Date of intake:: 10/21/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Date of assessment:: 10/25/2026

Summary:: Liv has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to balk on leash and head whip. During intake, Liv was observed to escalate to thrashing, alligator rolling and biting the leash. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety, Liv is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (2):: 10/26/26 - (PM) handler approaches kennel speaking to her in a soft voice, her body is neutral with a loose tail wag, handler opens door and she does whale eye but is able to be leashed fine with treat lure, when exiting handler decides to take her to the backyard instead of outside. She pulls to the yard and at one point stops and jumps up at handler for treats, handler has her go into a "sit," and treats her and she pulls to the play yard. Inside of the yard handler engages with her in some commands, at one point handler is talking to another CBS through the fence, Liv pauses eating treats and looks up at the handler with a tense body, handler tosses treats, she does not take them and still fixates on the handler, handler tosses high value treat (chicken), Liv looks at the treats and looks back at the handler whale-eyeing before she snaps forward at their pant leg (does not break skin, she only nipped the fabric) handler holds her out but it causes her to thrash due to leash pressure, handler clips leash to the fence of the yard and exits into the stash pen in the yard. The other person in the other yard goes to return dog to assist with returning Liv, able to safely double leash her and return her back to kennel.

Summary (3):: 10/23/26: Liv is sitting at the back of her kennel with lowered head when handler approaches. Handler offers some treats and she slowly comes closer and accepts it. Liv retreats when handler opens the kennel door. Handler offers more high-value (chicken) and Liv sniffs it and takes it. Handler is able to lure her closer to the front and slowly put the leash on. Liv exits the kennel and follows the handler in the hallways remaining lowered body. She has no reaction to pop-up crates or staff members. Liv is taken to the yard where she relieves herself few times before entering the pen. Liv briefly sniffs around the pen and scans her surroundings. She sits next to the handler and allows them pet her head and back. Liv has no reaction to any stimuli in the yard (other dogs, people, birds, sound from the street). She is visibly more relaxed and her body remains neutral. When handler guides her back inside, Liv lowers her body and remains behind the handler. She pauses a lot in the hallways and walks with light leash pressure and handler's coaxing. Handler clips the leash; upon entering the room Liv starts backing up and head-whipping, refusing to go inside. She is not receptive to treats. Handler tries to run her inside but Liv starts head-whipping again. Handler takes her to the Canine Behavior office to give her some time to decompress. Once inside she visible gets more relaxed and engaged with handlers. She approaches handler with soft body and responsive to basic verbal cues. She allows petting and takes treats from handlers. After sometime spending in the office, handler takes her back. Once in front of the room, Liv starts retreating again and whipping her head. Second handler comes to assist. Second leash placed on Liv and she is brough back inside with light muscling. Handler is able to get leashes back using the hook with no issues after. 10/23/26 Continued: She does not go in for treats, the handler attempts coaxing her in, tapping the kennel floor, turning her around and retrying, but she does not move. After lots of coaxing and intermittent pets between attempts, the handler uses leash pressure for her to go inside. The leash is removed without issue and more treats are given through the kennel bars, which she takes gently.

