Date of intake:: 10/6/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender, 3 Years

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 2 children

Behavior toward strangers:: Actively avoids, hides, and retreats. Will snap, bark or growl when approached.

Behavior toward children:: Tolerant, playful, friendly and outgoing.

Behavior toward dogs:: Tolerant, playful, friendly and outgoing with all dogs. Has no off-leash experience.

Behavior toward cats:: Playful, friendly and outgoing.

Resource guarding:: None reported.

Bite history:: No bite history.

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Has general anxiety, whines often and pulls really hard on leash. On walks she is reactive to strangers who approach and will growl or bark at them. She lunges when held or restrained and growls or barks when startled but is unbothered by being disturbed while sleeping, being moved from furniture and having her collar touched. She is fearful when her paws are touched. She is a vocal, playful, and affectionate dog who prefers contact on her own terms. She spends most of her time wherever her people are, enjoys rubber chew toys, deli meats and head rubs. She was being crate trained but would whine while in the crate and is accustomed to going on 3-4 walks a day for 15-30mins at a time. She eats both wet and dry food of various brands and enjoys most treats.

Date of assessment:: 10/11/2025

Summary:: 10/11/25: Due to Za Za's intense fearfulness and defensive aggression displayed in care, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary (7):: 10/12/25 (KSV): Za-Za is sitting in the middle of her kennel, growling and baring her teeth as the handler approaches. The handler tosses treats into the kennel as a peace offering, which she sniffs but does not immediately eat. As the handler continues to speak softly, Za-Za resumes growling and bares her teeth again before lunging toward the front of the kennel when the handler waves a hand near the gate. The handler ends the interaction to avoid further stress. 10/09/25: Za Za is approached in kennel and starts to bare teeth, lunge and hard bark at the handler, maintaining a full tooth display and continuing to snarl at the handler. Za Za was offered earlier several food items, and did not eat one of them. Za Za continues to stay in the front, baring teeth and growling at the handler until they leave. 10/08/25: Za Za is at the back of her kennel baring teeth and hard barking immediately when approached in kennel. Za Za's kennel is covered in feces and urine, and remains on the back of her bed continuing to bare teeth and lean forward off her bed. Za Za is leashed on the second attempt, and while attempting to leash will lunge and bite the rope before letting it go. Za Za when leashed, immediately runs out of kennel and is guided to the behavior office. Za Za in the office is aloof, pacing, hackles raised and occasionally approaches staff briefly before widening her eyes, and darting away. Za Za is walked back to kennel, and shakes the leash off. 10/07/25: Za-Za is sitting in the back of her kennel and displays fearful, defensive behaviors, as the handler opens the door she begins to growl when the handler attempts to lasso her she snaps at the rope during the second attempt handler successfully lassos her and, once the door is open, Za-Za quickly runs out of the kennel. While outside, she pulls hard on a loose leash and shows minimal interest in sniffing her surroundings. When offered treats, she sniffs them then walks away. Upon re-entering the Care Center, handler clips the rope into a figure-eight, and Za-Za flinches, jumps up, and begins leash biting. Handler uses a stiff-arm technique to redirect her focus and continues walking her back to her kennel. Once in front of the kennel, Za-Za resists, planting her feet and refusing to go inside the kennel. Handler again uses a controlled stiff-arm motion to guide her into the kennel, then safely removes the leash and secures the door.

Date of intake:: 10/6/2025

Summary:: Staff was unable to collar or scan due to dogs stranger reactivity.

Date of initial:: 10/6/2025

Summary:: Hard barking; tense; not interested with treats; whale-eyed; bearing teeth

ENERGY LEVEL:: Za Za is described by his previous owners as having a medium energy level. She will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Za Za's fearfulness in care, we recommend she goes to an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Za Za's fearfulness in care, we recommend is placed with one of our New Hope Partners.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Za Za has escalated to growling and lunging on multiple occasions both at intake and during her time in the care center. Her signs of discomfort must be respected; Za Za should never be forced to interact and should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people she finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Za Za. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, elevate the risk of aggression, and decrease Za Za’s overall quality of life.