06/26/2026
*** ATLAS IS ON HOLD ***
I got a movie!
A chill day with Axel, the amazing Rottie! ID 255891
https://youtu.be/_-daJj5d1qQ
ATLAS AXEL is a very handsome Rottie type boy who needs you now! Brought in from Elmhurst, he was found abandoned, locked in a basement, hoping no one would find him. Soaked in urine and with painful ear aches, he was then thrown in a crate for transport. No wonder he was scared. Atlas is very uncomfortable in the shelter environment, and just waits to exhale in a quiet home with an experienced person. If you can give Atlas the safe and stable home he needs, and take things slowly so he can acclimate to new people and places at his own pace, please consider fostering or adopting this gorgeous guy. Mix in plenty of love and you’ll have the perfect recipe for Axel’s future success as he trusts again and lives life to the fullest. Message our page today and we will assist you throughout the application process.
ATLAS AXEL, ID 255891, 2 years old, 96 lbs., Male
Queens ACC, Rottweiler Cross,, Black/Brown
Owner surrender reason: Date of Intake: 30-May-2026: stray/no known history
Behavior Assessment Rating: New Hope only
No children under 13
No dog parks
Place with a New Hope rescue
Medical Behavior: Tense, growling in crate/chose to sedate
AT RISK MEMO:
Atlas Axel is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Atlas Axel has not acclimated well to the shelter environment despite the best efforts to help him acclimate and keep him comfortable. While in the kennel, he has escalated to charging handlers, snapping at leads, and lunging during attempts to remove him from the kennel. Upon returning to the kennel, he intermittently becomes reluctant. Once out, he remains aloof but readily explores different scents during his walks. Medically, Atlas Axel is being treated for CIRDC.
Atlas Axel was surrendered into care as a stray, so his past behavior in a home environment is unknown. He has escalated to higher-level warnings when handlers attempted to remove him from the kennel. Once out of the kennel, he remains avoidant. Due to all noted concerns displayed in the care center, the behavior department recommends that Atlas 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 Atlas to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward-based training only is advised when introducing him to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Atlas Axel presents with outside of the care centers.
INTAKE NOTES—Date of Intake: 30-May-2026
ATLAS AXEL was brought in inside of a crate and was not handled by intake staff.
OWNER SURRENDER NOTES—BASIC INFORMATION
Atlas Axel is a large, male dog who was found abandoned in a basement at 77 Street, ELMHURST, 11373.
BEHAVIOR NOTES:
Date of Intake: 30-May-2026
Spay/neuter status: No
Means of surrender: Length of time in previous home: stray/no known history
SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES: Date of assessment: 10-Jun-2026
Summary: Atlas Axel has escalated to hard staring, charging the kennel door, and snapping after slamming into the kennel door. He dodges leashing and remains stressed. Due to his escalations a handling assessment is not conducted.
PLAYGROUP SUMMARIES: DOG TO DOG:
Due to entering care as a stray, no prior dog-to-dog history is recorded.
06/20/26 Atlas is introduced to a novel male while off leash. He approaches the gate with a forward frame and elbows locked as he sniffs the male. Atlas will loosen slightly as the male solicits play at the gate. Atlas walks away and reapproaches to greet again.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:
6/18/26: Atlas Axel is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He retreats to the back and grabs a toy as the handler unlocks the door. He then re-approaches the door and drops toy for treats. He would quickly eat the treats and back away as the handler attempts to leash him. He then approaches again and is able to be leashed as he quickly eats more treats. He then pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he pulls hard towards a ball that he finds on the ground and he picks it up and carries it to the yard. In the yard, he fins another ball and then grabs that one as well. He then lays down while chewing on the two toys. He then stands up when the handler goes to try to walk around and he becomes tense and begins to growl while hovering as he stared at the handler. The handler tosses treats and he has no interest. He then pulls to the exit gate and handler is able to exit the kennel. On the way back to the building, he accidently drops the toy balls and they begin to roll down the ramp. He begins to pull hard towards them to chase after them. The handler then exits outside of the ramp and walks down the side walk back to the building. Before entering, he notices the ball again and begins to pull towards it. Another handler nearby is able to pick it up before he enters the building. He then pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and quickly grabs the toy that is in kennel when he enters. He then drops the toy and grabs his bedding and flips it to the opposite side of his kennel. Then starts to move around his kuranda bed with his snout as the handler locks the door and walks away.
06/15/26: Atlas is laying down in the back of his kennel and gets up to approach the front, wagging his nub tail as the handler prepares to open the kennel and leash him. He gently accepts treats from the handler’s hand and allows himself to be leashed with ease. Atlas is then brought outside for a relief walk. While outside, he maintains a soft, neutral frame and walks on a loose leash alongside the handler. He relieves himself multiple times and spends the outing exploring the neighborhood, taking in scents from the grass and trees. When the walk is complete, Atlas is brought back to his kennel safely without any issues.
