06/06/2026
Date of Intake: 29-May-2026
BABY BLU is a stunning boy with a beautiful coat. He lived with his previous owner his whole life, but now they are surrendering him because he’s a little scaredy cat. I guess they never wondered what they were doing wrong and never sought to help him and change their behaviors to alleviate his fears. He is said not to like being leashed, but at the shelter he was able to be leashed and walked in for his medical exam. He did get a little growly when picked up, but he allowed that too. Now he’s too frightened to leave his kennel, so you know he doesn’t have much time. If you are experienced working with scared pups and are interested in fostering or adopting this cutie, please message our page immediately. Baby Blu deserves to find his safe spot in the world, as well as one filled with love. How rewarding it will be as you take patient baby steps to help him build his confidence!
My movie:
BABY BLU 254768 🩵 Basking in the Sun!
https://youtu.be/jXw14UAtWT4
BABY BLU, ID 254768, 5 years old, 13 lbs., Male
Manhattan ACC, Small mixed breed, Gold/Rust
Owner surrender reason: Date of Intake: 29-Mar-2026: Because he is fearful
Behavior Assessment Rating: New Hope only
No children under 13
Place with a New Hope rescue
Medical Behavior: tense in kennel but able to be leashed and walks into intake room on own, able to be picked up on to exam table but growls. Allows muzzle to be placed and does well for exam, growls for tasks but does not escalate.
SHELTER MEMO:
Baby Blu arrived at MACC as an owner surrender. His previous owner states that he is fearful in the home and will hide or snap when the family tries to put his collar and leash on. During one instance, Baby bit the owner's mother on the hand, drawing blood. This bite was treated at the urgent care. While in care, Baby has been observed to be highly fearful. Noted to have a tense body, wide eyes, lip licking, and is reluctant to exit the kennel. Due to the detailed behavior, we recommend an experienced adult only home.
INTAKE NOTES—Date of Intake: 29-Mar-2026
Blu would hide or snap when the family or owner tried to put his collar and leash on. He had a tense body and was lip licking.
OWNER SURRENDER NOTES—BASIC INFORMATION
Blu lived with his owner for 5 years, his whole life, and is now being surrendered because he is fearful.
BEHAVIOR NOTES:
Date of Intake: 29-Mar-2026
Spay/neuter status: No
Means of surrender: Length of time in previous home: owner surrender/5 years
Bite history:
March 2026: It is reported that in one instance Blu bit the owner's mother on the hand drawing blood. This bite was treated at urgent care.
SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES: Date of Assessment: 2-Jun-2026
Baby Blu has been observed to be highly fearful while in care, noted to have a tense body, wide eyes, lip licking, and is reluctant to exit the kennel. Due to the high level of fear, stress, and anxiety, Baby Blu is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.
PLAYGROUP SUMMARIES: DOG TO DOG: N/A
ENRICHMENT NOTES:
6/3/26: Baby Blu is lying dwn in his kennel when the handler approaches; the handler attempts to leash him, but he moves his head around, resulting with him loosening himself frim the leash. Baby then stands up and goes to the back of his kennel; the handler lassos him and brings him out the room. On the street, baby walks ahead with mild leash tension; he occasionally sniffs different marked spots on the ground. The handler attempts to get his attention, but he shows no interest. When walking back to the shelter, Baby stays behind the handler, reluctant to walk, but eventually he walks ahead. Upon return, the handler slowly clips the leash and returns Baby Blu to his kennel.
5/31/26: Baby Blu is sitting in his kennel towards the back. The handler tosses treats and he ignores them, maintaining his stare on the handler. He has wide eyes. When the handler opens the door and shows him the leash, he begins to lip lick, tremble, lift his paw, and turn his head away. The handler closes the door and tosses some vienna sausages, which he comes forwards to eat. However, when opening the door again, he repeats the same behaviors. The walk is abandoned due to FAS.
INTAKE BEHAVIOR:
Date of intake: 29-May-2026
Summary: Tense body, lip licking
MEDICAL BEHAVIOR:
Date of Initial: 3-Jun-2026
Summary: tense in kennel but able to be leashed and walks into intake room on own, able to be picked up on to exam table but growls. Allows muzzle to be placed and does well for exam, growls for tasks but does not escalate.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: New Hope Only
Recommendations:
No children (under 13)
Place with a New Hope partner
Recommendations comments:
No children (under 13): Due to the bite history and fearful behavior we recommend an adult only home.
We recommend placement with a New Hope rescue partner who is able to provide an experienced, adult-only foster home. Force-free, reward based training and/or consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended.
Potential challenges:
Fearful
Bite history (human)
Potential challenges comments:
Fearful: Baby Blu has been observed to be highly fearful while in care, noted to have a tense body, wide eyes, lip licking, and is reluctant to exit the kennel. They should never be forced to approach anything that they are uncomfortable with or submit to petting or handling. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Baby would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period.
Bite History (Human): Please see bite history above for more details. Please see handout on Bite History and Potential for Future Aggression.
MEDICAL EXAM NOTES:
3-Jun-2026 DVM Intake
Medical Notes: 9:29 AM
DVM Intake Exam
Estimated age: 5 years per owner, exam agrees 3-5 years
Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative
History: Owner surrender
Subjective: QAR
Observed Behavior - tense in kennel but able to be leashed and walks into intake room on own, able to be picked up on to exam table but growls. Allows muzzle to be placed and does well for exam, growls for tasks but does not escalate.
Is there evidence of suspected cruelty?
Objective:
T =
P = WNL
R = WNL
BCS: 5/9
EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted
Oral Exam: Adult dentition, clean/white
PLN: No enlargements noted
H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic
ABD: Very tense but non painful, no masses palpated
U/G: Externally WNL, intact male, 2 scrotal te**es
MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat.
CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities
Re**al: Externally WNL
Wood's Lamp Exam: negative
Assessment:
Apparently healthy
Intact male
Prognosis: Good
Plan:
Intake tasks + exam
Await sort + behavior assessment
Continue with FAS meds previously prescribed
SURGERY:
Okay for surgery, in house
VET 992172
31-May-2026 Behavior Consult
Medical Notes: 12:34 PM
Staff note pet not able to go on walks due to fearful behavior in shelter.
Plan
Trazodone 50mg 3/4 tablet po bid while in shelter
Gabapentin 100mg 1 tablet po bid while in shelter.
VET 991752
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* TO FOSTER / ADOPT *
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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.