Animal Profile

Walter is at risk to due behavior concerns. He came into our care center as a stray. During his stay in the care center it has been observed Walter low growls, tenses up and snaps at staff. When returning Walter back into his kennel he turned to snap at the leash when it was being removed. When leashing, Walter begins to growl and bare teeth while grabbing at the leash. He escalates to hard barking, muzzle punching and lunging at his kennel door with a tense body and whale eyeing handler. Staff reported Walter is receptive to treats and checks in visually with handler when verbally cued. He walks with a mild to moderate pull on leash. Medically, Walter is overweight.

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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 Walter is at risk to due behavior concerns. He came into our care center as a stray. During his stay in the care center it has been observed Walter low growls, tenses up and snaps at staff. When returning Walter back into his kennel he turned to snap at the leash when it was being removed. When leashing, Walter begins to growl and bare teeth while grabbing at the leash. He escalates to hard barking, muzzle punching and lunging at his kennel door with a tense body and whale eyeing handler. Staff reported Walter is receptive to treats and checks in visually with handler when verbally cued. He walks with a mild to moderate pull on leash. Medically, Walter is overweight. Walter arrived at MACC as a stray with no known history. While in care Walter has been noted to growl and snap at staff. When a handler approaches in an attempt to leash him Walter escalates to baring teeth, biting the leash, while muzzle punching the kennel door and lunging. Due to the detailed behaviors we recommend an experienced adult only home.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 73 lbs

Medical Notes

12/30/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 6+ years Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Stray Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - tense, nervous, able to walk into room and then growled when approached. Sedated for exam Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective BCS: 7/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: yellow staining, minimal yellow tartar on teeth PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: intact male two testicles MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: overweight, apparently healthy Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks SURGERY: Okay for surgery

1/4/2026

Staff note pet leashing biting and growling & lunging at staff while in kennel. A: r/o kennel stress and arousal P: Advise placement Clonidine 0.3 mg 1 tablet po bid while in shelter Gabapentin 300mg 3 tablets po bid while in shelter

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 12/29/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 1/4/2026

Summary:: Walter has been obsvered to quickly escalate to growling, snapping, biting the leash, baring teeth, muzzle punching, and lunging when handlers attempt to interact. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety Walter is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (6):: 1/4/25: Walter is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is comfortable taking treats from the handler and begins to try to shove his way out of kennel as the handler quickly leashes him. Once leashed, the handler closes the door so he wouldn't try to bolt out. He then takes another treat and then spits it out before beginning to growl, and bare teeth at the handler. He then begins to hard bark and muzzle punch the door each time the handler goes to try to open the door. The handler tries to distract him with a squeaker and he continues to muzzle punch the door and bite at the handler's leash intensely. The handler then drops their leash and begins to tug it inside. When the handler approaches with a hook he growls and lunges toward the door with whale eyes and a tense body. The handler then waits a few minutes to let the leash fall off of him on his own before returning again. The handler is then able to retrieve their leash through the food slot with a hook, but he then lunges forward and grabs the end of the leash and tries to tug it in as the handler is able to pull it out fast enough before he was able to fully tug it all the way in.

Summary (7):: 1/3/26: Canine Behavior notes Walter turns and snaps at leash after returning to kennel. He releases the leash quickly, becomes neutral body and receptive to treats through kennel door. During walk and interaction in previous to return to kennel, Walter was easily leashed, exited without issue. In yard Walter was neutral bodied in yard and solicited contact from handler. 1/2/26: Walter is at the front of his kennel with his body positioned sideways. The handler feeds him treats which he takes. As they open the door to leash him, Walter headbutts the door. The handler quickly leash him and close the kennel door. From there, Walter looks up at the handler with wide eyes; he lip licks and huffs. The handler then feeds him treats, and took him out the room. On the street, Walter walks ahead with mild tension. He occasionally stops to sniff around, especially in pee spots from other dogs. Walter shows no interest in passersby and dogs. When walking inside to return him, Walter pulls towards the yard door, but the handler clips their leash and walks him to the room. Walter slightly baulks outside, but with a little leash pressure, he walks into the room. Walter walks to his kennel but doesn't enter. with tossed treats into kennel and a little leash pressure, Walter enters into his kennel 1/1/26 (AM walk): Walter is initially neutral bodied, wide-eyed as handler approaches kennel. Walter takes treats through kennel door. Walter is notably 'huffing' looking left to right as neighboring dogs are loudly barking. He is easily leashed, exits kennel with forward body, consistent-moderate leash pressure. Walter's hackles are raised, high pointed tail while walking through hallways to yard. In yard Walter is more neutral, takes treats from handler and hackles no longer raised after a few minutes. He takes treats from handler, and checks in visually with handler when verbally cued. Walter is walked into behavior office while his kennel is cleaned. Walter is loose bodied, intermittently wagging tail and taking treats from handler. Walter is walked back to kennel. He baulks, his front paws are muscled into kennel and he follows treats into kennel without issue. 12/31/25: ACS reports Walter was unable to be walked due to snapping and growling at handlers. 12/31/25: Staff has reported that Walter may have low growled and raised his hackles when he received pets.

Date of intake:: 12/29/2025

Summary:: Allowed handling

Date of initial:: 12/30/2025

Summary:: Tense, growled, sedated

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Vanilla 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 additional 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 and quick escalation 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/potential for defensive aggression: In the Care Centers, Walter was growling, snapping, biting the leash, baring teeth, muzzle punching, and lunging when handlers attempt to interact. Positive reinforcement should be utilized to help Walter associate new people with things he likes such as treats and toys. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.