Summary (4):: 10/23/26: Liv is lying down at the front of her kennel and takes treats gently through the kennel bars. She is non reactive when the door is opened and remains at the front, attempting to put her head out of kennel. She flees when the leash is displayed and begins crying. The handler removes the leash and she comes forward again, still crying. She does not take more treats, and attempts to exit kennel. The handler speaks softly and gives her a few minutes, then places the leash in the kennel on the floor. She begins exit searching then sniffs the leash and comes forward to the handler with soft eyes, crying. When the leash moves, she scrambles to the back, cries, lowers herself and trembles profusely. She consistently comes back forward seeking reassurance from the handler. Eventually, the handler is able to slowly place a wide loop on her while she is facing away and Liv exits immediately. She sticks by the handlers side while walking with a lowered body and tucked tail. She is non reactive to dogs/people but is hyper vigilant with a crowd of people in the hallway as the handler is waiting for them to clear a path. She is taken outside and sniffs the perimeter of the yards, walking with no leash pressure. She explores multiple yards and then is taken inside to the behavior office. She greets two unfamiliar handlers and takes treats gently from them. She allows the primary handler to collar her and place a drag leash on her. She begins giving mid level wags as she explores the office, allowing pets from all handlers. She sits waiting for more treats, looking to handlers softly, and performs sit. She shows interest in squeaky toys, retrieving them when thrown and holding them briefly, dropping them on their own. She is non reactive to multiple unfamiliar handlers entering the room, going over to sniff them and taking treats. When a handler presents a pet wipe, she sits down partially displaying her belly between the handler's legs and is soft as they gently wipe her. She will look to the handler softly when they stop. She is more hesitant with an unfamiliar male handler, taking a treat when tossed but not fully approaching and watching them while staying near the primary handler. She disengages when spoken to and pet by the handler, and gives more mid level wags, but will periodically look to the male handler. The male handler removes their hat, Liv is less hyper vigilant afterwards, but still does not approach them fully. She sits on the couch next to the primary handler and lays down, resting her head and allowing pets. She remains soft when the handler adjusts her/pillows nearby. She is relaxed as the handler places the slip leash back on and unclips the drag leash. When in the kennel room, she stops walking. She thrashes once with mild leash pressure, then approaches the handler when they crouch, whining. She leans into pets, sitting between the handler's legs.

Summary (5):: 10/23/26: Liv is lying down in the middle of her kennel, looking to the handler with soft eyes. The handler crouches sideways and tosses in a piece of chicken. Liv slowly stands up and comes forward with a hunched posture and tucked tail. she takes chicken gently through the bars, consistently looking to the bag for more with perked ears. She takes dried treats gently as well. She is non reactive when the door is opened, staying at the front, but flees to the back of the kennel when the leash is presented. She begins looking to the walls/top of the kennel exit searching, then poops on her bed. The handler removes the leash and remains crouched, offering chicken. She slowly comes back forward but does not take chicken, although she sniffs the handler’s hand. The handler places the leash loop on the kennel floor and Liv initially retreats, but then comes a few steps forward sniffing the leash with a lifted paw. The leash is removed and she comes to the front again slowly. It takes a very slow approach and multiple attempts, but the handler is able to leash Liv with a very wide loop. Once leashed, Liv immediately exits kennel and walks alongside the handler with a lowered body and tucked tail. She is non reactive to people or dogs as they head outside. Liv is taken to a play yard and independently sniffs, walking slowly with no pulling. She is receptive to noises/encouragement when leading her in a different direction and is motivated to stay right next to the handler. She puts her front paws on a bench when the handler sits down. She puts her head on their lap but flinches when the handler goes to pet them with their hand close to her face. Liv begins taking treats, taking them from the handler’s palms and eating over their hands/lap. They climb fully on the bench and lean somewhat into the handler. She allows back, neck, and chest pets, not having any particular reaction. She is also non reactive when she almost falls of the bench and the handler catches her by her butt/back legs and pushes her back up. She shows mild interest in dogs/people while sitting on the bench, looking to them with perked ears and sniffing them from a distance. She also looks to pigeons with perked ears and a forward leaning body, watching them as they are in very close proximity but does not move from the bench or vocalize. She continues taking treats and receiving pets while sitting next to the handler. She walks with no pulling inside, non reactive to clipping the leash. She stops outside of her kennel and stands still, not going in for treats. The handler crouched and she approaches and leans into them. Eventually, the handler is able to get Liv into the kennel with gentle leading. She looks to the handler with soft eyes as the kennel door is closed and takes chicken gently through the bars.

