28/06/2024
GONE đ˘
RIP.... your life mattered
âIâm a Cowboy, baby!â COWBOYâs name suits him. He looks like nothing so much as a big, huge painted and mottled steer and he weighs in at 85 lbs! But unlike a lumbering steer, Cowboy is an enthusiastic, wiggly boy who is highly social and very sweet. And he is an athlete who will chase down any ball you throw and dutifully bring it right back to you, waiting with excitement for the next toss! He doesnât even realize his size of course, these big boys never do, but he has us captivated with his magnificent looks and his big, generous heart that (at least initially) he will not give away so freely. So before you just grab him and hug him, take a moment, because he needs just a little time to get to know you and then he can make that first move! Despite his size, even a big guy can feel overwhelmed in the overcrowded and chaotic shelter, and Cowboy is no exception. Cowboy has started to deteriorate in his kennel because he just wants to be out and about and enjoying his life. Sitting in a small kennel almost 24 hours of the day amidst hundreds of other dogs all hoping for attention, is hard for him. And so the shelter decided to put him on a list to die and now this poor kid has only 48 hours to find a home. Just look at him. Look at his big smile. How can we let this gorgeous dog leave the earth. We canât. So please, if you are an experienced foster or adopter who can save his life, hurry and MESSAGE OUR PAGE for assistance!
The Shelter Writes:
Dressed to impress everyone in the wild west!! Cowboy's fun patchy colors are just a glimpse into his adventurous spirit. Cowboy was found loose in a playground, he tried to play with the police officers who found him - but they were all business and brought him straight to ACC (their loss!) Cowboy needs a home without kids that are too small, cause he's a big and energetic guy!
COWBOY, ID # 201767, 4 Yrs. Old, 85 lbs., Male
Brooklyn ACC, Large Mixed Breed, Brown/White
I came to the shelter as a Stray on 6/4/2024
Shelter Assessment Rating: New Hope Only
No children (under 13)
Place with a New Hope partner
Medical Behavior Rating: 2. BLUE
AT RISK MEMO:
Cowboy is at risk due to his extreme barrier frustration, which includes behaviors such as lunging, baring teeth, hard barking, growling, and bouncing off his kennel door. He also exhibits handling sensitivity, displaying whale eyes, lip licking, and head whipping when touched. These behaviors indicate a high level of stress and discomfort in the kennel environment, making it challenging for handlers to manage him safely. Cowboy has CIRDC and has been started on treatment.
Cowboy came into the care center as a Stray and has shown Social behavior with handlers, he has shown to enjoy treats and toys. Cowboy has not adjusted well in the care center and exhibits several challenging behaviors. He has displayed fearful and potentially defensive aggression, including leash biting and snapping at handlers when they attempt to leash him. In the kennel, Cowboy shows significant barrier frustration, characterized by lunging, baring teeth, hard barking, growling, and bouncing off his kennel door. These behaviors indicate a high level of stress and discomfort in the kennel environment, making it difficult for handlers to manage him safely. Despite these issues, Cowboy has moments of gentleness and calm, taking treats gently and engaging in play and walks with a loose and wiggly body when he feels more secure. Cowboy is available for adoption/foster through one of our new hope partners.
INTAKE NOTES â Date of Intake: 6/4/24
n/a
SURRENDER NOTES - BASIC INFORMATION:
n/a
BEHAVIOR NOTES
Date of intake:: 6/4/2024
Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray ( Unknown History)
SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES - Date of assessment: 6/18/2024
Leash Walking
Strength and pulling: Loose
Reactivity to humans: Ignores
Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive- Didn't walk past dogs
Leash walking comments:
Sociability
Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social- tail wag, takes treats with mild pressure
Call over: readily approaches- yawns, wagging tail,
Sociability comments: head whip when neck/head is touched, shakes off, has wounds around face
Handling
Soft handling: Tolerant- head whipping, lip lick, wagging tail
Exuberant handling: Tolerant- head whipping, lip lick, wagging tail
Handling comments: moves from position has to be distracted
Arousal
Jog: Follow- open panting mouth
Arousal comments:
Knock: wagging tail, checks in with handler
Knock Comments:
Toy: Sniffs, grips relinquished a few times
Toy comments:
ENRICHMENT NOTES
6/18: Cowboy continues to hard bark and jump on his kennel door when people pass his kennel.
06/16/24 Cowboy is gently walking to the front of his kennel. Cowboy is leashed with ease as he walks into the loop of the lead. Cowboy is taken for a walk. Cowboy displays a neutral, still frame while trotting beside the handler. Cowboy takes treats gently when administered. Cowboy will stiffen when touched, side-eying the handler. The handler returns Cowboy back to kennel where he lightly trots back in the building and enters his kennel with no issue.
06/15/24: Cowboy is sitting at the front of kennel with a loose body as handler approaches. Handler offers him chicken which he takes gently and he's easily leashed. Cowboy walks with a loose leash at the side of handler out for a street walk. Cowboy checks in with handler throughout the walk (looking up and making eye contact). Handler gives Cowboy a toy and he shakes it around and carries it for a portion of the walk. He is returned to kennel without issue.
6/14- Cowboy is seen growling and lunging at his kennel bars, it observed neighboring dog is standing and growling beside his kennel baring teeth, when handler backs away cowboy starts to kennel fight with neighboring dog growling and jumping on the side wall of his kennel. Cowboy is seen jumping up lunging in kennel and hard barking when handlers are walking past with a dog.
