Date of intake:: 10/1/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (9 months)

Previously lived with:: 3 adults, 1 cat

Behavior toward strangers:: friendly, outgoing, and playful with strangers.

Behavior toward children:: No experience.

Behavior toward dogs:: He is tolerant of unfamiliar dogs. He has no experience with familiar dogs.

Behavior toward cats:: He hard barks and growls at cats. He has previously lived with one other cat.

Resource guarding:: He values food. He guards food by hovering with a tense body if approached, and snapping if touched.

Bite history:: Client stated that while in their care, Mamba has snapped several times, breaking skin twice. Client knows that Mamba has snapped at their roommates as well, but is not sure as to how many times or if these have broken skin. Client stated that Mamba will also snap at flies, moths, and other bugs. In March, Mamba was trying to catch a fly. Mamba was on his hind legs, jumping, and snapping. Client was worried that Mamba was going to hurt himself, and placed a hand on Mamba's head. Mamba snapped at the client's right hand, made contact, and released. Client stated they received one small puncture wound, and treated at home. In July, Mamba was eating dinner. Kibble had spilled on the ground, and the client kicked some pecies out of the way. Mamba snapped at the client's foot, made contact, and released. Skin was not broken. In August, Mamba was barking at the door in the middle of the night. Client approached Mamba, and grabbed his collar to move him away from the door. Mamba snapped at the client's right hand, made contact, and released. Client stated they received two small puncture wounds, and treated at home. In September, Mamba was laying in the hallway. The client used his foot to push Mamba out of the way. Mamba snapped at the client's foot, made contact, and released. Skin was not broken.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Mamba is noted in the prior home to have a high energy level.

Other Notes:: He is reported to have general and separation anxiety. While on walks he lunges towards cats, small animals, and other dogs. He is not bothered when held/restrained, when woken from sleep, when his paws are touched, or when his collar is grabbed. He is fearful when startled. He is fearful and growls when pushed off furniture. He is a active, playful, vocal dog. He spends most of his time where people are, and in the living room. He has been to the groomer, and allowed his previous family to bathe and brush him. He loves water! He pulls mildly on leash. In his previous home he would go on three 20-minute walks a day. He loves car rides! He knows, "sit", "come", "move", "stop", and "let go". He loves to give hugs and cuddle! He loves to play with tennis balls, and loves to play fetch.

Date of assessment:: 10/3/2025

Summary:: Due to Mamba's fearfulness and noted bite history, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary:: According to Mamba's previous owner(s), He is tolerant of unfamiliar dogs. He has no experience with familiar dogs. On/off leash are not specified. 10/09/25 Mamba is introduced at the gate to a female helper dog while off leash at the care center. Mamba runs to the gate line with a tense body, hard barking at the helper dog. Mamba is quickly moved away and returned to kennel, concluding the interaction.

Summary (7):: 10/10/25: Mamba is observed with an ACS staff member to stop in the middle of the hallway and refuse to walk. Mamba is coaxed with treats but ignores them, and once another staff member approaches from behind him he begins to walk forward. 10/9/25: Mamba is noted to bang and pound on the kennel door. 10/5: ACS requests assistance with returning Mamba to his kennel because he is reluctant to walk in. A handler approaches with treats and offers them, and makes a treat trail, but Mamba does not accept. The handler walks Mamba out of the room, down a different hallway to reset him. Mamba and the handler enter from the other door at the opposite end of the room, and he walks in and partially enters the kennel before balking and sitting on the handler's feet. He attempts to back out, but the handler can scoot him into the kennel using gentle directional leash pressure and then close the door. 10/4/25: Mamba is reported to become reactive towards a person during his walk.

Date of intake:: 10/1/2025

Date of initial:: 10/2/2025

Summary:: allowed leashing, low tail and mildly tense in exam room, sedated as precaution due to history

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),No cats,Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We reccomend Mamba be placed in an adult-only home at this time. No cats: Mamba is noted in the prior home to hard barks and growls at cats. He has previously lived with one other cat. We recommend that he be placed in a home with no cats. Place with a New Hope partner: Mamba was surrendered to the care center by their current caretaker, who explained that in February, their roommate agreed to temporarily look after a friend’s dog for one month. However, they have not heard from the original owner since. During this time, the caretaker reported multiple incidents of Mamba snapping, including two that resulted in minor puncture wounds. Mamba has also snapped at people during routine interactions, such as being moved or interrupted while eating. While some incidents broke the skin, others did not. All injuries were treated at home. In the prior home it is noted that he is active, playful, vocal dog. He spends most of his time where people are, and in the living room. He has been to the groomer, and allowed his previous family to bathe and brush him. He loves water!He loves car rides! He knows, "sit", "come", "move", "stop", and "let go". He loves to give hugs and cuddle! He loves to play with tennis balls, and loves to play fetch. Mamba is available for rescue through one of our new hope partners. We reccomend that an experienced handler or rescue familiar with behavior modification, structured decompression, and positive reinforcement-based desensitization. Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks: Due to Mamba's reactivity shown while in care, we recommend he be the only pet in the home along with avoiding all dog parks.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression,Separation anxiety,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: In the prior home Mamba is noted to guards food by hovering with a tense body if approached, and snapping if touched. Training should focus on building trust and teaching trading behaviors using positive reinforcement. Gradual desensitization to item handling and consistent practice with cues like “drop it” or “give” can help reduce guarding and prevent escalation. Please see the handout on Resource guarding. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression:In the prior home Mamba is noted to be fearful when startled. He is fearful and growls when pushed off furniture. Training should focus on building trust, using low-pressure handling, and desensitization. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression/Bite history (human):Client stated that while in their care, Mamba has snapped several times, breaking skin twice. Client knows that Mamba has snapped at their roommates as well, but is not sure as to how many times or if these have broken skin. Client stated that Mamba will also snap at flies, moths, and other bugs. In March, Mamba was trying to catch a fly. Mamba was on his hind legs, jumping, and snapping. Client was worried that Mamba was going to hurt himself, and placed a hand on Mamba's head. Mamba snapped at the client's right hand, made contact, and released. Client stated they received one small puncture wound, and treated at home. In July, Mamba was eating dinner. Kibble had spilled on the ground, and the client kicked some pecies out of the way. Mamba snapped at the client's foot, made contact, and released. Skin was not broken. In August, Mamba was barking at the door in the middle of the night. Client approached Mamba, and grabbed his collar to move him away from the door. Mamba snapped at the client's right hand, made contact, and released. Client stated they received two small puncture wounds, and treated at home. In September, Mamba was laying in the hallway. The client used his foot to push Mamba out of the way. Mamba snapped at the client's foot, made contact, and released. Skin was not broken. Separation anxiety/Anxiety: Mamba is noteed in the prior home to have a history of general and separation anxiety.Training should include gradual desensitization to alone time, enrichment during separation, and confidence-building exercises to help him feel more secure. Please see the handout on Separation anxiety/Generalized Anxiety. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: In the prior home Mamba is noted. While on walks he lunges towards cats, small animals, and other dogs. Training should include counter-conditioning to triggers, focus cues, and reinforcing calm behavior. Managing distance and exposure to triggers will support emotional regulation and reduce reactivity. Please see the handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration.