Date of intake:: 1/18/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 1/26/2026

Summary:: During intake Burta was observed to hard bark and lunge towards handlers while in a crate. During her stay in the care center Burta has remained highly fearful. Noted to growl and hard bark at the back of the kennel when handlers approach. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety observed Burta is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 1/28/26- Burta pulls hard towards the gate to greet another dog with a tense body/ face and growls.

Summary (5):: 1/28/26 (Gate greet): Burta is at the front of her kennel with a wiggly body. She is easily pre-clipped leashed and brought out the room. Burta is then brought to the yard for a gate greet (see dog-dog notes). After the interaction, Burta fixates on the same dog; the handler pulls her away. After the dog leaves the yard, Burta pulls hard to where the dog was last seen, but continues to walk. The handler clips their leash and returns Burta to her kennel with ease. 01/28/26: Burta is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches, she is loose and wiggly with a wagging tail. She accepts treats from handler and allows leashing before being brought to the street for her walk. On the way handler presents their hand to their side away from Burta to see if she approaches. She sits and becomes still, so handler continues walking with her. Burta will randomly pull forward on leash at points with hard pressure. She stops to sniff and to relieve herself on her walk and will pull toward people and dogs on the street. After a bit she is brought back inside and allows handler to clip her leash before she returns to kennel pulling moderately toward dogs as she returns.

Summary (6):: 1/26/26: Burta is at the front of her kennel with her ears pinned back lip licking. She accepts a treat. Once the kennel door is opened, she becomes looser and wiggly. She is easily leashed. She pulls hard on the way out the building. She plays in the snow outside in the play yard and is loose in body. She sits and accepts more treats. She pulls moderately on the way back in the building and willingly enters her kennel. 1/25/26: Burta was at back of kennel but came forward with a loose and wiggly body as handler approached. She was easily leashed and escorted to back yard. She acted socially with handler and accepted treats. She was returned to kennel with no issue. Handler was not a novel person and someone that she had meet previously. 1/24/26: Burta was at back of kennel lying on her bed as handler approached. Handler (who was a novel person to Burta) used treats to lure her to front of kennel, where she would grab treat and retreat to back of kennel quickly. Handler gave more treats and then came back later to try and leash again. Another handler was able to help by just standing in front of kennel, Burta was excited to see them and came forward and was easily leashed. While in the back yard she barked a few times at a dog in the neighboring play yard. Burta was returned to kennel with no issue. 01/23/26: Reported on behavior board to have immediately gone to back of kennel while growling and barking when ACS approached kennel for AM walk. Did not respond to treats, cheese, or a squeaker. Walked by behavior staff for AM walk. 01/22/26: Burta is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches, she is loose and her tail wags quickly as handler unlocks the kennel door. She is offered treats and accepts them, allowing leashing while distracted. She exits kennel pulling moderately and walks with handler out to the street for her walk, along the way she sees dogs in the hallway but shows minimal interest in them. She walks outside with handler pulling moderately but frequently stopping to sniff spots on the street or to relieve herself. After walking for a while she is brought back inside, she allows handler to clip her leash and is returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 1/21/26 (PM walk): Burta is toward front of kennel, she is sitting, loose bodied with tail wagging quickly, she is easily leashed, exits kennel with moderate pressure. She is loose bodied maintains moderate pull to side walk. She shows little interest in dogs she sees. A secondary handler accompanies, she checks in visually occasionally but is generally aloof with both handlers. She relieves herself, stops to sniff areas of interest. Burta does not take treats offered. Burta is walked back into MACC, secondary handler uses squeaker sounds and verbal cues to distract her while clipping her leash, she allows without issue. Burta is returned to kennel without issue, takes treats once inside kennel. 1/21/26 (AM walk): Burta is toward the back kennel, somewhat wide eyed, soft body sitting on kuranda bed, but does not approach. Handler tries to lure Burta forward with treats, she does not take treats dropped in. However when stepping away for a moment and returning, Burta is at front of kennel, soft body, sitting, and the previously dropped treats are eaten. When leash is presented, Burta stays at the front, lowers her head and is slightly wide-eyed, but allows leashing. Burta exits kennel, somewhat tentatively but steadily, once outside of kennel she pulls ahead of handler with moderate pressure, is neutral body. Once on sidewalk she is more loose body, relieves her self. She is mostly aloof, she checks in with handler for verbal cues but does not approach. Burta does not take treats from hand or dropped near her. When returning, Burta turns, becomes slightly tense when handler attempts to clip her leash. Handler uses a distraction of opening a door in front of her to clip her leash without issue. Burta is walked back to kennel without issue, she takes treats once back in the kennel through door. 1/18/26: (Intake behavior): Burt is obsvered to hard bark and lunge towards handlers and the owner while in the vehicle. The owner removes Burt from the car, after exiting the car Burt charges towards the handlers while hard barking and vocalizing. The handlers hand their leashes to the owner and they place the two leashes on. Burt is coaxed forward using squeaky sounds. While on the double leash Burt attempts to spin towards the secondary handler persistently and often. Burt walks with a low body, when entering the kennel room Burt jumps when hearing the other dogs barking. The handlers are able to guide her into kennel.

Date of intake:: 1/18/2026

Summary:: Hard barking and lunging

Date of initial:: 1/20/2026

Summary:: High FAS; loud barking, lunging

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Burta 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 additional 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: Burta has been observed to hard bark, lunge, and growl towards handlers when they attempt to interact. It is important to move slowly with Burta, 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.