04/21/2026
Princess has been placed with AmsterDog Rescue
Pretty girl PRINCESS is a young sweetheart whose whole world lights up when she’s with her people. She adores family time just as much as she adores playtime — tug of war, frisbees sailing through the air, bouncy balls, stuffed toys she can proudly parade around. Underneath all that playful sparkle is a tender little heart that simply wants to belong. But Princess does not feel safe around strangers, and the shelter has left her absolutely terrified; she’s a sensitive girl trying her best to cope in a place that overwhelms her at every turn. What she needs now is an experienced foster or adopter who can offer patience, understanding, and the steady, predictable environment she’s been missing. With the right person, this special girl will blossom — all she needs is someone willing to meet her where she is and guide her gently forward. Please MESSAGE OUR GROUP PAGE ASAP if you can help Princess find the safe haven she so desperately deserves. She must be your only pet.
PRINCESS, ID 251418, 2 years old, 23 lbs., Female/spayed
Queens ACC, Small mixed breed, Black/white
Owner surrender reason: Date of Intake: 11-Apr-2026, behavior concerns
Behavior Assessment Rating: New Hope only
No children under 13
Single-pet home
Recommend no dog parks
Place with a New Hope rescue
Medical Behavior: spinning in circles, not allowing anyone to come near
AT RISK MEMO:
Princess is at risk due to behavioral concerns both in her previous home and during her stay in care. Her previous owner described her as a very active dog who prefers contact on her own terms. She enjoyed playing with a variety of different toys such as frisbees, balls, and plushies. Her owner did report that she escalates to barking, lunging, snapping, and growling at strangers, children, and other dogs. Princess has displayed similar escalations towards handlers during her stay in care and is difficult to remove from her kennel due to her snapping at leads. Medically, Princess is in heat.
Princess was surrendered by her previous owner due to behavioral concerns. Her previous family described her as a vocal and very active dog who prefers contact on her own terms. She spends her time following her family around her home, playing fetch or tug of war, or running around. Her favorite toys are frisbees, balls, squeaky toys, and plushies. Princess was fed both wet and dry food of Blue Buffalo brand, but will also eat home-cooked food like boiled chicken. Her owner reports that she has destructive tendencies, barks often, is anxious, is reactive to other dogs, and has escalated to barking, lunging, and snapping at strangers and children. During her stay, Princess has displayed similar higher-level escalations towards staff and has been difficult to remove from the kennel safely. Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment and during her stay in care, we recommend Princess be placed with a New Hope rescue partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only home. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Princess presents with outside of the care centers.
INTAKE NOTES—Date of Intake: 11-Apr-2026
Upon intake staff was unable to collar or scan due to FAS. Princess walked well on leash and accepted treats.
OWNER SURRENDER NOTES—BASIC INFORMATION
In her previous home, Princess loved to spend time with family. An active, playful girl, her favorite toys are stuffed animals, balls, frisbees and toys that squeak. She needs time to warm up to strangers, and prefers contact on her own terms.
BEHAVIOR NOTES:
Date of Intake: 11-Apr-2026
Spay/neuter status: no
Means of surrender: Length of time in previous home: 1 year
Previously lived with:: adults
Behavior toward strangers:: Alert barks, lunges, and snaps but can also be friendly and outgoing
Behavior toward children:: Alert barks and snaps
Behavior toward dogs:: Growls, barks, lunges, and snaps at all other dogs
Behavior toward cats:: unknown
Resource guarding:: none reported
Bite history:: none reported
Housetrained:: No
Energy level/descriptors:: Princess is reported to have a very high energy level.
Other Notes:: Is not housetrained, has destructive tendencies, barks often, is anxious when left alone, is dog reactive as well as stranger reactive, and has general anxiety On walks, pulls hard on her leash and she will bark, growl, or lunge at strangers, other dogs, and small animals. She has been known to do the same when strangers approach her home She is unbothered by being moved from furniture, being held or restrained, disturbed when sleeping, and when having her collar grabbed. She is fearful when her paws are touched and when she is startled she may bark.
SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES: Date of Assessment: 13-Apr-2026
Summary:: Princess has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and has escalated on multiple occasions since her intake towards staff - lunging, snapping, and has snapped at a handler's foot when close to her during one occassion- and can be difficult to remove from her kennel safely. She also has displayed similar behaviors during her medical exam. Due to these concerns, she is not an appropriate candidate for a handling assessment.
PLAYGROUP SUMMARIES: DOG to DOG: N/A
ENRICHMENT NOTES:
4/14: Princess is standing at the front of her kennel with a soft body when a handler approaches. They adjust her kennel card and place signage before offering her treats. She readily accepts treats. But as the handler stands to walk away, Pricness begins hard barking. - MC
04/13/26: Princess is at the front of kennel with a loose frame as handler approaches and will follow handler from one side of kennel to the other as they approach. She jumps up socially on the kennel door but as handler opens the door slightly, she begins to hard bark and jump at the kennel door. Handler slowly drops their lead in to leash her, but Princess continuously dodges the lead and then jumps up at handler's hand with an open mouth twice, growling intermittently. Due to her continued escalations, and her kennel being clean, handler decides to leave her be. -DW
4/12: Princess is at the front of her kennel hard barking and lunging, she continues to try and hide and go between the transfer door, but it is closed and she is leashed over her head. Princess is walked to the office, and halfway down the handler has to stop due to dog traffic and their foot was too close to Princess and she snapped towards the handler foot once. Princess was walked into the office and is aloof, walking around the room, pacing with a heavy pant and explores the surrounding area. Princess is kept in the office briefly before being brought back to kennel with no issue, and the leash is taken off with a tool which she growls at.
