🆘🆘🚨🚨GERMAN SHEPHERD IS CLOSE TO EUTHANASIA 🚨🚨🆘🆘

I don’t want to wake up and see him taken from the world

‼️URGENT‼️

👉 For the most up-to-date notes, please check the bio located in the comments.👈

AJ ACCT-A-207728 is currently considered urgent and at risk of euthanasia due to length of stay and lack of space for incoming dogs. AJ must have confirmed placement with an ADOPTER or RESCUE PARTNER by Friday, December 13th by 10:00 am. Should AJ’s medical or behavioral status change, his urgency and timeline for placement may also change.

Due to being significantly overcapacity with animals and higher than usual intake, extensions are unlikely to be granted. If you are interested in an animal please contact ACCT Philly immediately. Due to limited space, timestamps may also be proceeded with early so it is imperative to let us know if you are considering adopting or tagging an animal.

Meet AJ, a 4 year old shepherd who was brought to ACCT with his two other siblings after his owner was arrested. Understandably nervous in the shelter environment, he’s patiently waiting for a kind-hearted adopter or rescue partner who can offer him the time, patience, and understanding he needs to decompress and regain his trust. Though AJ is still adjusting, he's fairly easy to leash, but like many shepherds, he does have a tendency to pull during walks. He can become fixated on other dogs, so AJ needs a dedicated home that can provide him with the guidance and structure to manage his reactivity.

During his time at the shelter, AJ had a bad dog meet. Initially, while separated by a fence, he lowered himself and gently gave kisses to the other dog, but when walking alongside her, he became fixated and snappy. AJ's nervous nature requires a calm, understanding environment where he can feel safe and secure, and he would need a home without children. If you're someone with a heart full of patience, AJ is ready to build a trusting bond and become the loyal companion you've been looking for!

MEDICAL NOTES:

On 11/27 per exam: observed to have shelter acquired upper respiratory infection (URI), or a "doggy cold". They have been started on medication, and will be monitored for resolution of the respiratory infection.

On 11/26 per intake exam: Overall in good condition but noted to have scaly skin, curious, doesn’t tolerate too much, and allowed for vaccines but not a microchip.

BEHAVIOR NOTES:

On 12/8 per staff: AJ had a dog meet with Snow. AJ was under the bars wagging his tail, very loose and pushing his muzzle through to give Snow kisses from underneath. Snow was super wiggly with AJ and was tolerant to all play through the bars. When it was time for a face meet, AJ became very reactive to Snow and would bare teeth and snap at his face. He would fixate on Snow and would've made contact if he was bale to get closer.

On 12/3 per walk sheet notes: AJ was lower in energy today but walked well on the leash and did pull at times. No issues removing or placing back in the kennel.

On 11/26 per staff: Brought AJ out to attempt check in today. He was vocal in kennel alert barking but was much easier to leash. Once in the room AJ was much calmer than yesterday and allowed handling right away and took treats gently. He still did not lean in or solicit still but was more tolerant today. For check in, AJ did well and was able to be distracted with hot dogs!

On 11/26 per walk sheet notes: AJ had medium energy today on his walks. No issues removing or returning to his kennel. Was nervous and took him on a little walk. Is a strong puller.

On 11/26 per staff: BEHAVIOR EVALUATION

KNOWN HISTORY:

Owned

KENNEL PRESENTATION:

When approaching AJ in kennel he was very nervous and began to bark at me and retreat away to the middle of the kennel. He had forward ears, raised hackles and low wagging tail. I lowered the divider and went to the backside where he had retreated. When I came to the backside he continued to bark. I let him sniff the leash and he came forward to do so but then backed away again. I tried to reach in to leash him but he would dodge it so I ended up lassoing him ears to snout with the leash and then slowly tightened it. No issues when returning to his kennel, used clip method.

LEASH SKILLS:

Pulls strongly

HANDLING:

I brought AJ into the room and held him on leash for a majority of the time. Upon entering he took full length of the leash and gave some growls and side eye, trying to stay away from me and the other handler in the room. I offered some treats which he sniffed but would not take. I sat in the chair and tried to call him over to me and he remained very fearful and kept distance on leash, tensing if I moved any closer to him. I decided to put a barrier between us and just kneel down, making myself smaller and lower. He was more open to interaction with me on his level and sniffed me through the bars of the baby gate with some low wags but then backed up 2 ft away from me and began to alert bark and intermittently bare teeth at me while doing so. I ignored him while he did so for several minutes and he would occasionally stop to sniff me and approach and then bark more. I reached my hand out and he continued to bark and bare teeth at times but never actually escalated or directed it fully at me, he just appeared very scared, vocal, and unsure. After some more time I would try to do tiny spurts of light handling on his side. He would bark and shy away when I touched him, but again, did not escalate. Once I felt more comfortable with his behavior I went back over to the chair. He approached with more wags and going very slowly he began to ease into handling more. He allowed me to scratch his head, sides, and back without issue. He did not lean in or solicit but did remain tolerant to handling and give neutral body language. I had the other handler grab his brother CJ to see if that would help him warm up at all as well. Once CJ was in the room AJ was very excited to see him and would do toe taps, whine, play bow, and try to stay close to him. He even began to take treats as well.

PLAY:

No interest

TOYS:

No interest

COLOR LEVEL & ANY RECOMMENDATIONS:

Experienced Blues

On 11/25 per walk sheet notes: AJ was lower - medium energy today. Showed no issues coming out or going back to his kennel. Was nervous for the walk but did not show jumpiness or mouthiness.

On 11/25: Very fearful in the kennel- barking with no teeth showing, backing up, ears up, tail down and wagging fast. He will eat in the kennel and liked the chicken thigh chunks I had. Enticing him into the leash took a few minutes. Once leashed he was hesitant to leave the kennel but after 30 seconds he started to walk.

Didn’t eat outside. Skittish and fearful outside, scurrying away, tucked tail pretty much the whole time, avoidant of the handler and kept as much distance from her as he could most of the time.

A dog passed by and he stopped and looked intently but easily moved along when prompted.

He did a small snarl when I was reaching my hand slowly towards him to offer treats, he also backed away, so we just headed back inside.

On 11/23 per staff: Very scared, evasive, vocal, bite the control pole a couple of times

VIDEOS:

AJ and CJ Meet: https://youtube.com/shorts/lI1XT4t9fPY?feature=share

AJ and Snow Meet: https://youtube.com/shorts/MKPSSVMQR7E?feature=share

ACCT Philly is located at 111 West Hunting Park Ave in Philadelphia. We are open for adoptions 7 days a week. Please visit www.acctphilly.org/adopt for details.

If you are a rescue interested in pulling this animal, please email our lifesaving team, or visit here if you are not currently a rescue partner: https://acctphilly.org/acct-philly-love-local-partnership-program/

Confirmed placement is considered confirmation of an actual rescue pull. Possible placement, interested parties, and other "TBD" statuses are not considered confirmed and do not indicate an animal is no longer urgent

All animals at ACCT Philly are from Philadelphia, as the only open intake animal shelter in Philadelphia, we are not able to accept animals from outside of Philadelphia. ACCT Philly’s Pennsylvania kennel license number is 08313

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