(PM) An ACS reports that Cowboy was growling at them and snapped at their hand as they were trying to leash him to go outside.
06/12/24: Cowboy is laying down in the back of his kennel upon handlerâs arrival then immediately jumps up to walk to the front of kennel allowing handler to leash him with ease. Cowboy is brought to the play yard and a drag leash is placed on him to roam the yard freely. cowboy is loose and wiggly while in the play pin, handler will throw a ball and Cowboy will retrieve it and bring it back to handler with a good drop, Cowboy takes scattered treats from handler then will run off chasing birds. Cowboy is brought back into the care center and returned to his kennel safely.
06/06/24: Cowboy stands at the front his kennel wagging tail upon handlers arrival. Handler leashes cowboy with ease and heâs brought outside for a walk. While exploring the grass and dirt paths cowboy maintains a neutral form while staying close to handler and checking in periodically. When walking back to care center Cowboy spots another dog who he begins to fixate on and pull towards. Cowboy is brought back inside and returned to his kennel safely.
06/05/24: Cowboy is neutral in his kennel upon handlerâs arrival but allows easy leashing and proceeds to the behavior room without issue. Handler places a drag leash on Cowboy and he walks around exploring the room with a neutral form, secondary handler handles him and he starts to head whip demonstrating a discomfort for touch. cowboy is brought back to his kennel safely.
06/04/24: Upon approach, Cowboy is standing at kennel front with a neutral body. Handler passes treats which he takes gently from hand. Cowboy is leashed with ease and walks slowly, with a loose body out to play yard for gate greets (see Dog-Dog for further details). Going slowly, handler was able to collar him. Another handler attempted to remove harness and Cowboy became still and turned his head back toward their hand showing discomfort. Handlers were able to unclip both sides of harness but it was too tight to pull over head so the rest of harness was cut off while Cowboy was distracted with treats. Cowboy approaches when called and accepts pets around neck. Returns to kennel easily.
INTAKE BEHAVIOR:
Date of intake:: 6/4/2024
Summary:: Friendly
MEDICAL BEHAVIOR:
Date of initial:: 6/4/2024
Summary:: easy to handle
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only
Recommendations:
Place with a New Hope partner
No children (under 13)
Recommendations comments::
No children (under 13)- Due to Cowboy's Behavior challenges we recommend an adult-only home at this time.
Place with a New Hope partner - Cowboy requires a specialized approach to help him overcome his behavioral challenges and thrive in a new environment. Cowboy's reactivity, especially towards other dogs, and his discomfort with physical handling and snapping at handlers when leashed indicate he would benefit from a structured training program focused on desensitization and positive reinforcement. He responds well to gentle handling and can take treats calmly, showing potential for improvement with the right guidance. Cowboy enjoys playtime and walks, indicating that regular exercise and enrichment activities will be crucial for his well-being. A calm, experienced handler who can provide consistent training and a stress-free environment is essential. Cowboy needs to be fostered/adopted through one of our New Hope Partners.
Potential challenges:
On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration
Leash-biting
Fearful/potential for defensive aggression
Handling/touch sensitivity
Kennel presence
Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition
Potential challenges comments::
Mouthiness/Poor Bite Inhibition: Cowboy takes treats with mild pressure, indicating he needs to develop better bite inhibition. To address this, use positive reinforcement techniques such as rewarding gentle behavior and providing appropriate chew toys. Consistent training and clear boundaries will help Cowboy learn to interact with people more appropriately. Please see handout on Mouthiness/Poor Bite Inhibition:
Handling/Touch Sensitivity: Cowboy has shown handling sensitivity around his neck and face head whipping, lick lip when handled in those areas, likely due to the scabs and scratches on his face and muzzle. It is crucial to proceed with patience and allow Cowboy the autonomy to withdraw from any social interaction if needed. Gradual desensitization and positive reinforcement can help Cowboy become more comfortable with handling. Please see handout on Handling/Touch Sensitivity.
Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/Leash-biting- Cowboy has displayed leash biting in the kennel when a handler tried taking him out of his kennel for a walk, Cowboy snap at the handler hand.
Kennel presence/On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration- Cowboy has displayed lunging, baring teeth, hard barking, growling in his kennel, bouncing off his kennel door.
MEDICAL EXAM NOTES
6/4/2024
DVM Intake Exam
Estimated age:4 years
Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative
History: Agency
Subjective: QAR easy to handle
Observed Behavior -
Is there evidence of Cruelty? No
Is there evidence of Neglect? NO
Is there evidence of Trauma? No
Objective
BCS 4/9
EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted
Oral Exam: white teeth, minimal tartar
PLN: No enlargements noted
H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic
ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated
U/G: intact male
MSI: wounds, scratches and dried blood around face muzzle - scabs and and scratches. Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted,
CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities
Assessment: minor wounds on face otherwise apparently healthy
Prognosis: good
Plan: intake tasks.
SURGERY:
Okay for surgery
6/16/2024
Start trazodone 7 mg/kg PO q12h indefinitely for continued management of FAS
6/16/2024
Reported to be coughing on rounds.
Placed PPE signage and monitoring sheet.
Starting on doxycycline 10mg/kg po SID x 10d (6/27-6/26)
TO FOSTER / ADOPT
If you would like to foster or adopt a NYC ACC dog please PRIVATE MESSAGE our page at https://www.facebook.com/NYCDogsLivesmatter or email us at [email protected] 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 âdirect adoptâ where you must go to the shelter âin personâ 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
