily clipped to her harness and she is brought to the street where she pulls mildly. She stops to sniff things that catch her interest. She relieves herself a few times and continues walking with the handler. A small dog tries to lunge and bark at her when she passes, Bella looks to the dog and looks away and continues walking. She takes treats gently and will sit for treats. After sometime, Bella is walked back to the shelter where she begins to slow down and stopping to sniff things more intensely. She refuses to enter the kennel room and treats are used to encourage her. Treats are tossed into the kennel and she is returned without further issue.

Summary (5):: 7/29/25: It is reported that Bella is jumping up high to bite the leash. When handlers use a short leash she passes out. 7/28/25: ACS report that Bella is jumping up high to bite the leash as soon as she exits the kennel. 7/27/25: It was reported on the whiteboard that Bella is "badly leash biting". 07/20/25: Bella is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She barks and jumps at the door as handler unlocks it but is redirected using a treat and leashed quickly before exiting kennel and following tossed treats to the hall. She walks with handler out to the street and pulls moderately at times but frequently stops to sniff spots on the street. Bella is observed to plop down on her belly when she finds water puddles and lays in them for a bit before continuing on when called by handler. Bella ignores dogs she sees on the street and passes people without issue. After a while she is brought back to the care centers and returned to kennel without issue. 07/8/25- Bella is barking at handler with a neutral body, jumping up on the door when handler approaches. Handler uses a treat lure and she is easily leashed. She is taken to the play yard and placed on a drag leash. She explores the pen and relieves herself. Handler lightly sprays the hose and Bella just sniffs at the water then runs away. Handler calls her over and pets her head, neck and back. She is rewarded with treats. Handler goes over the pool and calls Bella over, she comes over. Handler tosses treats in the pool and Bella just looks at the them. Handler splashes the water around and Bella does a play bow and jumps back and forth. Handler puts some water on Bella's head, she lowers her head and backs away. Handler puts a little more water on her head and feeds Bella treats. She doesn't back away and allows handler to lightly put water on her as they continuously feed her treats. Handler holds some treats further into the pool with their hand, Bella leans forward but doesn't enter the pool. Handler just feeds Bella treats as she sits next to the pool. Handler just pets her head and chin while getting treats also. She is easily releashed and returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (6):: 06/28/25: Bella is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She is barking and jumping at the kennel door but is redirected using treats and is leashed while distracted. Bella follows more treats tossed out to the hallway and walks with handler to the elevator. While in the elevator handler tosses another treat and clips their leash to Bellas harness while she's distracted. Bella walks with handler out to the street and while outside does not pull. She walks with handler stopping to sniff frequently and accepts treats outside. She passes people without issue and shows minimal interest in dogs outside besides one which she spots exiting an apartment building suddenly, she stares at the dog for a moment but is walked in the opposite direction by handler. She turns around to continue looking at the dog for a bit more but eventually loses interest. She walks for a while and after a bit is brought back to the care centers. She allows handler to clip her leash and she returns to kennel without issue. 6/21/25: Bella is jumping and barking at her kennel door as handler approaches. She is able to be leashed while being distracted with treats. She is then taken downstairs for a walk outside. On the walk, she would walk ahead of the handler with a loose body and would approach for treats. She would sit and stare at the handler to receive more treats before wanting to continue the walk. She would stare at people and dogs that were close by and is able to be redirected with treats. She returns back to her kennel with no issues.

Summary (7):: 6/9/25:It is reported on the behavior board that Bella is leash biting in kennel. 6/8/25: Bella is barking and vocalizing at her kennel door as handler approaches and unlocks it. She is leashed with ease, and she pulls on the way downstairs for a walk. On the walk, she would sniff around and would jump up at the handler's treat pouch. She is then taken to the behavior room for her assessment. In the room, she would explore around and stare at the handlers to demand for treats. She would not give the toy back and would become tense with her hackles up. Please see behavior assessment notes for more details. She pulls on the way back to her kennel causing herself to pass out before going back in. 5/31/25- Bella is at the front of her kennel with a loose and wiggly body, she is jumping up on her as handler attempts to leash. They use a treat lure and she is easily leashed. She is taken to the play yard and is placed on a drag leash. She takes treats with slight pressure and will sit for treats. She is social with handlers and does some gate greets with some dogs. She is easily releashed and returned to kennel without issue. 5/24/25: Bella is standing at the front of her kennel with a neutral body frame. She is comfortable receiving treats through the kennel door bars and is able to be leashed with ease. She is then taken for a walk outside. On the walk, she would walk with a tense body and stare at dogs that were across the street and at dogs that were close by. She is able to be redirected with treats. She would sit in front of the handler and stare to receive treats and had no reactions to people. She slightly pulls on the way back to her kennel and enters with no issues. 5/9/25: It is reported on the behavior board that Bella barked at dogs that passed the fence. 5/3/25: Meryl is standing at the front of her kennel with neutral body. She takes treats gently through the bars. She is easily leashed and removed from kennel. She is walked on the street where she walks alongside handler and checks in frequently. Handler tosses treats due to reports of super concerning resource guarding behavior. Another dog walks by on the side walk and she watches him tense body but handler is able to redirect her by tossing treats in the opposite direction of the dog. In the behavior room she approaches another handler with a soft body and wagging tail. She focuses on the main handler sitting and waiting for a treat as the other handler collars her. She is then rewarded after handler is done. She is easily returned to kennel.

Date of intake:: 5/1/2025

Summary:: Loose body wagging tail, hesitant to enter kennel

Date of initial:: 5/2/2025

Summary:: Initially loose and wiggly, allows muzzling and exams, snaps during tasks with hackles raised

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Bella FKA Meryl so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 3

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No Children (Under 13): Due to Bella FKA Meryl's resource guarding reported during her medical exam, we recommend a home with no children.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: During Bella FKA Meryl's medical exam, medical staff reported that she attempted to snap at staff when offering her treats, this was after she had been muzzled and shown signs of discomfort (growling) when being examined. Bella has also been observed to become tense with a toy in her possession. We recommend that Bella be left alone while eating, and that food guarding behavior modification steps (available at ASPCApro.org) be utilized if this behavior is problematic in her future home. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Meryl's mouth, and any time something is removed she should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. She should be taught the "drop" cue and trade-up games. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Basic Manners: Bell has been observed to jump up on handlers when seeking treats. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Sit" and "Off" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach them to control their impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Handling/Touch Sensitivity: During her handling assessment Bella FKA Meryl shows clear signs of discomfort, avoiding assessor when collaring and head whipping when her leg is touched, she has also growled at medical staff during her exam. It is important to avoid touching Bella's paws at this time and to be cautious when touching her in other areas as we do not know where he may have other sensitivities. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Bella to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful/Potential for Defensive Aggression: In the care centers, Bella FKA Meryl has shown fearful tendencies which have escalated to growling and snapping. Her signs of discomfort must be respected; Bella should never be forced to interact, she should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people she finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Meryl. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Meryl's quality of life. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Leash Biting: Bella has been observed to jump up high and bite the leash. We recommend walking them with a toy to dissuade them from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training is advised to teach them to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners.