08/31/2026
TO BE EUTHANIZED 9/1/26 IN NYC
Honestly, this handsome, sweet, playful, friendly, affectionate young boy does not belong on anybody’s list. JERRY was nearly the perfect dog in his previous home and was only surrendered because he escaped his yard. He allowed all handling at the shelter, and they made him a movie calling him the **sweetest boy around!**
Jerry’s issue? He is an active boy who loves playing games with his humans or going on long walks every day. But in the shelter environment, Jerry has grown tired over time, being caged. He’s still sweet. He’s still social. But he is going crazy in his kennel, and is now being pumped full of drugs to make him calm down.
At this time, Jerry is looking to find an experienced home where he is given the space and time he needs to decompress. Jerry did so well with the child in his prior household, but now it is recommended that he is placed in a home where children are ages 13 and up due to some timid behavior and possible separation anxiety. Jerry had no dog or cat experience in his previous home, and due to his growing reactivity in the stressed shelter environment, it is recommended that he be tested in a controlled environment outside of the shelter around other dogs to see how he does, before you consider taking him to dog parks. Please won’t you save this very special, very good boy? To foster or adopt Jerry, please message our page ASAP and let’s finally get him out of here and into your loving home environment.
MY MOVIE:
❤️JERRY 259997 is the sweetest boy around!
https://youtu.be/oY51LIQO_S8
JERRY, ID 259997, 2 years old, 75 lbs., Male/Neutered
Queens ACC, German Shepherd Cross, Black/Brown
Owner surrender reason: Date of Intake: 8-Aug-2026: Escapes the yard
Behavior Assessment Rating: New Hope only
No children (under 13)
Recommend no dog parks
Place with a New Hope partner
Medical Behavior: panting continuously tense, but allowed all handling without issue; licked handler several times!
AT RISK MEMO:
Jerry is at risk due to behavioral concerns. In the Care Centers, Jerry has shown signs of behavioral deterioration despite receiving daily enrichment and socialization. He was observed spinning in his kennel, hypersalivating, vocalizing, and mouthing staff leashes. Outside of his kennel, Jerry is social with staff and seeks interaction by leaning into pets. Medically, Jerry is healthy at this time.
Jerry is a social dog with staff in the Care Centers. His previous owner reported that he can be nervous when meeting strangers but will slowly warm up. In the Care Centers, Jerry was observed spinning in his kennel, hypersalivating, and screeching when staff attempted to remove him. Jerry should go to a foster home through a New Hope Partner that can manage his behaviors using positive reinforcement.
What my friends at ACC say about me:
I can be slow to adjust to new environments. I prefer to take things at my own pace.
I would do best in a home with only adult humans.
I will need appropriate toys and positive outlets for my energy.
I am eager to learn and would love to keep learning cues and tricks with you!
INTAKE NOTES—Date of Intake: 8-Aug-2026
Upon intake Jerry was very docile and tolerant with counselors allowing all handling such as scanning for microchip, collaring and walking back to medical. He was then handed over to medical where they proceeded with his full exam. No further handling was done. All done without any concerns.
OWNER SURRENDER NOTES—BASIC INFORMATION
JERRY is a handsome, neutered, male, German Shepherd mix who was surrendered by his owner from Flushing, NY 11355 for unknown reasons. He was obtained when he was a puppy from a friend and lived with 2 adults and one child. Jerry is friendly, outgoing and playful around visitors although he may prefer contact on his own terms from other strangers and may alert bark to let his family know they are near. He was friendly, outgoing and playful with the child in the family; and has no experience with dogs or cats. If he sees an unfamiliar dog he may bark. Jerry likes to stay active and busy. He is very social and affectionate and spends his time on the couch in the living room or outside in the yard. He is mostly house trained to go outside but has a few accidents if not let out on a proper schedule. Nothing at home bothers Jerry who allows his paws to be touched and collar to be grabbed, but he is too scared to be bathed or groomed. Jerry pulls on a leash and is used to a walk for 30 minutes once daily. Jerry most loves going for car rides, food, and when people play with him. He loves when his owner runs around with him. Jerry does not resource guard and has never bitten. His behavior concern is that he escapes the house or yard.