Summary (6):: 10/22/26 (KSV): Liv is lying down in the front of her kennel and looks at the handler with soft wide eyes, turning away after a few seconds. The handler crouches sideways and Liv takes a few steps back. The handler puts some spray cheese through the kennel bars and Liv does not come forward. The handler offers chicken and Liv stretches her neck out sniffing it from a distance. The handler drops chicken in and she comes forward with a tense lowered body and tucked tail. She takes chicken directly from the handler very gently. She will take a few steps back occasionally but repeatedly comes back to the front for more chicken. The handler begins to wait longer intervals between giving chicken, and rewards moments of engagement/interaction initiated by Liv. Liv will sometimes sniff their hand through the kennel bars and is rewarded with chicken. She is non reactive to the handler pushing chicken back towards her when Liv accidentally pushes it too far out from the kennel. When spray cheese is offered again, Liv lifts a paw and retreats. She comes back forward for chicken. The handler leaves Liv with a few pieces of chicken. The handler returns and Liv is non reactive, sitting at the front of her kennel and cleaning up excess chicken. A couple of toys are put through the kennel bars, Liv sniffs them as they are put in and the interaction is ended. 10/22/26 (KSV): Liv is lying down in the middle of her kennel and low growls when the handler approaches, looking away from them. The handler crouches nearby and offers sliced cheese. Liv smells the cheese from a distance but does not approach. The handler speaks softly to her and she stays still, looking away and trembling. The handler places many small pieces of cheese through the kennel bars and ends the interaction.

Summary (7):: 10/21/26: (KSV) Liv is at the back of the kennel with a tense body, whale eye and begins to low growl as handler approaches. Handler would turn to their side and begin to toss high-value treats (chicken); Liv would slowly approach and eat the chicken. Handler would continuously throw chicken towards the back of their kennel, and Liv would remain receptive and eat it. Shortly after, handler would begin to hold a longer piece through the bars, and Liv would growl but slowly approach, sniff and take the chicken softly from the handler's hand. Liv would continue to take the high-value treats with no issue; a handful is given, and the interaction is then ceased. 10/21/26 (intake behavior): K9 behavior was asked to assist with Liv as she was growling and giving whale eye in her crate. When approaching, Liv low growled but did not escalate further when the handler crouched nearby. She licked chicken through the crate bars and took a couple pieces softly but did not take them when dropped on the crate floor, only when from the handler directly. She was hypervigilant to her surroundings, and would low growl when additional handlers would walk by/stand close. Other handlers were asked to step to the side, Liv softened her eye contact with the primary handler. She low growled when the leash was presented but did not react further, continuing to smell/lick chicken. She remained at the front when the crate door was opened but turned her head away while low growling and giving whale eye. She did not respond to a chicken lure or coaxing. The handler used a hook to retrieve the leash she had on which she was non reactive to. The handler opened the crate door wider while holding the leash she had on, with the slip leash thread around it but Liv does not exit. A secondary handler takes the first leash and uses leash pressure for her to exit the crate. Liv screams, thrashes, and bites the leashes. She will pause from thrashing for a few seconds, the handlers attempt to use minimal to no leash pressure and coaxing, but she begins thrashing and screaming again. She alligator rolls and bites the leash to the point of bleeding. Minimal leash pressure is used to get her in kennel and she is non reactive to the hook being used to retrieve the slip lead, although she retreats with a tucked tail. When returning to the kennel to place signage, Liv is sitting at the front of her kennel with soft eyes. She sniffs a treat but doesn't take it. Enrichment is also given which she does not engage in.

Date of intake:: 10/21/2026

Summary:: Thrashing, screaming, alligator rolling, biting the leash

Date of initial:: 10/21/2026

Summary:: In kennel with head low, started low growling and whale eyeing. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Liv so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in addition to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior we recommend an adult only home. 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful Defensive: Liv has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to escalate to thrashing, alligator rolling, and biting the leash. In kennel, Liv has been observed to growl at handlers. It is important to move slowly with Liv, 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.