Date of intake:: 2/6/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: Adults, children

Behavior toward strangers:: Nova is playful

Behavior toward children:: Nova is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Nova is shy and may jump or abrk

Behavior toward cats:: Nova will bark or growl

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Very High

Other Notes:: On walks Nova will bark and jump at people and other animals. Held/restrained: unbothered or fearful Disturbed when sleeping: unknown Startled: Barks, growls, jumps, snaps

Date of assessment:: 3/11/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: None Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Jumps up on handler persistently Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Takes treats extremely hard Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Neutral body, wagging tail, jumps up on handler Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily Knock Knock comments: No approach, distracted Toy Toy comments: Grips firm, neutral body and fast wagging tail

Summary (5):: 3/13/26: (AM walk) Nova is loose bodied, stands on hind legs exuberantly with front paws on kennel door as handler approaches. Spray cheese is spread on the kennel bars, Nova is easily leashed. Nova is kept on a short leash exiting kennel, once outside the room Nova is clipped to harness. On sidewalk Nova walks with loose leash, relieves herself. Nova is social with handler, jumps on handler once with soft body in a social manner, solicits contact. Handler pets Nova on face and torso, Nova remain soft-loose body, sits for treats. Nova is walked around one city block, shows no interest to people that pass by. Nova is returned to kennel safely. 3/11/26: (PM WALK) Nova is at the front of the kennel with a loose and wiggly body and wagging tail. Handler unlocks the kennel and Nova begins to jump up exuberantly. Cheese is sprayed on the kennel bars as a treat lure and Nova is easily leashed. She exits the kennel and the room with moderate pull. She meets a familiar handler which she greets with a loose body and a wagging tail. She allows petting on her head and back. Nova is then walked downstairs to the street where she walks ahead of the handler with mild pulling. She is aloof with the handler walking ahead and stopping to relieve herself. Handler calls to Nova and she approaches with a soft body and wagging tail. She jumps up on the handler with a soft body and leans into petting on her head. She is given treats which she takes gently. Nova is walked past crowds of people without issue. She greets another staff member with a soft body, she jumps up on them socially and is redirected by tossing treats. She pulls moderately back to kennel and is returned without issue. 3/11/26: (AM walk) Nova is at the front of her kennel, exuberant, barking, loose bodied. Handler sprays cheese on kennel bars pre-emptively. As Nova licks the cheese, she is easily leashed, exits kennel with a hard pull, but without issue straight out of room. Nova pulls to almost passing out when just outside of kennel room, Nova is easily clipped to harness. Once outside of MACC Nova walks with loose leash, loose bodied, allows petting. Nova takes treats for sit commands, stops to sniff areas of interest, relieves herself. Nova is walked around a city block, maintains loose body, checks in with handler visually for verbal cues. Nova is walked back to MACC, pulls a but hard back through building. She briefly pauses in front of kennel but follows treats in safely. 3/10/26: Nova is at the front of her kennel with a soft body. She begins to jump up on the door at the handlers approach. The handler unlocks her door and relocks the lock up high, but Nova jumps up and bites at the handler's finger (no broken skin). She is then distracted with spray cheese and leashed. She is walked to the street where she sniffs around and relieves herself. She occasionally jumps up on the handler. She is brought back to medical next.

Summary (6):: 3/9/26: Nova (PM WALKS) is at the front of the kennel barking and trying to bite the leash though the bars as the kennel is unlocked. She is leashed easily with spray cheese and taken out of the kennel. She walks ahead of the handler with mild pulling out of the room and brought downstairs to the street. On the street, Nova relieves herself and is walked around the block. She is walked back to the shelter and returned to her kennel without issue. 3/9/26: It is reported that Nova is snapping at the handlers hands, legs, clothing, and PPE when they are attempting to leash her while in kennel. While out of kennel Nova is observed to jump up and bite the leash. 3/7/26: Nova is at the front of the kennel with a soft body and wagging tail. She is easily leashed and walked out of the kennel. She walks with a loose leash downstairs to the street. Handler engages with Nova and she approaches with a soft body and wagging tail. She is given treats and takes them firmly. Nova relieves herself a few times and is walked back to the shelter where she is returned without issue.

Summary (7):: 2/28/26: Nova is at the front of her kennel with a loose and wiggly body, barking. She stops when handler opens the kennel door and leashes her. She is easily walked out of the kennel room and to the street. She walks ahead of handler but with loose leash. She does not react to people passing, strollers or kids and can be easily called away and focuses on handlers with treats when a small dog passes in close proximity. When waiting to cross the street, Nova sits at handlers feet looking up at them. She is soft bodied throughout walk and allows petting. When waiting in the hall before returning to kennel she sits at handlers feet looking up at them with soft body. She is easily returned to kennel. 2/27/26: Nova is lying at the back of the kennel when the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and has a loose wiggly body. She leans into the handlers body and seeks attention. Nova leans into pets along her body and enjoys ear rubs. When nova is taken to the street she walks at the handlers side and relieves herself. Nova is given treats during the walk which she takes gently. When Nova is brought back inside the handler crouches down to give her more attention. Nova places her paws on their chest and begins licking their face. She is then placed into her kennel and plays with her toys. 2/10/26 (assessment): Nova is at the front of her kennel with a wiggly body. As the handler leashes her, Nova attempts to jump out, so the handler holds her back, and once she is properly leashed, the handler carries her out the kennel. While walking to the street, a large dog is present, but Nova doesn't notice as she looks at the handler with a loose body. On the street, Nova walks ahead with little to no leash tension. She turns to jump on and solicit pets from the handle. She jumps off and then back on repeatedly a few times. The handler then brings her inside for her assessment (see notes). Afterwards, the handler returns Nova to her kennel

Date of intake:: 2/6/2026

Summary:: Wiggly body, jumped on staff to solicit attention

Date of initial:: 2/8/2026

Summary:: Soft body for exam

ENERGY LEVEL:: Nova is described as active and enthusiastic. 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. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for Nova.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to on leash reactivity and mouthy behavior we recommend an adult only home. No Cats: Due to barking and growling at cats we recommend a home with no cats. No Dog Parks: Due to barking and jumping at other dogs we recommend no trips to the dog park. Place with NH Partner: Due to Nova's decreasing threshold for arousal resulting in snapping towards handler. We recommend an experienced New Hope Partner that can manage Nova's behavioral challenges.

Potential challenges: : Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Mouthiness: Nova has been observed to take treats extremely hard and mouthed the handlers treat bag. Nova has been observed to take treats with a hard mouth. We recommend giving treats with a flat hand and to use force-free, reward-based training methods to teach Nova to take treats with a softer mouth. Please see handout on Mouthiness. Handling Sensitivity: Nova's previous owner states that she will become fearful when held/restrained. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Nova to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful Defensive: Nova's previous owner states that she will bark, growl, jump, and snap when startled. It is important to move slowly with Nova, 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. On Leash Reactivity: Nova's previous owner states that she will bark and jump at people and dogs. Nova 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. Low threshold for arousal: Nova quickly becomes over aroused, jumping up and mouthing. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach Nova to remain calm when exciting things are around. She should be rewarded with treats when calm. If she escalates to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Nova. Please see hand-out on arousal.