Animal Profile

Meleny needs at risk placement for medical reasons. She is a young dog with a chronic severe ear infection. She needs a surgical consult to remove a mass in her left ear and chronic medical management of her underlying allergy. Behaviorally, she has allowed all handling from staff and lets staff pick her up when exiting her kennel for walks.

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 Meleny needs at risk placement for medical reasons. She is a young dog with a chronic severe ear infection. She needs a surgical consult to remove a mass in her left ear and chronic medical management of her underlying allergy. Behaviorally, Meleny has been tense when staff attempt handling. With a slow approach she has shown some signs of warming up. Meleny arrived at MACC as an owner surrender. Her previous owner describes them as social and affectionate. They also state that she will hard bark at strangers. While in care, Meleny has been observed to be highly fearful. Noted to snap at handlers during their medical exam and their assessment. During her assessment, Meleny escalated to baring teeth and snapping when the handler approached with a collar. Due to the detailed behavior we recommend an experienced adult only home.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 12 lbs

Medical Notes

4/13/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2 years based on the condition of teeth and eyes Microchip noted on Intake? Negative History: Owner surrender Subjective: BAR H pink 1 sec Observed Behavior - Was OK but ears are so painful that she was actively snapping and struggling Evidence of Cruelty seen - No Evidence of Trauma seen – No Evidence of Neglect- No Objective P = 120hr R = 40rr BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, AD mild OE, AS one of the worst, most proliferative and purulent OE I have seen, complete stenosis of canal, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: NSF PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT<2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: FI MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment MPL grade 2/4 bilaterally OA AU Prognosis: Fair Plan: Intake procedures Plan to sedate tomorrow to deal with ears SURGERY: Okay for surgery

4/14/2026

Images attached of ears AS: Hyperplastic tissue occluding distal vertical ear canal, yellow discharge present. AD: Sclerotic canal with yellow discharge A: Chronic otitis left worse than right. r/o allergies vs other Prognosis: Poor Plan Sedated with DKM canine pre-mix 0.35 ml IM (Dexdomitor 0.5mg/ml 0.006mg/kg + ketamine 100mg/ml 3mg/kg + methadone 10mg/ml 0.2mg/kg) insufficient sedation, so Dexdomitor 0.5mg/ml 0.1 ml IM given. Pet still resisting radiographs. Dexdomitor 0.5 mg/m 0.1ml given again. Still unable to restrain for radiographs. Ear cultures obtained Chem/cbc to lab Simplera 1 tube AU Dexamethasone SP 4mg/ml 0.2 ml IM Antisedan 0.1 ml IM Advise hypoallergenic food trial Prednisolone 5 mg 1 tablet po sid x 14 days then reassess for taper Advise surgical consult to biopsy and debulk tissue in left ear canal

4/16/2026

CBC HCT 48% Hgb 15.7 g/dL WBC 8.3 K/uL - normal differential CHM Mild hyperglycemia 120 mg/dL SDMA 7 ug/dL Creatinine 0.7 mg/dL BUN 18 mg/dL Lytes WNL ALT WNL ALP WNL A: Unremarkable CBC Mild hyperglycemia- r/o stress vs. other P: Ear culture pending

4/16/2026

K9 behavior reports baring teeth and snapping P: Trazodone 50mg 3/4 tab PO BID indefinitely

4/20/2026

Ear culture AD: klebsiella pneumonia 2+ Sensitive to tms, amikacin, enrofloxacin Staphyloccocus pseutoindtermedius 2+ sensitive to tms, amikacin, neomycin, mupirocin Beta haemolytic streptococcus 2+ Sensitive to tms oral and topical enrofloxacin or florfenicol AS: Staphyloccus aureus 3+ Sensitive to tms, amikacin, mupirocin Staphylococcus pseudointermedius 3+ Sensitive to tms, amikacin, neomycin, mupirocin Beta-haemolytic streptococcus 3+ A: Grossly AS is worse than AD and AS has staph aureus. Pet received florfenicol topical at intake but only beta haemolytic streptococcus is susceptible. Plan recheck ears tomorrow after 1 week prednisone. Consider mupirocin topical (1/4 tube in 1oz burrow's solution bid x 14d) AU

4/21/2026

Pet repeatedly snaps at staff as we try to look at ears. Images attached A: dried yellow debris on mass in ear canal AD: moderate erythema A: Ears are less inflamed but pet will not tolerate topical Prognosis: poor Plan advise at risk placement advise surgery AS (debulking +/- teca)

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 4. Orange

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

In the presence of the owner, Meleny was not receptive to treats and moved away from handler. Once the owner left, she was able to be carefully picked up and walked to medical for vaccines. She was friendly and actively seeking attention from handler while awaiting vaccines. From medical she was easily walked back and placed in her kennel.

