Date of intake:: 5/5/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (No Known History)

Date of assessment:: 5/8/2026

Summary:: During his assessment Gomez was tense and avoidant of handlers. He sought exit throughout his interaction and while receptive to treats, did not allow handlers to approach to collar him. He frequently backed away giving tense whale eye to handlers and at one point while not even interacting with Gomez he flinched and head whipped very intensely toward the assessor. Due to his clear signs of discomfort he is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 5/15/26: Gomez greets another dog at the gate with a tense body and hackles raised.

Summary (6):: 5/19/26: Gomez is lying down at the front of the kennel. He stands at the front and handler feeds him a few treats while scattering a trail out of the room. Handler unlocks the kennel and as the leash is presented, he tries to push out. Gomez is easily leashed and pushes his way out of the kennel. He eats a few of the treats and immediately ducks behind the handler and pulls towards the neighboring kennels. Handler keeps him away and he pulls very hard out of the room and downstairs. Gomez is taken out to the street where he pulls hard with a forward posture towards a dog. Handler tries to redirect with treats and calling him away but it is not very effective. Handler puts him in a leash harness. He pulls hard towards passing dogs. When they are out of view he walks with a loose leash, sniffing his surroundings and relieving himself. Gomez is then brought back to the shelter where he pulls hard. He continues to pull hard and is returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 5/19/26: ACS report that they were not able to give Gomez his AM walk. They state that he is highly kennel reactive and will immediately try to push out of kennel to cage fight with the neighboring dogs. He is kicking off the walls and pulling very hard toward the other dogs. 5/15/26: Gomez is observed to shred his kennel pouch; as well as bite and tug the kennel bars, while vocalizing, as the new dog next to him high pitch barks. Treats are able to stop him, but he then he repeats the same behavior. 5/14/26: Gomez is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body; he is easily leashed and brought out the room. The handler brings Gomez to the yard for playgroup (see dog-dog notes). Afterwards, the handler walks him around the perimeter of the yard, which he does with moderate leash tension. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and returns Gomez to his kennel. 5/13/26: Gomez is standing at the front of the kennel with a neutral body. He is easily leashed and taken out of the kennel. He walks slowly out to the street. He observes a dog and looks towards them with his head raised and stares at the dog with a neutral body. When the dog leaves he continues to walk with a neutral body on the street. Gomez sniffs his surroundings and continues to walk with a loose leash and relieves himself a few times before walking back to the shelter. Gomez is then walked back to his kennel and he returns without issue. 5/8/26: It is noted on the behavior board that Gomez pulls very hard and needs a harness. It is also noted that he allows leash harnessing. 5/8/26: Gomez is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body; he is easily leashed and brought out the kennel. While exiting the building, Gomez pulls hard until they are outside. On the street, he walks ahead with mild leash tension; he doesn't react to dogs or passersby. While walking back to and into the shelter, Gomez pulls hard; the handler brings him to his assessment, but it is ended early to reduce FAS (see notes). As the handler brings Gomez to his kennel, he baulks and retreats; the handler muscles him into his kennel and removes the leash.

Date of intake:: 5/5/2026

Summary:: Friendly and treat receptive, begins resource guarding treats, becomes fearful/baulks on leash

Date of initial:: 5/5/2026

Summary:: tense and whale eyes, food motivated, allows all handling for exam, but remains/tense and frozen

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

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No Children: Due to Gomez' fearful disposition and potential for resource guarding, we recommend a home with no children. Place With a New Hope Partner: 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: : Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: During his intake, staff reported that after giving Gomez some treats he began to become tense and growl over them and guard them. We recommend that Gomez be left alone while eating, and that food guarding behavior modification steps (available at ASPCApro.org) be utilized if this behavior is problematic in his future home. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Gomez mouth, and any time something is removed he should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. He should be taught the "drop" cue and trade-up games. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Fearful/Handling/Touch Sensitivity: During his medical exams, Gomez was reported to be tense and would whale eye handlers. He has also head whipped toward handlers and baulks on leash while returning to kennel. It is important to always go slow and give Gomez the option to walk away from any social interaction. They should never be forced to approach anything that they are uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Gomez would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period.