BEHAVIOR NOTES:
Date of Intake: 8-Aug-2026
Spay/neuter status: Yes
Means of surrender: Length of time in previous home:
Previously lived with:: 2 adults and 1 child
Behavior toward strangers:: Prefer contact on his own term, alert barks, friendly when comfortable
Behavior toward children:: Friendly and outgoing
Behavior toward dogs:: Alert bark
Behavior toward cats:: Uknown
Resource guarding:: None reported-Didn't take items away form him
Bite history:: None reported
Housetrained:: Partially
Energy level/descriptors:: Jerry is described to have high energy.
Other Notes:: Jerry will go potty outside on walks (grass, cement, dirt, etc.). If not on a proper schedule he will have accidents in the home a few times a month. Jerry's behavior concern is escaping the house/yard. He will react to strangers that approach home/yard, large dogs and small dogs. He will react by alert barking. Jerry is unbothered when held/restrained, pushed/pulled off of furniture, when his paws are touched and when his collar is grabbed/touched. It is unknown how he will react when startled as it has never been attempted. He will bark when disturbed while resting/sleeping.
SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES: DATE OF ASSESSMENT: 8-Aug-2026
Leash Walking
Strength and pulling: None
Reactivity to humans: None
Reactivity to dogs: None
Leash walking comments:
Sociability
Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Aloof, sniffs and and explores
Call over: Approaches with coaxing
Sociability comments: Wags tail, accepts petting but walks away
Handling
Soft handling: Accepts Contact
Exuberant handling: Accepts
Contact Handling comments: Accepts petting, no reaction, but walks away
Arousal
Jog: Slowly jogs
Arousal comments:
Knock: Tenses, huffs, but approaches with neutral body
Knock Comments:
Toy: No Reaction
Toy comments:
PLAYGROUP SUMMARIES: DOG TO DOG:
According to Jerry's previous owner(s), he has no experience with familiar or unfamiliar dogs off leash and will hard bark at unfamiliar dogs on leash.
08/15/26 Jerry is introduced to a novel female while off leash. He approaches the gate with a neutral frame, becomes increasingly tense as he sniffs the female, and will hard bark before being guided away.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:
08/28/26 (Trainer Note): Jerry is pacing and spinning in his kennel as handler approaches. His entire kennel is covered in f***s and saliva, his water bowls completely flipped over. He retreats to the back of his kennel as handler opens the door. As handler attempts to lasso him he vocalizes and mouths the leash briefly. Handler uses a squeaker toy as a lure to leash him and remove him from kennel. He is taken to the yard for a walk. He approaches handler with a soft body and lays his chin on their hand, soliciting scratches. Handler tosses a couple toys and he walks over toward them, sniffs them, and gently engages with them. He spends the whole walk mouthing the toys, not interested in trading. He is returned to his kennel without issue.
8/24/26: Jerry is reported to be spinning repeatedly while barking at the kennel wall. It is reported that he has even been difficult to leash due to the spinning, able to be distracted by a squeaker momentarily to be leashed.
8/21/26: Jerry is laying down in his kennel as handler approaches. He stands up and then hallway approaches the front as the handle unlocks the door. He backs away when the handler first presents their leash. He is then comfortable coming to the door when the handler offers treats and he is leashed with no issue. He is then taken outside for a walk. On the walk, he has a neutral body as he pulls ahead. He is comfortable approaching the handler for treats before loosing interest. He would constantly stop walking and stare at any people that were nearby. He would try to cut in front of handler as they are walking to pull towards people passing by. He is able to be walked away from the people when he is moved to the side and is offered treats. He pulls on the ya back to his kennel and is able to enter with no issues.