Date of Intake: 4/12/2026

Spay/Neuter Status: Unknown

Basic Information:: Meleny is an approximately 7-year-old small mixed breed dog that was surrendered by her owner as the primary caregiver moved to another country and the owner did not have time to care for Meleny on his own.

Previously lived with:: 1 adult

How is this dog around strangers?: Meleny is reported to hard bark at strangers and is friendly and outgoing with visitors.

How is this dog around children?: Meleny is reported to be friendly, outgoing and playful with children.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Meleny is reported to be tolerant of familiar dogs and is shy/wants contact on her terms with unfamiliar dogs.

How is this dog around cats?: No reported experience.

Resource guarding:: No reported resource guarding.

Bite history:: No reported bite history.

Housetrained:: Partially

Other Notes:: Meleny is reported to have general anxiety and will pace, whine and is unable to settle. She is also anxious when left alone and has some destructive tendencies with items in the house though the prior owner did not specifically identify what type of items. She can growl or hard bark at strangers that approach while on walks. Meleny isn't bothered when held/restrained, disturbed while resting/sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled off furniture, her feet/paws are touched, or her collar is grabbed or touched.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: Yes

Medical Notes: Meleny has been having itchy ears.

For a New Family to Know: Meleny's prior owner would like a new family to know that she is social, affectionate, very active and playful. She spent most of her time where people are because she is a real people dog and loves to play and interact with people until she gets tired out. While Meleny allows bathing and brushing, she has escalated during grooming by either barking, growling, or snapping and has attempted to bite while grooming. She is reported to pull very little to mildly but does not regularly go on walks. She has spent time in a crate but does not do well. Meleny loves to go on car rides. She understands the cues sit and give me paw. Her prior owner's favorite things about Meleny are that she is very affectionate and loving. She guards her people and loves to play with her toys. Her favorite toy/activity is to play catch -- she loves when toys are thrown for her to catch and tries to race to where she thinks the ball is headed.

Date of intake:: 4/12/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 1 adult

Behavior toward strangers:: Meleny will hard bark

Behavior toward children:: Meleny is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Meleny is tolerant

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Partially

Other Notes:: Meleny is reported to have general anxiety and will pace, whine and is unable to settle. She is also anxious when left alone and has some destructive tendencies with items in the house though the prior owner did not specifically identify what type of items. She can growl or hard bark at strangers that approach while on walks. Meleny isn't bothered when held/restrained, disturbed while resting/sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled off furniture, her feet/paws are touched, or her collar is grabbed or touched. Her previous owner decribes her as social and affectionate.

Date of assessment:: 4/16/2026

Summary:: When brought into the assessment room Meleny was observed to be tense and fearful. When the handler approaches, Meleny begins to retreat and attempts to hide under the handler's chair. The handler offers a treat she is not receptive. When the handler presents the collar Meleny begins baring teeth and snapping at the handler. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety displayed. Meleny is not a candidate to receive a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (7):: 04/16/26: Meleny is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches, she bites the kennel bars and stops once handler approaches and begins waiting as handler unlocks the kennel door. She avoids the leash a few times but accepts pets and allows leashing before being scooped into handlers hand. She is carried and placed down gently and walks with handler for out to the street for her walk. Outside she is neutral bodied and passes people without issue, she does not pull and ignores dogs she sees outside. After a while she is brought back inside for her assessment, once complete she is carried back to kennel and placed inside.

Date of intake:: 4/12/2026

Summary:: Allowed pick up

Date of initial:: 4/13/2026

Summary:: Snapping at handlers

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: : Destructive behavior,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety

Potential challenges comments:: Destructive: Meleny's previous owner states that she is destructive in the home. We are unaware of what, if any, attempts were made to remedy this behavior but we suggest to future adopters that Meleny will need to be provided with physical and mental stimulation and with a variety of appropriate and engaging chew toys so they can engage in necessary chewing behavior without damage to human objects. Please see handout on Destructive Behavior. Fearful Defensive: Meleny has been observed to bare teeth and snap at handlers when they approach. It is important to move slowly with Meleny, 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. Anxiety: Meleny's previous owner states that she has general anxiety and will pace, whine, and be unable to settle. If Meleny displays anxious behavior in their future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving them other things to focus on to alleviate their anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used. Please see handout on Generalized Anxiety.