chocolate has 1 day left to live!

About chocolate: Chocolate Animal ID ACCT-A-246462 Breed Terrier, American Pit Bull Sex Female Weight 53.2 lbs Age 3Y/3M/2W Location Large Dog Kennel, E4 Attributes Lived with Children Blue Waiver: Dog Selective/Reactive Good Dog Meet (In Shelter) Chocolate ACCT-A-246462 is currently considered urgent and at risk of euthanasia due to length of stay and lack of space for incoming dogs. Chocolate must have confirmed placement with an ADOPTER or RESCUE PARTNER by FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH at 10AM. Should Chocolate's medical or behavioral status change, her urgency and timeline for placement may also change. Chocolate arrived at the shelter alongside two other dogs after their family lost their housing. After spending the last four years in a home, shelter life has been a big adjustment, but Chocolate has already shown glimpses of the sweet dog her family knew and loved. The unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells were overwhelming for Chocolate, but time outside with her new human friends has helped her settle in and relax. We've seen her wary of new dogs, and hard bark when she's nervous. But we've also seen her frolic in the pool, and scooch closer to her handler for affection. Chocolate would do best in a home that can prioritize her decompression by offering her an enriching environment that she can use as a home base, before gradually reintroducing Chocolate to her next chapter. Chocolate came from a home with other dogs, but interactions with other dogs in the shelter has been stressful for her, so any interactions with future canine friends need to be done thoughtfully, and patiently. We also know that Chocolate's previous home had children in it, so we would recommend a similar approach be taken with any new little ones: slow, committed meetings where Chocolate can go at her own pace, and where particular attention is paid to her body language. Video Meeting Homer https://youtube.com/shorts/9tIK8kffEVI?si=gW-vzq2odB7V09ls https://youtu.be/MZHF6Wwfljc?si=sxhhu-3Yr4LoKRDx Chocolate and Harriet Meet https://youtu.be/WbLd_YS9iGo?si=uGXXciBs8LNevPvJ Juice and Chocolate in the yard! https://youtube.com/shorts/KZWs0msmJL4?si=tZphgmTPYc5z2fsn Chocolate climbs the A-Frame! https://youtube.com/shorts/VSbal9utiJI?si=llHulybqpa68dMU4 Behavior Notes 6/15 Dog-meet with Homer Soft body, avoidant of Homer, handler oriented, tolerant. Ears back, tail low and fluid soft eyes. 6/13 by Volunteer I took Chocolate out last night. She was very easy to leash, walk and return to her kennel. She is a little jumpy when she firsts gets out but settles nicely. She loved being pet! 6/7 by Volunteer Chocolate is very treat motivated and in her excitement will at times jump up but is easily redirected. She is working on 'sit'. She hard barked when a stranger approached the fence and was redirected with treats. Pulls a little on leash. 6/1 Behavior Evaluation Kennel Presentation: I approached the crate and she was low growling, laying down, ears pinned back, wide eyes, tense body. Showed her my leash and she stopped growling and came to the front, ears back, softer eyes, looser body. Leash Skills: She was easily leashed and came right out. Pulled mildly on leash, mid to low tail wags, loose body. Sociability: Outside she sniffed around, nose to the ground, low fluid tail, ears back. She would come over when I called to her with low tail wags, ears back and soft wider eyes. She tolerated all handling with low tail wags, ears back. Stayed near my side when I stopped. After petting she did jump up on me with mid tail wags, ears back and soft eyes. I moved away and she jumped down and returned to sniffing around again. Play: No interested in the toys. Dog Interaction: n/a Return to Kennel: Walked back with a low tail, ears back. Stopped outside her crate and needed light leash pressure to go back in. Leash was removed easily by hand. Color Level: Blue 6/1 by Staff This dog is being started on behavior meds for FAS (Fear/Anxiety/Stress) : hard barking, whale eye, unable to be removed from crate this morning by ACA. 5/31 by Volunteer I had Chocolate out for the meet. When I approached her kennel she was hard barking. I walked away and came back and she looked at me with a neutral body and no barking this time. I was able to leash her easily. Once we got outside, we let her and her presumed daughter be together where they seemed most comfortable and loose. Once we separated them, Chocolate was showing signs of stress like zig zagging and panting. After a few minutes, she began exploring the yard. She'd bark by dogs that walked by but did disengage. She took treats gently from me. Her presumed baby daddy joined us in the yard and again she loosened up with him. On our way to the shoot, we passed by dogs and Chocolate would bark at them and pull hard towards them. She allowed us to dress her for the shoot and was easy back in her kennel! 5/30 Playgroup Didn't proceed beyond gate greetings. Snarling, barking, muzzle-punching barrier during fence greeting with Lilac & Chevy Chase. 5/29 by Staff Pt is very alert and timid around people. Pt tucks tail and remains with her head down when people approach her. She loves food. She became very scared when it came time to vaccinate. She began to growl and coward into a corner, so we proceeded to use a muzzle for safety. In the beginning she did growl and jumped to get away, but then eventually calmed down and allowed us to continue with vaccinating with no issues. Once we removed the muzzle she was a little timid, but I offered cream cheese to award her for allowing us to continue the PE process she then perked back up and seemed less tense. Very sweet girl just a little weary of people intentions. Walk Sheet Notes 5/30-6/20 [Documented interactions only] 5/30/AM Energy: H. Playgroup, not tested (too reactive at the fence. 5/30/PM Energy: M/H. Happy to relieve herself. Very good girl! 5/31 Energy: H. Nervous, but once time passes, she settles and opens up! 6/1/AM Energy: M. Slight leash pressure to return. Hard barking in the crate until I showed her the leash. 6/1/PM Energy: M. Allowed handling, sweet, a little dog reactive but on leash is very redirectable. 6/4 Energy: M/H. Pulls strong to other dogs. Likes pepperoni treats, but can be snatchy. 6/5 Energy: L/M. Calm, jumped on me for pets. 6/7 Energy: L/M. Reactive, barking at fence. Treat motivated, loves hot dogs. Jumpy at times, looking for treats. Was able to do "sit" for treats. Hard barking at a stranger who approached play yard. 6/8 Anxious whining. 6/10 Energy: L/M. Loved the pool, seems anxious. 6/12 Energy: L/M. Loved the pool and loves to be pet. Was calm tonight. 6/15 Energy: M. Walked well, took treats gently, moved away from the other dog. 6/18 Energy: L. Just walked around the yard and enjoyed sitting next to me, being pet. 6/20 Energy: L/M. Played fetch for a little while. Knows "sit," food motivated.

Don't adopt just because you feel sorry for chocolate!
Adoption should be a well thought out decision, it's a lifetime commitment.