06/03/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19hLgJR5Z5/?mibextid=wwXIfr
*** PLACED WITH RESCUE ***
His family kept him for all 4 years of his life in a shed. He had access to the yard for 30 minutes at a time. We think that is a horror, but despite the hardships he has faced, SHADOW BOY’s spirit remains unbroken. He greets the world with kindness, showing unwavering affection for adults, strangers, and especially children (he lived with 3 of them!). Shadow Boy is playful and social, eager to be part of a loving family where he can finally experience the warmth and comfort he has always deserved. His gentle and forgiving soul makes him an incredible companion.
Shadow Boy's time in the shelter has been a challenging for a boy who spent from puppyhood to Age 4 with a family, but his resilient spirit continues to shine through. His energy and eagerness to engage with people reflect his deep desire for companionship. Despite his initial nerves, he is always quick to approach his handlers, leaning in for attention and actively participating in activities designed to bring him comfort. He learns quickly, mastering cues like “sit” and “paw,” and he finds reassurance through enrichment exercises that help him feel more secure. His enthusiasm can sometimes come across as intense, but with patience and understanding, he is learning how to express his love in a more gentle way.
While the shelter environment has made Shadow Boy a little unsure, his affectionate nature remains unwavering. His eagerness to connect is evident—he wants to please, to bond, and to find stability in a loving home. With time and structure, Shadow Boy’s stress will fade, revealing the devoted and playful companion he was always meant to be. He is ready to leave behind the uncertainty of his past and step into a future filled with warmth, love, and the security of a family who will cherish him for the incredible dog he is.
IF YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED FOSTER OR ADOPTER WHO CAN GIVE THIS BOY THE LIFE HE DESERVED -- INSIDE A HOME -- PLEASE MESSAGE OUR PAGE FOR ASSISTANCE.
A VOLUNTEER WRITES:
"AT RISK! Shadow Boy catches my eye before I even meet him. This man is a cutie patootie. His little Rottweiler tail nub is to die for. Shadow Boy came to us when his owner could not care for him anymore. He is a nervous boy in the shelter, preferring to keep space until he gets to know someone. Shadow Boy lived with 1 adult and 3 children ages 3 to 16. He had been friendly and playful with the children he lived with. He spent the majority of his time in a shed with access to a yard a few times a day. He had lived with his owner for about 4 years and he knows basic cues. Shadow Boy has been reactive on walks at the shelter to cars, bikes, and dogs and would benefit from a lot of decompression. He is available for a new hope partner and is at risk. His id is #225569."
THE VOLUNTEERS MADE THIS CUTIE A REEL! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16fsPaSses/
SHADOW BOY, ID # 225569, @ 4 Yrs. Old, 83 lbs., Male
Queens ACC, Large Mixed Breed, Black/Brown
Owner Surrender Reason: 5/15/25 – No Time for him
Behavior Assessment Rating: New Hope Only
Recommendations:
No children (under 13),
Recommend no dog parks,
Place with a New Hope partner
Medical Behavior Rating:
AT RISK MEMO:
Shadow Boy is on the at risk list due to behavior concerns. Shadow Boy in the care center has been intensely fearful, avoiding interaction from staff and remaining aloof despite best efforts to keep him comfortable. Shadow Boy has began to mount several staff during interactions, and in one occasion began to growl while mounting staff members making it difficult to handle him safely at times. Medically, Shadow Boy is healthy.
Shadow Boy arrived at the care center due to his previous owner not being able to care for him anymore. Shadow Boy in care has been not acclimating well and has been intensely fearful, avoiding interaction and has displayed arousal concerns in care. Shadow has mounted staff members and began to growl, and during interactions remains tense, and avoiding staff members despite best efforts to keep him comfortable. As a result, we recommend he is placed with one of our New Hope Partners.
INTAKE NOTES – Date of Intake: 15-May-2025
Upon intake, Shadow Boy was panting heavily and leaned into the owner for pets. Once owner started to leash and take off the harness for staff, Shadow Boy barked and jumped on owner. He jumped on staff, staff unsure if aiming for leash or not. Shadow Boy walked with staff and into kennel easily without issues.
OWNER SURRENDER NOTES – BASIC INFORMATION:
Shadow Boy is an approx. 5-year-old LMB dog who was surrendered due to owner's circumstances (no time). He lived with 1 adult and 3 children (ages 3, 5, 16). When around strangers, Shadow Boy is tolerant and playful at times. When around children, Shadow Boy is friendly, outgoing, and playful. He has no experience with dogs or cats. Shadow Boy considers toys, treats, and food valuable and will hover over them but allows his owner to take them from him. He has never bitten anyone. He is not housetrained (kept in a shed and allowed yard access for 30 minutes at a time. His energy level is medium.
Other Notes:
Shadow Boy is known to pull hard on the leash. He will lunge at moving objects, like bikes, skateboards, cars, etc. Shadow Boy is not bothered when restrained, disturbed, his paws are touched, or his collar is grabbed. He is fearful when startled.
Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: Yes
Medical Notes: No medical issues reported.
