05/23/2026
PLEASE PLEASE SHARE THIS SWEETHEART, ITS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH๐๐ป๐๐ปโฅ๏ธ
Ambar has been placed with Char-Will's German Shepherd Rescue
Sheโs just a 9 month old puppy, all wiggles and smiles for everyone she meets, and who โ during her medical exam - flopped over for belly rubs, wagging her tail. But the shelter is NO place for an active puppy who is sitting day after day counting down the minutes and hours in a tiny kennel! She is at the shelter through no fault of her own โ her owner passed away!
AMBAR, Id 253093, @9 Mos. Old, 84 lbs., Female
Manhattan ACC, Large Mixed Breed, Brown
Owner Surrender Reason: 5/4/26, Owner Passed Away
Initial Behavior Assessment Rating: LEVEL 2
Current Behavior Assessment Rating: LEVEL 3
Recommendations:
No children under 5
Medical Behavior Rating: 1. green
AT RISK MEMO:
Ambar is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Ambar arrived at the Care Center as an owner surrender. Upon arrival Ambar was noted to be social with staff. Ambar was also noted to be loose and wiggly bodied during her medical exam. Unfortunately, Ambar has become increasingly reactive in shelter. Although inconsistent, at times she has been observed to pull hard with a tense body toward occupied crates and kennels while barking. Ambar's previous owner describes her as friendly and outgoing. Medically, Ambar has CIRDC and is noted to be overweight.
INTAKE NOTES - DATE OF INTAKE: 4-May-2026
FRIENDLY AND VERY SOCIAL!!!
OWNER SURRENDER NOTES - BASIC INFORMATION:
Amber is a 9 month old, large mixed breed female puppy. Ambar is being surrender due to her owner passing away in late January, the brother took over her and 2 other dogs, but unfortunately it has become stressful and needs to rehome. She lived with 2 adults and 2 other dogs (1 large breed, 1 small breed). Ambar is known to be friendly and outgoing with strangers and visitors. she is also very playful and tolerant of them. Ambar is known to be friendly and outgoing with children of all ages. she is also very playful and tolerant of them. Amber is friendly and outgoing, tolerant of famiiliar dogs. She is tolerant of unfamiliar dogs on leash and playful and tolerant with them off leash. She has had no experience with cats. Ambar finds toys and treats very valuable to her. Owner has never attempted to touch when in her possession. She has no bite history. She is housetrained. Amber's energy level is high.
Has this dog ever had any medical issues? No
For a New Family to Know: Ambar is a social and affectionate dog! She is quiet and very active and playful. She loves to play in the back yard. Ambar does not allow for bathing/brushing and gets sick on car rides. She is used to going on 90 minute walks twice per day and pulls very little on the leash. She is a sweet and playful girl who loves running around and playing fetch. She has spent her life surrounded by people and dogs.
BEHAVIOR NOTES:
Date of intake:: 5/4/2026
Spay/Neuter status:: No
Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender
Previously lived with:: 2 adults and 2 dogs (1 MMB and 1 SMB)
Behavior toward strangers:: Ambar is friendly and outgoing
Behavior toward children:: Ambar is friendly and outgoing
Behavior toward dogs:: Ambar is friendly with familiar dogs, tolerant of unfamiliar dogs
Behavior toward cats:: No experience
Resource guarding:: None reported
Bite history:: None reported
Housetrained:: Yes
Energy level/descriptors:: High
SHELTER RE-ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES:
Date of assessment:: 5/15/2026
Summary:: Leash Walking
Strength and pulling: Mild
Reactivity to humans: None
Reactivity to dogs: None
Leash walking comments: Stops to sniffs
Sociability
Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social
Call over: Approaches handler readily
Sociability comments: Neutral body
Soft handling: Accepts contact
Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact
Comments: Becomes tense during exuberant handling
Arousal
Jog comments: Follows handler, neutral body
Knock
Knock comments: Approaches handler readily
Toy
Toy comments: Grips firm, becomes tense and hovers
SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES:
Date of assessment: 7-May-2026
Leash Walking
Strength and pulling: Mild
Reactivity to humans: None
Reactivity to dogs: None
Leash walking comments: Stops to sniffs
Sociability
Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social
Call over: Approaches handler readily
Sociability comments: Neutral body
Soft handling: Accepts contact
Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact
Comments: Becomes tense during exuberant handling
Arousal
Jog comments: Follows handler, neutral body
Knock
Knock comments: Approaches handler readily
Toy
Toy comments: Grips firm, becomes tense and hovers
PLAYGROUP NOTES - DOG TO DOG SUMMARY:
n/a
ENRICHMENT NOTES
5/22/26: Ambar is standing quietly in kennel, soft body. She sits, soft eye contact with handler when kennel door is opened. She allows easy leashing. Ambar is kept on short leash, however she pulls straight out of kennel room and shows no interest in kennels. When in hallway however, she does high pitch bark and briefly fixates on an occupied pop-up crate, recovers when pulled away. On sidewalk Ambar is neutral bodied, walks with a mild pull. Ambar approaches handler when verbally cued, takes treats gently, and allows petting of her torso with a soft body. Ambar sees two small dogs being walked when turning corner, she fixates, high-pitch barks as they pass. When behind her, she turns back several times to hard-stare and is difficult to be refocus. Later in the walk, Ambar sees a large dog with a staff member, the dog is staring back at Ambar, Ambar again begins to high-pitch bark and visually fixates, she pulls toward the dog a bit but mostly stays in place to bark and fixate. She is pulled away, again she recovers. Ambar is walked back to MACC, she re-enters kennel room and does not react to kennels, however a combination of light leash pressure and treat trail is used to get her to return to kennel.
