Animal Profile

Charisma is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Charisma has been highly fearful and shut down during her stay in care, despite best efforts to keep her comfortable. In her previous home she is describe to enjoy being close to her people, playful, and an affectionate dog. In care, she refuses to leave her kennel and thrashes intensely once leashed. Charisma was also reported to display similar behaviors during her intake and refused to walk to her kennel. Medically, Charisma 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 Charisma is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Charisma has been highly fearful and shut down during her stay in care, despite best efforts to keep her comfortable. In her previous home she is describe to enjoy being close to her people, playful, and an affectionate dog. In care, she refuses to leave her kennel and thrashes intensely once leashed. Charisma was also reported to display similar behaviors during her intake and refused to walk to her kennel. Medically, Charisma is apparently healthy. Charisma was surrendered by her previous owner due to their health concerns. Her previous family described her as an active, playful, affectionate dog. She spends most of her time where her people are. She did not allow her previous family to bathe her, brush her, or trim her nails, did not have a walking schedule, was never crate trained, and she struggles when being placed in a car. During her stay in care, Charisma has been highly fearful and shut down. She refuses to leave her kennel or walk, moving to the corner of her kennel, trembling, and begins thrashing before freezing in place once leashed. Due to these concerns, we recommend that Charisma be placed in an adult-only home through a New Hope rescue partner that can give her the time and space to decompress and acclimate at her own pace. She will likely need further socialization sessions under the guidance of a certified professional trainer who utilizes force-free, reward-only based methods once she has had ample time to adjust to a new home environment.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 54 lbs

Medical Notes

5/5/2026

[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 10m based on dentition/conformation Microchip noted on intake? scans negative History: owner surrender Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - reluctant to walk on leash, started alligator-rolling when attempting to walk to squeeze gate for vaccines so was sedated for exam and tasks Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? no Objective: P = 60 (sedated) R = 18 BCS 5/9 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; mildly enlarged vulva and mammary glands, no vulvar dc or MGTs MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: externally normal Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment: Approx. 10m FI canine apparently healthy High FAS Prognosis: good Plan: Sedated with dexdomitor 10mcg/kg + torb 0.2mg/kg IM for estimated weight of 60lbs and achieved deep sedation Intake tasks Trazadone 8mg/kg PO BID indefinitely Reversed with equal volume antesedan SURGERY: Okay for surgery

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 4. Orange

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake Charisma was very fearful. Staff asked client to place slip leash around Charisma, and walk her to staff. Dog was unwilling to walk on leash both with client and with staff. She would break frequently, and occasionally thrash.

Date of Intake: 5/5/2026

Spay/Neuter Status: Unknown

Basic Information:: Charisma is a aprox. 10-month-old, large, female, dog. She came to ACC via owner surrender.

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 1 dog

How is this dog around strangers?: She is shy around strangers and prefers contact on her own terms.

How is this dog around children?: She is shy around children and prefers contact on her own terms.

How is this dog around other dogs?: She is playful with familiar dogs. She is tolerant of unfamiliar dogs.

How is this dog around cats?: No experience.

Resource guarding:: She values food. She guards food by hovering with a tense body.

Bite history:: No bite history.

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: She is reported to pee next to the weewee pad on a weekly basis. She is reported to have general anxiety. While on walks she barks and growls at moving objects. She is fearful when restrained, when woken from sleep, when startled, and when her collar is grabbed. She is not bothered when pushed off furniture and when her paws are touched.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: Last vet visit: 7/2025

For a New Family to Know: She is a active, playful, social, affectionate dog. She spends most of her time where people are. She did not allow her previous family to bathe her, brush her, or trim her nails. She pulls mildly on leash. In her previous home she did not have a walking schedule. She has never been crate trained. She struggles when being placed in a car. She is very affectionate, and loves to cuddle and give kisses. She loves bacon! In her previous home she ate Pedigree dry food.

Date of intake:: 5/5/2026

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

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 1 dog

Behavior toward strangers:: shy, prefers contact on her own terms

Behavior toward children:: shy, prefers contact on her own terms

Behavior toward dogs:: playful with familiar dogs and is tolerant of unfamiliar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: unknown

Resource guarding:: reported to guard food, will hover over with a tense body

Bite history:: none reported

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Charisma is reported to have a high energy level.

Other Notes:: Charismna is reported to pee next to the weewee pad on a weekly basis. She is reported to have general anxiety. While on walks, she barks and growls at moving objects. She is fearful when restrained, when woken from sleep, when startled, and when her collar is grabbed. She is not bothered when pushed off furniture and when her paws are touched.

Date of assessment:: 5/12/2026

Summary:: Charisma has not acclimated well to the shelter environment. She remains highly fearful and shut down, refusing to leave her kennel or walk. She begins thrashing before freezing near the wall. Out of concerns for her stress levels, a handling assessment could not be conducted.

Summary (7):: 5/11: ACS staff report that Charisma is too fearful to move to the other side of her kennel during evening cleaning. She was reported to have moved over without issue earlier in the day. 5/7/26: Charisma was at back of kennel as handler approached. Handler had to lasso Charisma to leash her but applied slight leash pressure to get her to exit kennel. Once out of kennel charisma refused to move. After a few attempts to get her to move another handler got a belly band to help move her. Charisma still refused to move. It was determined to make her TDO and returned her to kennel. 5/6/26: Charisma is at the back of her kennel shaking, tense and attempting to put herself into the corner. Charisma when leashed with thrash intensely on leash, and will not walk out of kennel. Charisma when finally out of her kennel after several attempts to coax her, but will freeze near the wall. Charisma will stay near the wall and every time the handler tries to coax her forward she will begin to thrash and sit her weight down. The handler eventually puts a blanket over her and attempts to pick her up, but will growl. The handler will kneel next to her while he kennel is cleaned and after a bit Charisma will nudge the handler and sit between there legs. Charisma is put back into kennel and her leash is taken off with a hook.

Date of intake:: 5/5/2026

Summary:: very fearful, would not walk, balk, occasionally thrash

Date of initial:: 5/5/2026

Summary:: reluctant to walk on leash, started alligator-rolling when attempting to walk to squeeze gate for va

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Charisma's intense, fearful and shut-down behaviors, we recommend an adult-only home as she may be intimidated by children. Place with a New Hope partner: Charisma 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: : House soiling,Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: House soiling: Charisma is reported to have accidents on a weekly basis in her previous home. Please see the handout on House soiling. Resource guarding: Charisma is reported to guard her food, hovering over it with a tense body. Please see the handout on resource guarding. Handling/touch sensitivity | Fearful: Charisma has been highly fearful and shutdown during her stay in care. She moves to a corner of her kennel when handlers attempt to leash her, thrashing once leashed, and refuses to leave her kennel or walk once out. Her previous owner stated that she did not allow any form of grooming, including nail trims. And she was fearful when restrained and when her collar is grabbed. Please see handouts on Decompression period and Handling/touch sensitivity. Anxiety: Charisma is reported to be anxious in the previuos home, but her owner did not elaborate on how this behavior manifested or if any steps were taken to modify these behaviors. If Charisma displays anxious behavior in her future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving her other things to focus on to alleviate her anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training only should be used. Please see hadnout on generalized anxiety. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Charisma is reported to bark and growl at moving objects during walks. Please see handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration.