🚨🆘PENELOPE HAS HAD IT ROUGH🚨🚨🆘🆘

This poor beautiful sweet soul has been returned to the shelter . She was being fostered then today adopted . They brought her back only a few hours later for separation anxiety. I’m hurt for her so deeply hurt

Update: Penelope is back at the shelter and is still in urgent need of placement!

Penelope is in foster care through ACCT!

‼️URGENT‼️

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

Penelope ACCT-A-208535 is currently considered urgent and at risk of euthanasia due to length of stay and lack of space for incoming dogs. Penelope must have confirmed placement with a RESCUE PARTNER, FOSTER, or ADOPTER by Friday, December 27th at 10 A.M. Should Penelope’s medical or behavioral status change, her urgency and timeline for placement may also change.

Meet Penelope! This super sweet and adorable girl was found as a stray on December 7th, tied to the wall of a church, and transported to the shelter by one of our amazing Animal Protection Officers. Since then, she has captured the hearts of staff and volunteers alike with her affectionate personality and loving nature.

Penelope is a green dog, meaning she’s a perfect match for entry-level handlers. She has made so many friends during her time here and even enjoyed a brief stay with a short-term foster, who described her as “31 lbs of pure sweetness.” Penelope thrives on attention and affection—snuggles, pets, and face-to-face cuddles are her absolute favorite things in the world. She’s a social butterfly, greeting everyone with a wagging tail and warm, soulful eyes.

This adorable girl loves going for long walks, playing tug-of-war, and squeaky toys (her favorite!). She knows how to sit, takes treats gently, and is crate-trained. While she could use a little help with leash training and managing her excitement when greeting people, her polite demeanor and willingness to learn make her a joy to be around.

Penelope is very friendly with other dogs and has enjoyed positive meet-and-greet experiences. Volunteers note that she walks well on a leash, exits and enters her kennel without issue, and sits so nicely for treats. She’s also playful in the yard but always checks in for cuddles and attention.

While in foster care, her loving personality shone through, but a few challenges came to light: she has some tendencies of separation anxiety, is a bit jumpy when excited, and has had ongoing issues with diarrhea, but is receiving treatment. She also had a small rash from an ill-fitting harness and a minor paw abrasion, but both are healing well. These small hurdles are far outweighed by her sweet, loyal, and cuddly nature.

Penelope is urgently seeking a placement due to her length of stay at the shelter. She deserves a loving home where she can continue to blossom into the incredible companion she’s meant to be.

Please reach out to learn more about this wonderful pup or visit us to meet her in person. She’s ready to steal your heart!

Videos:

Penelope, Magnum, and Bonfire 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfE2DusIT7M

Penelope, Magnum, and Bonfire 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHSAt-nPsdM

Penelope and Magnum drop leash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0n8tJ8sGDs

Durant meet Penelope through the fence: https://youtube.com/shorts/S2s6iDIow-4?feature=share

Penelope On A Run https://youtube.com/shorts/-1kUBLYDago

Penelope Knows Sit https://youtube.com/shorts/b8XVT4CDpr8

Penelope Playing With a toy https://youtube.com/shorts/s0voFloZWLM

Behavior Notes:

Per staff 12/18/24: A super sweet, friendly gal. Solicits attention and sits so nicely for treats and take them gently! Walks very well on leash! Able to exit and return to kennel without issue. Seems like a great girl and she's a great size!

Per volunteer 12/15/24:: Penelope and Pupperoo meet today! They did a great job reading behaviors and enjoyed their time together! This was a positive experience!!

Per foster 12/15/24:

humping / mouthing: when we would get back from walks she was fixated on jumping on us, wrapping her paws tightly around a leg and humping. I wasn’t sure if that was bc she had a lot of energy, self soothing, or she wanted attention. It would hurt bc her claws were so sharp and it was a repeated behavior even though we would tell her to stop or try to redirect with a toy. She would also prod my leg with her snout and start to mouth at my knee. Eventually i would get her to calm down and she would be just fine but it was a repeated behavior.

Diarrhea: she had has diarrhea since I got her on 12/9. I picked up the dewormer and probiotics and gave/have been giving that to her but the diarrhea has continued and I noticed another spot of blood today.

she has a great appetite!

she has lots of dandruff (I’m assuming due to winter)

armpit rash: the harness given to me ended up being too small so she has small rashes under her armpits where it rubbed too tightly.

paw abrasion: she had a small abrasion on her back left paw we noticed on Tuesday 12/10 like she had scraped it on something but I think it’s healing well.

separation anxiety: she mostly pees and poops inside when I leave her alone which I'm assuming is linked to separation anxiety. she also whines a bit when left alone.

Per foster 12/15/24:

Penelope is 31 lbs of pure sweetness. She is very loving and has eyes you just can’t say no to. She has lots of energy, loves going for long walks, and playing tug of war with toys. She loves pets, snuggling, and face to face attention. That is her #1 MO: pets and cuddles. Penelope is (mostly) house trained, knows how to sit, and is crate trained. She could use some leash training as she pulls but is not hard to walk. She is very friendly with other people and wants to greet other dogs with a wagging tail. We even gave her a bath and she was very patient and quiet. She is a bit jumpy and has some separation anxiety. We had a lot of fun taking care of this little girl for a week and definitely would have had her for longer if we could have. Whoever adopts her is very lucky! She is a wonderful companion.

Per volunteer 12/9/24:

Penelope is a social butterfly with a heart full of love. She greets everyone with a wagging tail and warm, soulful eyes, always ready for cuddles and affection. This sweet and gentle girl craves attention and will let out the cutest little whines when she’s not the center of it!

Penelope is well-mannered and takes treats delicately, even sitting perfectly to show off her polite side. While she enjoys a bit of playtime, her real love is squeaky toys—they’re her absolute favorite!

If you’re looking for a cuddle buddy with a soft and loving personality, Penelope is your girl. She’s ready to fill your home with joy and snuggles!

Per volunteer 12/8/24:

Penelope is a love bug! It was noted that when she first came in, she was very timid- but it seems she is opening up. Penelope loved to run around in the yard, and check in for cuddles.

Per staff 12/8/24:

KENNEL PRESENTATION:

Penelope was in her crate with soft eyes and had her front paws on the crate door. She allowed me to reach and leash her easily and came right out once secured.

LEASH SKILLS:

Pulls minimally

HANDLING:

In the room, Penelope was extremely social and friendly. She greeted the handlers with a wagging tail and soft eyes. All she wanted to do was be held and cuddled. She is a very sweet and affectionate girl and will whine when she doesn't have attention from everyone at once. She allowed all handling and took treats gently, she even sat perfectly for it.

PLAY:

Engaged in play – minimal interest

TOYS:

Loves a squeaky toy

Per staff 12/7/24: Dog is very social and allows handling seeks attention

Medical Notes:

12/19/24:

Objective

reported diarrhea by foster and observed in the shelter

Plan

Start a 7 day course of Fortiflora

Metro at 10mg/kg BID x 5 days

12/16/24:

BODY CONDITION SCORE (BCS): 4/9

FAS: 1/5

PAIN SCORE: 0/4

EYES, EARS, NOSE, THROAT: nares, eyes, and ears clean and clear with no discharge

OROPHARYNGEAL: mild dental calculus, no apparent oral masses or foreign bodies

CARDIOVASCULAR: no murmur or arrhythmia, pulses strong and synchronous, MM pink and moist, CRT less than 2 sec, normal skin turgor

RESPIRATORY: eupneic, lungs clear in all fields

LYMPH NODES: normal palpation

ABDOMEN,GI: soft and comfortable on palpation with no apparent masses

RECTAL EXAM: Not performed

UROGENITAL: normal external genitalia

MUSCULOSKELETAL: normal gait, ambulatory x 4, brief orthopedic exam

INTEGUMENTARY: 1 cm diameter scab in right axilla with mild crusting and erythema around it, thin hair coat along dorsum and on head, but underlying skin appears normal, alopecia on dorsal tail mid-way down with dry skin (appears to be chronic - no active erythema and not moist at all), no ectoparasites noted

NERVOUS SYSTEM: Normal mentation, CNs WNL, no ataxia, brief neurologic exam

Behavior: Allowed all handling

12/15/24:

Eyes - Clear but a little red

Ears - Clean

Nose - Clear

Mouth/Teeth/Gums - Moderate staining, gums pink and moist

Coat & Skin - Clean, some hair loss on tail and hair thinning on head and back. Rash in armpits from harness per foster

Urogenital - Intact female

Gait/Mobility - No lameness noted

Attitude: BAR, Very friendly, gives hugs, and loves squeeze cheese

Intake 12/7/24:

Eyes - red but clear

Ears - waxy and red

Nose - clear

Mouth/Teeth/Gums - some tartar

Coat & Skin - missing hair on face and head, scab by nose, and stomach, dry skin and red, no fleas found

Urogenital - Female, intact

Gait/Mobility - no lameness

Attitude: BAR, very friendly, love treats

Due to being significantly overcapacity with dogs and cats 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 a dog or cat.

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

#pittienation #urgent #theDREAMteam #shelterdogs