INTAKE BEHAVIOR
Date of intake:: 4/11/2026
Summary:: unable to collar or scan due to FAS. Princess walked well on leash and accepted treats.
MEDICAL BEHAVIOR
Date of initial:: 4/11/2026
Summary:: Spinning in circles and not allowing anyone to come near- lunging, hard barking and tries to bite.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: New Hope Only
Recommendations:
No children (under 13)
Single-pet home
Recommend no dog parks
Place with a New Hope partner
Recommendations comments:
No children (under 13): Due to her reported concerns, including towards children in conjunction with the escalations displayed in care, we recommend that Princess be placed in an adult-only home.
Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks: Princess's previous owner reported that she growls, barks, lunges, and snaps at other dogs. We feel that shem should not visit dog parks and be the only resident dog. The Behavior Department recommends that she be socialized in a more controlled setting until his behavior towards other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Princess associate dogs with things she enjoys like toys or treats.
Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment in addition to the behaviors displayed in care, the behavior department recommends Princess be placed with a New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow her to acclimate comfortably to her new environment; force-free, reward-based training only is advised when introducing Princess to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Princess presents with outside of the care centers.
Potential challenges:
House soiling
Destructive behavior
Handling/touch sensitivity
Fearful/potential for defensive aggression
Separation anxiety
Anxiety
On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration
Potential challenges comments::
House soiling: Princess is reported not to be house-trained and will need further guidance to reduce her accidents. Please see the handout on House soiling.
Destructive behavior | Separation anxiety: Princess was reported to be destructive in the home and becomes anxious when left alone. Details about how these behaviors manifested or steps taken to modify these behaviors, were not provided. Please see handouts on Destructive behavior and Separation anxiety.
Handling/touch sensitivity: Princess is reported to be fearful when her paws are touched. She has been difficult to remove from kennel for leashing. Please see handout on Handling/touch sensitivity.
Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Princess is reported to have lunged, snapped, and barks at strangers and children. Similar behaviors have been displayed during her stay in care. Guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is recommended to assess behavior after decompression in a new home environment. Force-free, reward based training is advised when introducing or exposing Princess to new and unfamiliar situations. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.
Anxiety: Princess's previous owner reported that she barks often and has anxiety in the previous home. Her owner did not give details on how the anxiety manifested. If Princess displays anxious behavior in her future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving her other things to focus on to alleviate her anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training only should be used. Please see the handout on generalized anxiety.
On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Princess will bark, growl, or lunge at strangers, other dogs, and small animals. She has been known to do the same when strangers approach her home. Please see handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration.
MEDICAL EXAM NOTES:
4/11/2026
DVM Intake Exam- sedated exam
Estimated age: ~ 2 years
Is this an orphan kitten? No
Microchip noted on Intake? No
History: Owner surrender
Subjective: BARH Observed Behavior - Spinning in circles and not allowing anyone to come near- lunging, hard barking and tries to bite.
Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No
Objective: P = wnl
R = wnl
BCS 6/9
EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted
Oral Exam: mild tartar (grade 1)
PLN: No enlargements noted
H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic
ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated
U/G: large v***a- no vaginal d/c
MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat
CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities
Re**al: NE Wood's Lamp Exam: NE
Assessment:
1. Apparently healthy intact female dog
Prognosis: Fair
Plan:
1. Sedated with DKT (0.23mL of each drug)
2. All intake tasks completed
3. Blood pulled for HWT + cbc/chem
SURGERY: Okay for surgery
4/14/2026
Pre-Op Exam
S/O: BAR, no c/s/v/d noted
EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge noted
Lungs: Eupneic, normal respiratory rate/effort
CNS: Mentation appropriate
A: Apparently healthy
P: Spay today
SURGERY: Okay for surgery
4/14/2026
Routine Canine OVH Ventral Midline Incision Ovaries Ligated with: 2-0 PDS miller's knots Uterine Body Ligated with: 2-0 PDS miller's knot Abdominal Closure: 2-0 PDS cruciates Subcutaneous Closure: 2-0 PDS simple continuous Skin Closure: 2-0 PDS intradermal, skin glue
Green Linear Tattoo Placed
Surgeon: 1438
Additional Comments:
Smooth recovery
4/14/2026
CBC: monocytes 0.821 (H) CHEM: glucose 128 (H) Interpretation: NSF
4/15/2026
Post Surgical Exam
Attitude/demeanor: BAR
Appetite: eating well
C/S/V/D: none
Incision site: no swelling, bruising, or bleeding; sutures appear intact
Pain level: appears comfortable
Licking, chewing, or biting surgical site noted: not observed
Additional notes: none
4/21/2026
[Post Surgical Exam]
Attitude/demeanor: BAR, in front of kennel
Appetite: Appears to be eating well
C/S/V/D: None reported/seen
Incision site: No swelling, bruising, or bleeding noticed/noted; sutures appear intact
Pain level: Appears to be comfortable
Licking, chewing, or biting surgical site noted: None reported/seen
Additional notes: N/A
-992230
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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. Contact our page or email us for assistance.