For a New Family to Know: Shadow Boy is described as social and affectionate. He spent most of the time in a shed. He allows the owner to bathe and brush him. Shadow Boy will pull hard on leash and would have access to a yard for 30 minutes at a time. He has never been crated. Shadow Boy knows commands like sit and stay. He was fed wet and dry food.
BEHAVIOR NOTES
Date of intake:: 5/15/2025
Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender, 4 Years
Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 3 children (ages 3, 5, 16)
Behavior toward strangers:: When around strangers, Shadow Boy is tolerant and playful at times.
Behavior toward children:: When around children, Shadow Boy is friendly, outgoing, and playful.
Behavior toward dogs:: No experience with dogs.
Behavior toward cats:: No experience with cats.
Resource guarding:: Shadow Boy considers toys, treats, and food valuable and will hover over them but allows his owner to take them from him.
Bite history:: No bite history.
Housetrained:: No
Energy level/descriptors:: Medium
Other Notes:: Shadow Boy is described as social and affectionate. He spent most of the time in a shed. He allows the owner to bathe and brush him.
SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES - Date of assessment:: 5/18/2025
Leash Walking
Strength and pulling: Hard pull
Reactivity to humans: None
Reactivity to dogs: None
Leash walking comments:
Sociability
Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Stays near handlers heavy panting, attempts to jump on the handler distracted with treats takes with hard pressure
Call over: Readily approaches- heavy panting will grow stiff with touch
Sociability comments: shakes off body doesn't settle
Handling
Soft handling: Allowed- turns to look at handler, heavy panting
Exuberant handling: Allowed- distracted, heavy panting, pulls away from handling
Handling comments:
Arousal
Jog: Follow - panting
Arousal comments:
Knock: Jumps on helper chest twice, has to be removed by the assessor
Knock Comments: tense body, heavy panting
Toy: Growling, tense body
Toy comments:
5/17/25: Due to Shadow Boy's fearfulness displayed in care and potential low threshold for arousal, a handling assessment was not conducted at this time.
PLAYGROUP NOTES - DOG TO DOG SUMMARY Summary:: According to Shadow Boy's previous owner(s), Shadow Boy has not interacted with dogs having no experience with them.
05/21/25:
When off leash at the Care Center Shadow Boy is introduced to a novel female dog. When the novel female approaches the pen, Shadow Boy will immediately begin hard barking and lunges in her direction. When out of sight Shadow Boy will decompress. The novel female will begin displacement scent reluctant to approach the gate. Shadow boy approaches with a hard expression on his face. Quickly Shadow Boy will escalate to baring his front teeth and prey bowing while hard barking. The novel female will return to displacement scenting. Both dogs are separated, concluding the interaction.
ENRICHMENT NOTES
05/28/25: Shadow Boy is easily leashed and taken to the behavior office for a socialization session. Once in the room, he pulls hard towards the handler, jumps on them, and becomes stiff. Treats are tossed to distract him. Shadow Boy then starts marking the room and returns to the handlers for attention. The handler tosses sausages in a game of fetch, and Shadow Boy quickly engages. After some time, he is returned to his kennel without any issues.
05/28/25 (trainer note): Shadow Boy is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral frame. He was easily leashed and walked to the live room, stopping multiple times to scent mark on the way there. He was placed on a drag leash and explored the room and continued to mark while panting. He was provided with a licky mat with peanut butter which he engaged with and noticeably helped him relax and reduced his panting. He was able to orient towards the handler and take deep breaths during his LATTE rotation. He was easily leashed. On the way back to his kennel, he needed to wait outside the door with the handler for his kennel to be ready. He began to pant and his pupils became dilated. Handler gave him treats to ease his stress, which he began to take roughly. Instead, handler tossed the treats on the ground for the duration of the wait. Shadow Boy was then safely returned to kennel.
05/24/25 (staff report): Staff report that Shadow Boy is reactive to cars, bikes, and dogs while on walks.
05/24/25 (reassessment): Shadow Boy is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and pulls hard to the Canine Behavior Office for reassessment (see Behavior Assessment for further details). Shadow Boy immediately approaches assessor, and attempts jump up onto them and is easily distracted with tossed treats. Shadow Boy is collared with the use of spray cheese. He pants and paces throughout his time in the room and becomes tense bodied at times when contact is made. He takes treats roughly from hand. When handler re-enters room after knock, he will jump up with a tense frame twice, attempting to mount. Shadow Boy is passed off to the assessor who walks him over to a licky mat. He immediately engages and the lead is passed back to handler and the assessment continues. He becomes tense and low growls during toy portion of assessment. After assessment, Shadow Boy is leashed and returns to kennel safely.