5/15/26: Ambar is observed to fixate, pull hard towards, and hard bark at every dog she sees. She is also observed to hard bark and pull towards a dog in a nearby crate while waiting for the elevator.
5/14/26: Ambar is reported to be highly kennel reactive
5/12/26: Ambar is standing at the front of her kennel with a loose body and wagging tail. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately--hard out of the building and on the street. She pulls a bit harder towards a person passing her with a loose body. She allows petting with a wagging tail and takes treats. On the way back to her kennel room in the hallway she growls and snarls towards a small dog exiting their room, however it must be noted that the handler also accidentally stepped on her paw at this exact moment. The handler offers her a moment and some treats to calm down before entering the kennel room, and she returns to her kennel with ease.
05/07/26: Ambar is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches, she is leashed without issue and taken to the street for her walk. She engages in social interaction with staff she passes in the hallway, allowing pets and sitting near them. She walks outside and pulls mildly, relieving herself and sniffing around. She attempts to pull toward people socially and when seeing dogs shows moderate interest, she walks for a while before being brought back inside for her assessment, once finished she is returned to kennel without issue.
INTAKE BEHAVIOR:
Date of intake: 4-May-2026
Summary: Social
MEDICAL BEHAVIOR:
Date of initial: 6-May-2026
Summary: Loose wiggly body, rolls over for belly rubs, wagging tail, jumps up and is mouthy.
ENERGY LEVEL:
Ambar is described as active and enthusiastic. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in addition to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for Ambar.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: Level 3
Recommendations:
No Children under 5
Recommendations comments:: No young children (under 5): Due to resource guarding and touch sensitivity, we recommend a home with no young children.
Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration
Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Ambar has been observed to become tense and hover over a toy in her possession. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Ambar's mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding.
Handling Sensitivity: Ambar was observed to become tense during exuberant contact. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Ambarto be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity.
On-leash reactivity: At the care center, Ambar has been observed to react to other dogs on leash when moving past kennels, lunging towards them, barking and growling. Ambar may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach her to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Please see hand-out for On-leash Reactivity.
MEDICAL NOTES
6-May-2026 DVM Intake Medical Notes: 12:48 PM
DVM Intake Exam
Estimated age: 9 months per owner, exam agrees
Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative
History: Owner surrender
Subjective: BAR
Observed Behavior - loose wiggly body, flops over for belly rubs, wagging tail. Food motivated and easily distracted with food for tasks. Jumpy and lightly mouthy.
Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No
Objective:
T =
P = WNL
R = WNL
BCS: 7/9
EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted
Oral Exam: Adult dentition, fairly clean -- limited due to muzzle
PLN: No enlargements noted
H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic
ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated
U/G: Externally WNL, intact female, no OHE scar or tattoo noted
MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat
CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities
Re**al: Externally WNL
Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed
Assessment:
Overweight
Intact female
Prognosis: Good
Plan:
Intake tasks + exam
Await sort
Trazodone 300mg PO BID indefinitely
SURGERY:
Okay for surgery
5/13/2026
Noted on symptoms board to be coughing
S: BAR in kennel. Eats all treats offered.
O:
EEN- eyes clear, clear nasal discharge
H/L- eupneic, no appreciable sneezing or coughing while cage side
MSK/i- ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat.
Neuro- alert/appropriate
A:
CIRDC
P:
Move to Dog ISO
Doxycycline 400mg PO SID x10d
5/13/2026
Staff note pet is highly dog reactive
A: Increasing arousal in shelter
P: Clonidine 0.2 mg 2 tablets po bid while in shelter
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* TO FOSTER / ADOPT *
To foster or adopt a NYC ACC dog please PRIVATE MESSAGE our page at https://www.facebook.com/NYCDogsLivesmatter so we can assist and guide you through the process.
PLEASE NOTE: To foster or adopt a NYC ACC dog you need to live within a prescribed range of New York City. States include: NY, NJ, PA, CT, RI, DE, MD, MA, NH, VT, ME or Northern VA. If you are outside of this range, you have the option to โdirect adoptโ where you must go to the shelter โin personโ to complete the adoption process. We can guide you through that process.
NYC ACC RATING SYSTEM
Level 1
Dogs with Level 1 determinations are suitable for the majority of homes.
Level 2
Dogs with Level 2 determinations will be suitable for adopters with some previous dog experience.
Level 3
Dogs with Level 3 determinations will need to go to homes with experienced adopters.
Level 4
Dogs with Level 4 determinations will need to go to homes with experienced adopters. It is suggested adopters have prior experience with the behaviors described.
New Hope Rescue Only
Dogs with this rating need to be pulled by a New Hope Partner Rescue. Contact our page or email us for assistance