08/11/26 (Assessment) (Late entry): Jerry is at the front of his kennel as the handler approaches. He is leashed and brought to the office for his assessment. Jerry explores the room, but frequently returns to the handlers to interact with them. After his assessment, he is brought back to the kennel where he stops right before the door. The handler tosses in treats, but ends up having to guide him into the kennel with leash pressure.
INTAKE BEHAVIOR
Date of Intake: 8-Aug-2026
Summary: Social and allowed all handling.
MEDICAL BEHAVIOR
Date of Initial: 8-Aug-2026
Summary: panting continuously tense, but allowed all handling without issue; licked handler several times.
ENERGY LEVEL: Jerry is described as high energy. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for them.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: New Hope Only
Recommendations:
No children (under 13)
Recommend no dog parks
Place with a New Hope partner
Recommendations comments:
No children (under 13): Due to Jerry's fearfulness and separation anxiety, we recommend he goes to an adult only home.
Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Jerry has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that he should not visit dog parks. The Behavior Department recommends that he be socialized in a more controlled setting until he behavior towards other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Jerry associate dogs with things he enjoys like toys or treats.
Place with a New Hope partner: Due to the behaviors observed in the Care Centers, Jerry should go to a New Hope Partner.
Potential challenges:
House soiling
Fearful
Anxiety
On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration
Low threshold for arousal
Other
Potential challenges comments:
House soiling: Jerry is noted to have accidents in the home several times a month. Positive reinforcement should be used to help manage his behavior.
Fearful: Jerry is a bit fearful at the care center. It is important to always go slow and give Jerry the option to walk away from any social interaction. Jerry should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Jerry’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Jerry would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings.
On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Jerry is reported to be on leash reactive towards other animals. Jerry may need positive reinforcement, reward-based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front-clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior.
Low threshold for arousal/Anxiety: Jerry was observed to spin in his kennel while hyper-salivating. He vocalizes when staff attempts to remove him. Daily enrichment and positive reinforcement should be used to help Jerry manage these behaviors. Please see the handouts on Arousal and General Anxiety.
Other: Jerry is reported to escape the home. His future adopter should make sure their home is have proper barriers to avoid further escape.
MEDICAL EXAM NOTES:
8/25/2026
DVM Behavior Medication Consultation
S/O/A:
Staff reports Jerry is spinning and highly reactive in kennel to the point that staff is having difficulty safely leashing him. Currently receiving trazodone 250 mg.
P:
Increase trazodone to 300 mg PO BID (8.8 mg/kg/dose)
Add gabapentin 600 mg PO BID (17.6 mg/kg/dose)
Add clonidine 0.9 mg PO BID (0.026 mg/kg/dose)
8-Aug-2026 DVM Intake
Medical Notes: 11:46 AM
DVM Intake Exam
Estimated age: 1-2 y/o based on dentition
Microchip noted on Intake? scanned POSITIVE
History: Owner surrender
Subjective: BARH
Observed Behavior - panting continuously tense, but allowed all handling without issue; licked handler several times
Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? NO
Objective:
P = WNL
R = WNL
BCS 5/9
EENT: Eyes clear, ears have mild brown discharge with no erythema or plaque, no nasal or ocular discharge noted
Oral Exam: no tartar or plaque, nice teeth!
PLN: No enlargements noted
H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic
ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated
U/G: no te**es in sc***um
MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy but long scruffy hair coat; tips of outer pinnae have healing ulcers and scabs
CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities
Re**al: externally normal
Assessment:
~1.5 y/o MN shepherd mix
Wounds on outer pinnae AU - r/o vasculitis, autoimmune, fly strike, mites
Long hair coat
Prognosis:
Good
Plan:
Ok for intake tasks
Administered Nexgard PO once today
Recommend grooming/brushing to remove undercoat
Start trazodone 250mg PO q12h indefinitely while in shelter (~7mg/kg)
SURGERY:
Already neutered
VET 992065
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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 “direct adopt” where you must go to the shelter “in person” 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. Please PRIVATE MESSAGE our page for assistance.
