Animal Profile

April Showers is at risk due to behavioral concerns. April Showers has not acclimated well to the shelter environment despite the best efforts to keep her comfortable. She has escalated to head whipping, growling, and snapping at hands when returning her to her crate. April was moved to a bigger kennel in an attempt to help her adjust, but she continues to escalate. April Showers has also redirected onto leashes, biting and pulling when attempting to remove them once in her new kennel. She recently bit a staff member on the thumb, leaving a puncture and scratch on their thumb, drawing blood. At the time of intake April Showers was friendly, wiggly, and allowed interaction with staff. Medically, April Showers 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 April Showers is at risk due to behavioral concerns. April Showers has not acclimated well to the shelter environment despite the best efforts to keep her comfortable. She has escalated to head whipping, growling, and snapping at hands when returning her to her crate. April was moved to a bigger kennel in an attempt to help her adjust, but she continues to escalate. April Showers has also redirected onto leashes, biting and pulling when attempting to remove them once in her new kennel. She recently bit a staff member on the thumb, leaving a puncture and scratch on their thumb, drawing blood. At the time of intake April Showers was friendly, wiggly, and allowed interaction with staff. Medically, April Showers is apparently healthy. April Showers has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. He is noted to muzzle punch his kennel, display heavy panting and salivating, showing a high level of stress. 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.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 49 lbs

Medical Notes

4/6/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: approx 1-3 years based on dentition and conformation Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: agency Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - food motivated, allowed for handling and tasks Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? N Objective: T = np P = wnl R = wnl 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: MI, two scrotal testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: APH Prognosis: good Plan: intake exam anmd tasks awaiting sort SURGERY: Okay for surgery: Y

4/7/2026

Hyperactive and pulling kennel cover into kennel, excessive barking. Start trazodone 9 mg/kg PO BID.

4/10/2026

DOH hold exam. Behavior enrichment notes include - leash biting, stiff body, growling, quivering lips, head whipping when clipped to leash. S/O: QAR standing at front of kennel, no c/s/v/d noted EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge noted Lungs: Eupneic, normal respiratory rate/effort ABD: No obvious distention CNS: Mentation appropriate A: Apparently healthy with high FAS in shelter P: Add clonidine 0.03 mg/kg PO BID CTM while at QACC

4/17/2026

Behavior team reports April Showers is slamming her body into her kennel door/walls, panting heavily. Increase clonidine to 0.04 mg/kg PO BID.

4/20/2026

On 04/20/26 at approximately 8:28 am, I examined April Showers 251354. He has appropriate mentation at this time with no neurologic signs present, and has not exhibited any neurological signs while at ACC.

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 4/5/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Unknown History)

Date of assessment:: 4/8/2026

Summary:: 4/8: Due to april shower denfesive behavior, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary (7):: 4/16: (KSV) As a handler is cleaning another kennel, April Showers is alternating between barking and screeching as she jumps to the top of her kennel. When the handler pauses their cleaning to check on her, April Showers begins hitting the kennel door with one of her front shoulders. Once the handler is done cleaning the kennel, they go to the behavior office to collect an enrichment item for her. When they are back in the kennel room, April Showers is seen standing at the front of her kennel panting heavily. Then, the handler slides the item under the door and walks away as she investigates it. 4/13/26 (KSV): April Showers was standing at front of kennel with side towards the door. Handler approached April Showers had a tense face and body with a slightly touching tail and watching handler with side eye. Handler tossed treats which April Showers readily consumed. 4/10/26: April Showers is siting on her bed as handlers approach her kennel. She comes forward to the front and is able to be double leashed. She is the quickly brought to her new kennel. When entering the kennel, she quickly spins and redirects towards the handler's hands and leashes. She bites at the leashes as the the handlers unleash her from both leashes. She then begins to try and bite at the handler's foot on the door as they use their foot to keep the door shut while it's being locked before walking away. 4/9/26: April Showers when approached in stiff, growling and sitting on her bed when the handler approaches, April will begin to quiver her lips as she is coaxed, but walks up to kennel. When the leash is presented she will be able to be walked out for a walk but is reported to head whip when being clipped. 4/7/26: Muzzel punching, hopping, panting and salivating during rounds/ when trying to cover crate 4/6/26: (1) It is reported via the behavior board that April Showers tries to catch fingers when returned to crate. (2) An ACS reports that when returning April Showers to her kennel, she whips around and starts snapping at hands.

Date of intake:: 4/5/2026

Summary:: friendly with a loose body

Date of initial:: 4/6/2026

Summary:: food motivated, allowed for handling and tasks

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We reccomend he be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: April Showers has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. He is noted to muzzle punch his kennel, display heavy panting and salivating, showing a high level of stress. 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Leash-biting,Kennel presence,Low threshold for arousal,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: April Shower is noted to bare teeth at handlers and snap at handler fingers when returning to the crate. Training should focus on slow, low-pressure kennel return routines, reinforcing calm behavior at a distance, and using positive reinforcement to create safer, more predictable crate interactions. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Bite history (human): An ACS was returning April Showers 251354 to their kennel when he whipped around and bit the ACS on the left thumb causing one puncture and a scratch which needed medical attention on site. The incident was a bite and released. Low threshold for arousal/Leash-biting: April Showers is noted to engage in leash-biting behavior in the care center and does not readily redirect with treats or toys. This indicates a low threshold for arousal and difficulty shifting focus once escalated. Training should prioritize low-arousal handling routines, creating distance from triggers before escalation, and reinforcing calm, alternative behaviors to improve regulation during leash interactions. Please see the handout on arousal and leash biting. Kennel presence: In the kennel, April showers is noted to bare teeth, muzzle punch his kennel door, panting, hopping, salivating in front of his kennel.