05/23/25 (Trainer Note): Shadow Boy is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral body as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. Shadow Boy shows no interest in toys, but readily takes treats. He moves through the various enrichment items from item to item with the handler. Handler then works with him on taking deep breaths on cue. He participates readily and responds to sit and paw cues. He then leans into contact with a slightly tense body. Handler pauses and he reinitiates, leaning back in. When handler stops, Shadow Boy jumps up onto the handler and begins to vocalize. Handler throws treats onto the snuffle mat and he follows them, redirecting without issue. He is returned to kennel without issue. -
05/21/25 (trainer note): Shadow Boy is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral frame. He was easily leashed and walked to the live room on a loose leash. He is kept on leash in the room due to not having a collar. His demeanor was aloof as he slowly explored the room. He was not interested in toys and favored the licky mat with peanut butter. When offered a treat from hand, he took them roughly and his pupils became dilated. Handler practiced doggy zen which he caught on to quickly. He was returned to kennel with no issues.
05/21/25: Shadow Boy is standing at the front of his kennel and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is brought to the play yard to meet a playmate. When the playmate enters the yard, Shadow Boy presents a play bow followed by a hard bark. As he approaches the gate for a nose-to-nose greeting, he begins hard barking, baring his teeth, and growling. While inside the yard, Shadow Boy attempts to mount the handler trying to wrap paws around handler's leg. On the way back to his kennel, he makes another attempt to mount the handler, prompting the handler to stiff-arm him to prevent escalation. Shadow Boy is returned to his kennel safely with no further issues. See Dog-to- Dog note for more information.
05/16/25 (Assessment Note): Shadow Boy is lying down in his kennel and slowly gets up, approaching the front with caution as the handler stands nearby. When the handler attempts to leash him, he startles as the leash touches the back of his neck, appearing spooked and jumping back. After a brief pause, he allows the handler to leash him and slowly walks out, being escorted to the assessment room. Due to his high stress level and fearful behavior, Shadow Boy is given additional time to adjust to the environment. See behavior assessment for more information. Shadow Boy is brought back to his kennel safely.
INTAKE BEHAVIOR:
Date of intake:: 5/15/2025
Summary:: barked, social with owner, appears anxious
MEDICAL BEHAVIOR:
Date of initial:: 5/16/2025
Summary:: wraps arms around the person, possibly trying to hump, a few times did a low growl while on the person.
ENERGY LEVEL::
Shadow Boy is described by his previous owners as having a medium energy level. He will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised.
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 Shadow Boy's fearfulness and resource guarding, we recommend he goes to an adult-only home.
Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Shadow Boy's fearfulness and resource guarding, we recommend he is placed with one of our New Hope Partners.
Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling,Low threshold for arousal
Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Shadow Boy is reported to hover over his food and treats when approached. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Shadow Boy's mouth, and any time something is removed he should be rewarded with a high-value treat or toy. He should be taught the "drop" cue and trade-up games. See handout on Resource Guarding.
Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition/Basic manners/poor impulse control: Shadow Boy is noted to take treats with hard pressure and jump on handlers and attempt to mount.
Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Shadow Boy has been intensely fearful in care, and has growled a staff member. He should never be forced to greet or to interact if he is not comfortable and soliciting attention. Shadow Boy would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. See handouts on Decompression Period and Fearful and Defensive Aggression.
On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Shadow Boy is noted to become reactive with dogs, cars, bikes.
Strength/leash pulling: Shadow Boy is noted in care to heavy pull while on walks.
Low threshold for arousal: Shadow Boy has a low threshold for arousal and may become overstimulated quickly, as seen when he mounted and growled at a staff member. Interactions should remain calm and structured, with arousal levels monitored closely. If he begins to escalate, redirect with a known cue, give space, and allow time for him to settle. See handout on Arousal and Impulse Control.
MEDICAL EXAM NOTES
5/16/2025
[DVM Intake]
DVM Intake Exam
Estimated age: 4 years
Microchip noted on Intake? No
History: Owner surrender
Subjective: BARH, no c/s/v/d
Observed Behavior - Friendly but jumps up and wraps arms around the person, possibly trying to hump, a few times did a low growl while on the person. Muzzled for exam.
Is there evidence of Cruelty? No
Is there evidence of Neglect? No
Is there evidence of Trauma? No
Objective
P = wnl
R = wnl
BCS 4/9
EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted
Oral Exam: mild tartar
PLN: No enlargements noted
H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic
ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated
U/G: both te**es down and wnl.
MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, small matt in fur on right side of neck.
CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities
Re**al: N/A
Assessment
Apparently healthy
Prognosis: Good
Plan:
Assessment from behavior team
SURGERY:
Okay for surgery
5/16/2025
Behavior team reports too fearful to conduct handling assessment, noted to have mounted staff during intake exam. Start trazodone 9 mg/kg PO BID and CTM.
5/25/2025
beh req med, still mounting, displaying arousal, adding clonidine approx 0.025mg/kg PO BID (0.8mg)
* TO FOSTER / ADOPT *
If you would like to foster or adopt:
To foster or adopt a NYC ACC dog please PRIVATE MESSAGE our page at https://www.facebook.com/NYCDogsLivesmatter or email us at [email protected] 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.
Shelter contact information:
Phone number (212) 788-4000
Email [email protected]
Shelter Addresses:
Queens Shelter: 1906 Flushing Ave., Ridgewood, NY 11385
Manhattan Shelter: 326 East 110 St. New York, NY 10029
Staten Island Shelter: 3139 Veterans Road West Staten Island, NY 10309
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
