Date of intake:: 7/14/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: Adults, Children, Dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Mamba is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Mamba is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Mamba is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward cats:: Mamba will hard bark and growl

Resource guarding:: Valuable items: Food, Treats (bones, rawhides, etc.) Reaction: Has a tense body or hovers over them, Growls or hard barks, Snaps or attempts to bite

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Goes potty on: Wee-wee pads, outside on walks (grass, cement, dirt, etc.), Designated area in home Accident frequency: Very rarely Additional info: Use the bathroom if he’s not walked at least three times a day. He likes to be outside in grassy areas. Behavior concerns: General anxiety (paces, whines, unable to settle), Fearful of loud noises (storms/thunder, fireworks, arguments, etc.), Jumps up often or non-stop, Anxious when left alone Reacts to on walks: Strangers that approach the home/yard, small dogs, Large dogs, Cats, Moving objects (bikes, skateboards, cars, etc.), Children, Strangers that approach family members Reaction type: Growling/Hard barking How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Fearful - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered - Startled: Fearful - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Fearful - Paws are touched: Isn't bothered - Collar grabbed/touched: Snaps, Fearful, Barks/Growls Mamaba's previous owner describes him as a social and affectionate dog.

Date of assessment:: 7/16/2026

Summary:: Mamba has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to growl, snarl, bare teeth, and lunge when handlers attempted to handle him. Due to the high level of fear, stress, and anxiety, Mamba is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (6):: 7/18/26: (PM,KSV) Handlers pass by Mamba's kennel. There is food sitting in the front of his kennel. Mamba is observed to whale eye and lip curl from his bed in kennel. Interaction is ended. 7/18/26:(KSV, Midday) Mamba is lying in his bed. He approaches the front with a soft body. Handler offers him some wet food and he takes it vigorously. Handler opens the kennel door and Mamba backs up slightly. Handler places a bowl of wet food into the kennel and Mamba eats it. The interaction is ended. 7/18/26: (AM, KSV) Mamba is lying down in his bed. He gets up and approaches the front with a soft body and wagging tail. He stands up on his hind legs and stretches up against the wall. Handler places their hand against the kennel door and he leans into the hand. The interaction is then ended.

Summary (7):: 7/15/26 (KSV): Mamba is lying curled up in the back corner of his kennel. He remains in the same position as the handler approaches without any reaction. Handler starts talking to him slowly with a soft voice but Mamba remains in the same position. Handler tosses treats, however, Mamba is not receptive and doesn't change position. His body starts trembling, but Mamba is not lifting his head and is not moving from the spot. He shows no attempts to approach, retreat, vocalize, or respond to the handler. After few more attempts to engage with Mamba, handler ends interaction. 7/14/26: K9 behavior is reported to help with Mamba's intake. Upon approach, Mamba is growling and snapping in his carrier. The handler slowly tilts the carrier back so that they're able to leash Mamba from overhead. As the handler drops treats into his carrier, Mamba growls and snaps; when the handler places the lesh inside and it touches him, Mamba snaps and bites the leash. After several attempts, the handler is able to secure the leash on Mamba, and brings the carrier down for him to exit. Mamba walks out the carrier, and right before they walk him out the office, he quickly goes back into the carrier. The handler applies gentle leash pressure to encourage him to exit, but Mamba begins to high pitch vocalize (screech) and stays inside the carrier. The handler picks up the carrier and brings it to the kennel; they slightly lift the carrier up for Mmaba to crawl into the kennel, but he refuses to move; he doesn't move either when leash pressure is applied. The handler brings the carrier inside the behavior office, and checks to see if the leash is still secured. After checking it, the handler opens he crate and Mamba walks out of it. However, he begins to vocalize and thrash when the handler applies pressure for him to begin walking; he continues while walking to the door. Another K9 behavior handler covers Mamba with a towel to pick him up; he snaps when the towel makes contact. As the 2nd handler picks him up, Mmaba snaps at the towel again but allows himself to be carried. The 2nd handler places him Mamba inside his kennel and removes the towel from his head. The handler retrieves the leash later on.

Date of intake:: 7/14/2026

Summary:: Lunging, baring teeth, snarling

Date of initial:: 7/15/2026

Summary:: Snapping, baring teeth, opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: Mamba is described as medium energy. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for them.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to the defensive behaviors observed while in care, we recommend an adult only home. No Cats: Due to hard barking and growling towards cats we recommend a home with no cats. 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: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Mamba's previous owner states that he will become tense, hover, growl, hard bark, snap, and attempt to bite when food or treats that are in his possession are touched. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Mamba's mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Basic Manners: Mamba's previous owner states that he will jump up often. 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 Sensitivity: Mamba's previous owner states that he will snap, bark, and growl when his collar is grabbed. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Mamba to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful Defensive: Mamba's previous owner states that he is fearful of loud noises. They also state that he is fearful when held and when pushed off furniture. While in care, Mamba has been observed to growl, snarl, bare teeth, and lunge when handlers attempted to handle him. It is important to move slowly with Mamba, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Anxiety: Mamba's previous owner states that he is anxious in the home. If Mamba displays anxious behavior in their future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving them other things to focus on to alleviate their anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used. Please see handout on Generalized Anxiety. On Leash Reactivity: Mamba's previous owner states that he growl and hard bark towards strangers, dogs, cats, and moving objects while on leash. Mamba will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than dogs and other stimuli. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.