Animal Profile

April is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, April displays high level of fearfulness and defensive behavior, including growling, barking, snapping at the leash, avoiding handling, and fleeing to the back of the kennel. She also shows frantic pulling, jumping at walls and doors, and persistent exit-seeking during interactions. April is able to be leashed and moved with patience and will follow handlers once out of the kennel, and sometimes does seek comfort but is struggling to acclimate. Medically, April 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 April is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, April displays high level of fearfulness and defensive behavior, including growling, barking, snapping at the leash, avoiding handling, and fleeing to the back of the kennel. She also shows frantic pulling, jumping at walls and doors, and persistent exit-seeking during interactions. April is able to be leashed and moved with patience and will follow handlers once out of the kennel, and sometimes does seek comfort but is struggling to acclimate. Medically, April is apparently healthy. April came into the care center with another dog as a stray due to this her behavioral hsitory in a home environment is unknown.April has displayed a high level of fearfulness and shutdown behavior, and 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.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 53 lbs

Medical Notes

3/26/2026

April (ID 250487), an adult medium mixed-breed dog, was admitted on March 25, 2026 with facial wounds. On March 26, prior to the intake exam, the dog was found with the left front leg caught in its chest harness. The patient was highly anxious and reactive, preventing direct handling. Staff safely removed the harness using a hook. Cage-side assessment indicated the facial wounds were superficial and not urgent. Due to stress, the intake exam and injectable sedation were postponed. An anxiety management plan was started: gabapentin 600 mg PO BID and trazodone 150 mg PO BID (modifiable by the intake veterinarian). Initial doses were given in treats and consumed. Post-incident, the dog was resting comfortably, bearing weight on the left front leg. No hands-on exam was performed. Plan: reassess tomorrow for possible soft tissue injury or lameness.

3/27/2026

[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2yrs based on dentition/conformation Microchip noted on intake? scans negative History: 2 dogs brought in together by agents after being found tied up in a park Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - shaking in kennel, avoids eye contact, reluctant to come out of kennel. Sedated for exam and tasks Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? no Objective: P = 70 (sedated) R = 18 BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Clean adult dentition PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: FI; no vulvar dc or MGTs MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat 2 linear superficial abrasions on right side of face and another scab on chin CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: externally normal Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment: Approx. 2yr FI canine Abrasions on right side of face and chin (r/o previous trauma- healing well) Hx of possible lameness- none noted today High FAS- already on trazadone and gabapentin Prognosis: good Plan: Sedated with dexdomitor 10mcg/kg + torb 0.2mg/kg + ketamine 2mg/kg for estimated weight of 45lbs- achieved deep sedation intake tasks Cleaned wounds with dilute chlorhex; all are well-granulated and starting to scab Continue trazadone and gabapentin indefinitely Reversed with equal volume antesedan SURGERY: Okay for surgery

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake, April was low growling and staying low to the ground, hiding behind counselors. She displayed mouthy behavior towards counselor’s shoe. Staff did not collar ID or m/c scan due to FAS.

Date of Intake: 3/25/2026

Date of intake:: 3/25/2026

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

Behavior toward dogs:: came in with another dog

Date of assessment:: 3/28/2026

Summary:: Due to April's high level of fear and shutdown behavior, a handling assessment will not be condcuted at this time.

Summary (7):: 3/30/26: April is laying at the front of the kennel as the handler approaches and begins to growl. As the handler opens the door she will run to the back of the kennel and jump high onto the wall. The handler will wait for April to reapproach the door with the leash loop at the entrance. When April reapproaches, she will growl softly as she walks out of the kennel, placing her head through the loop. She will walk slowly to the behavior office where she will remain on leash and will start pacing around the handler and grumbling. Once her kennel is clean, April is returned to her kennel with no issue and is secured safely. 3/27/26: April is laying down at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She begins growling and vocalizing as the handler unlocks the door. She then runs to the back of her kennel and growls, hard barks and bites at the leash as the handler attempts to leash her. She then runs to the front corner of the door and tries to squeeze into the corner against the wall to avoid being leashed while growling and snapping at the leash. When the handler resets, she is then able to be leashed as she lowers her body while growling. She then pulls frantically ahead and would jump up on the doors with a tense body and heavy panting on the way to the behavior room. When reaching the behavior room door, she leaps up the wall towards the ceiling before the handler quickly opens the door and she enters. While in the room, she has a tense body with a low tail and would constantly hide behind the handler and hide under the tables. She would jump at the doors to seek exit. She pulls frantically on the way back to her kennel and quickly enters with no issues. 3/26/26: April is laying down trembling at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She retreats to the back while growling and vocalizing as the handler unlocks the door and opens it. She would dodge the leash each time it got closer to her and she would growl and bark at the leash. She then quickly runs under her bed while vocalizing and whimpering. The handler then closes the door, and she quickly runs to the door and muzzle punches it. She then begins to whimper at the door. The handler then re-approaches and tries to leash her again as she would lower her body and tries to run out as the leash loop gets over her head. Once leashed, she pulls frantically on the way to the behavior room. In the room, she has a tense body and low tail as he constantly approaches the doors to seek exit while whimpering. She would hide under the computer desk near handlers that were siting down and would growl. She would hard stare at the handler as they moved around with her. She pulls frantically back to her kennel and quickly enters with no issues.

Date of intake:: 3/25/2026

Summary:: low growling and staying low to the ground, hiding behind counselors. She displayed mouthy behavior

Date of initial:: 3/27/2026

Summary:: shaking in kennel, avoids eye contact, reluctant to come out of kennel. Sedated for exam and tasks

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to April's high level of feafulness and shutdown behavior, we recommend she be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner:April came into the care center with another dog as a stray due to this her behavioral hsitory in a home environment is unknown.April has displayed a high level of fearfulness and shutdown behavior, and 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:April came in today via agency. While in officers care the officer stated she would growl and bare teeth when approached. Upon intake, April was low growling and staying low to the ground, hiding behind counselors. She displayed mouthy behavior towards counselor’s shoe. In the care center she is noted to have dodged the leash each time it got closer to her and she would growl and bark at the leash. She then quickly runs under her bed while vocalizing and whimpering. The handler then closes the door, and she quickly runs to the door and muzzle punches it. when taken to the behavioral office she will hide under the computer desk.Training should emphasize slow, gentle interactions, reinforcing voluntary engagement, and building confidence through predictable, low-stress handling routines. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.