Animal Profile

Waldo is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Waldo shows a significant amount of fear including baring teeth, lunging, snarling at the kennel front, and lunging toward other dogs when they pass. He also shows stress signals during handling such as whale eye, tucked tail, flinching, and avoidance of staff during some interactions. Waldo can be leashed and walked, accepts treats, and is able to explore and engage in walks when given his space. Medically, Waldo has moderate dental disease and CIRDC.

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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 Waldo is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Waldo shows a significant amount of fear including baring teeth, lunging, snarling at the kennel front, and lunging toward other dogs when they pass. He also shows stress signals during handling such as whale eye, tucked tail, flinching, and avoidance of staff during some interactions. Waldo can be leashed and walked, accepts treats, and is able to explore and engage in walks when given his space. Medically, Waldo has moderate dental disease. Waldo entered the care center after officers were called to remove him from the home, as his caregiver was no longer able to provide for his needs after Waldo's original owner left him in their care. Waldo has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has displayed baring teeth when handlers approach his kennel. Once out, he has allowed minimal handling remain tens,e body, whake eying. 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: 47.125 lbs

Medical Notes

2/25/2026

[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: ~ 3 years Microchip noted on Intake? No History: Brought in by NYPD Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Hard barking at the front of the kennel, allowed staff to leash him, allowed exam, readily accepted cheese and spam. stopped eating when examining head Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No Objective: T = NT P = 84 bpm R = 20 bpm BCS 3-4/9 EENT: Limited ocular exam, but moderate scleral injection noted, mild debris AU, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Limited oral exam, maxillary deciduous canines with moderate dental tartar, unable to evaluate remaining dentition PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI, 2 testicles descended-smooth and symmetrical MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, dry/flaky haircoat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: not performed Assessment: ~3 year MI Mix Deciduous dentition with moderate dental disease Thin BCS Prognosis: Good Plan: Recommend dental to evaluate oral cavity, extract deciduous dentition, and cleaning + neuter + evaluate OU +/- eye diagnostics. SURGERY: Ok for surgery

2/28/2026

Starting trazodone 150mg PO q12h indefinitely due to reported kennel reactivity

3/11/2026

Progress Exam – CIRDC signs noted on rounds S/O: BAR, very active and vocal, coughing, no s/v/d noted EENT: Eyes clear, moderate mucoserous nasal discharge noted H/L: Eupneic, normal respiratory rate/effort CNS: Mentation appropriate Assessment: CIRDC Plan: Move to iso Placed monitoring log Start doxycycline 10 mg/kg PO SID x 10 days Recheck CIRDC day 10 CTM while at QACC

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 2/24/2026

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

Date of assessment:: 2/28/2026

Summary:: 2/28/26: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Baring teeth in kennel Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful-avoidant, whale eyes, lip licks Call over: Comes when coaxes- gently take, low body Sociability comments: slowly turns to handler, hard stare, tense body Handling Soft handling: Tense-tight muzzle, whale eye Exuberant handling: Stiff body, whale eyes, tight muzzle Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Doesn't walk pull away Arousal comments: Knock: approaches, walks pass helper Knock Comments: Toy: no response Toy comments: ***02/25/26: Due to Waldo's fearfulness and hard barking and baring teeth in kennel he is given more time to decompress.***

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 02/28/26 Waldo is introduced to a novel female while off leash. He displays a low frame, tucked tail, and pinned ears throughout the interaction. He briefly sniffs the female through the gate before disengaging and walking to the other end of the yard. As handler stands near the gate, Waldo will reapproach but as soon as he sees the female approaching, he immediately retreats again.

Summary (7):: 3/9/26: Waldo is laying down in his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and is then taken to outside for a walk. On the walk he has a loose body as he walks ahead of the handler. He would stare at dogs that would pass by and is able to be redirected with treats. He has no reactions to people and is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 3/7/26: Waldo is reported to lunge towards other dogs when they pass, and when approached in kennel with bare teeth and lunge at the front of his kennel. 03/1/26: Waldo is at the front of his kennel laying down when the handler approaches, gets up when the handler unlocks his door and begins to back away, whale eye and remains tense during leashing but tolerates it. Waldo walks to the behavior office with a low body, tucked tail and avoids staff when possible. Waldo is very uncomfortable with his assessment, getting tense when touched and continues to avoid staff. Waldo is brought back to his kennel and flinches when clipped. 2/28/26: (PG note) When the handler approached, Waldo sat in front of his crate door with a neutral frame. He was easily leashed and escorted to the play yard. During transport, he remained loose with a slightly tucked tail and a mildly cautious, nervous posture while scanning his environment. Please refer to the behavior assessment for details regarding his dog-to-dog interactions. Waldo was then escorted back to his crate where his behavior remained consistent. He is safely secured. 2/26/26: Waldo is laying down in his kennel as handler approaches. He begins to bark when he notices the handler. He is then comfortable taking treats through his kennel door bars. He is then slowly leashed with ease and is taken outside for a walk. On the walk, he would constantly stop to sniff the snow and mark his territory. He is comfortable approaching the handler to receive treats. He has no reactions to dogs or people. He would lip lick when the handler clips their leash and he is able to enter his kennel with ease when treats were tossed inside. 2/25/26: Waldo is at the front of his kennel baring teeth, lunging and snarling when approached in kennel.

Date of intake:: 2/24/2026

Summary:: Officers stated that Waldo barked and growled when being placed in the crate, but calmed down once i

Date of initial:: 2/25/2026

Summary:: Hard barking at the front of the kennel, allowed staff to leash him, allowed exam, readily accepted

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Waldo so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he is 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 (under 13): We reccomend Waldo be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Waldo entered the care center after officers were called to remove him from the home, as his caregiver was no longer able to provide for his needs after Waldo's original owner left him in their care. Waldo has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has displayed baring teeth when handlers approach his kennel. Once out, he has allowed minimal handling remain tens,e body, whake eying. 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,Kennel presence

Potential challenges comments:: Kennel presence/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Officers stated that Waldo barked and growled when being placed in the crate, but calmed down once inside the crate. Waldo is observed to be snarling, lunging towards the front of his kennel and reported to bare teeth as well.Training should focus on slow, low-pressure kennel approaches, reinforcing calm behavior at a distance, and gradually desensitizing him to kennel front interactions to reduce escalation. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.