6/14 (PM): ACS staff report that when they approached Atlas Axel's kennel, he was quiet. Upon opening the kennel door and placing the lead inside, Atlas charges, slamming into the kennel door and snapping at their lead. Due to his intensity, they lock the kennel door and give him some time to settle before making another attempt. After about 10-15 minutes, the ACS attempts to offer Atlas Axel treats and toys to coax him while attempting to leash, but he displays the aforementioned behaviors. Due to this, they are unable to remove him from the kennel. Later on in the night (a few hours later), another ACS attempts to leash Atlas. He is able to be leashed but when returning inside from his walk, Atlas begins balking. Once back in his kennel, Atlas begins lunging and hitting the kennel door.
6/8/26: Atlas Axel is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and he then pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he continues to pull hard towards would towards trees to mark his territory. He has no reactions to dogs or people and has no interest in treats. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and has to be muscled inside due to not wanting to go back in.
6/7/26: Atlas Axel is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and he then pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, has a neutral body frame as he walks next to the handler. He would pull hard towards trees to mark his territory. He has no reactions to dogs or people and has no interest in treats. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and has to be muscled inside due to not wanting to go back in.
6/4/26: Atlas Axel was at front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approached. Atlas is very leash avoidant and was not interested in treats. Handler was finally able to leash him as he started to push on kennel door. He was taken for a street walk. While on walk he walked next to handler occasionally pulling moderately. He stopped to sniff and investigate several times. He was returned to kennel with no issue.
06/01/26: Atlas Axel is laying down in the back of his kennel and initially remains there while hard staring at the handler with visible whale eye as the handler speaks softly to him. Atlas then suddenly jumps up and charges toward the front of the kennel, colliding with the gate and snapping. He continues to avoid the leash as handler attempt to leash him, Handlers offer treats and high value food items in an attempt to coax him forward but Atlas remains avoidant. Due to his continued avoidance, handler utilize a lasso technique, which successfully allows him to be leashed on the first attempt. Once leashed, Atlas is brought out and taken for his walk without any further issues.
INTAKE BEHAVIOR:
Date of Intake: 30-May-2026
Summary: crated
MEDICAL BEHAVIOR:
Date of initial: 30-May-2026
Summary: tense, growling and hard staring in crate, sedated due to behavior.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: New Hope Only
Recommendations:
No children (under 13)
No dog parks
Place with a New Hope partner
Recommendations comments:
No children (under 13): Due to the behaviors observed during his stay in care, we recommend that Atlas Axel be placed in an adult-only home.
No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Atlas Axel has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that he should not visit dog parks. The Behavior Department recommends that he 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 Atlas Axel associate dogs with things he enjoys like toys or treats.
Place with a New Hope partner: Atlas Axel has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.
Potential challenges:
Handling/touch sensitivity
Fearful/potential for defensive aggression
Potential challenges comments:
Handling/touch sensitivity | Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Atlas Axel is noted to whale eye, hard stare, and charge at handlers while in his kennel. When attempting to leash him, he dodges the lead. During his medical exam, he escalated to growling and hard staring in his crate, prompting the need for sedation for him to be safely removed. Please see handouts on Handling/touch sensitivity & Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.
MEDICAL EXAM NOTES:
6/22/2026
Progress exam: CIRDC day 10 recheck
Subjective: BAR, no C/V/D. Sneezing present. AS:3 per log
Objective:
EYES: Clear
LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress
NASAL CAVITY: mod. mucopurulent discharge
MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions
NEURO: Appropriate mentation
ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC
PLAN: Per standing orders
-Start enrofloxacin PO SID x7days
-CTM, recheck as scheduled
6/18/2026
Progress exam: CIRDC day 7 recheck
Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D. Sniffling present. AS:3 per log
Objective:
EYES: Clear
LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress
NASAL CAVITY: mild clear serous discharge
MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions
NEURO: Appropriate mentation
ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC
PLAN: Per standing orders
CTM, recheck as scheduled
12-Jun-2024 Progress exam
Medical Notes: 11:03 AM
scheduled for surgery today, but CIRDC signs noted
S/O: BAR, no c/s/v/d noted
EENT: Mild mucoid ocular discharge OU, mild mucoserous nasal discharge noted
H/L: Eupneic, normal respiratory rate/effort
CNS: Mentation appropriate
Assessment: CIRDC
Plan:
Canceled surgery
Move to iso
Placed monitoring log
Start doxycycline 10 mg/kg PO SID x 10 days
Recheck CIRDC day 10
CTM while at QACC
VET 991438
11-Jun-2026 Behavior Consult
Medical Notes: 11:30 AM
Behavior staff requesting behavior modification medication due to FAS. P not currently on any behavior modification medications.
ADD Trazodone 300mg (~7mg/kg) PO BID TFN
ADD Clonidine 0.9mg (~0.02mg/kg) PO BID TFN
VET 992681
30-May-2026 DVM Intake
Medical Notes: 7:50 PM
DVM Intake Exam
Estimated age: 1-4 y/o based on dentition and condition
Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative
History: agency intake
Subjective: BARH
Observed Behavior - tense, growling and hard staring in crate; elected to sedate using dexmedetomidine 0.8ml (0.5mg/ml) + butorphanol 0.8ml (10mg/ml) + ketamine 0.8ml (100mg/ml) IM. Adequate level of sedation achieved. Antagonized with atipamezole 0.8ml IM. Routine sedation and recovery.
Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? NO
Objective: SEDATED EXAM
P = WNL
R = WNL
BCS 5/9
EENT: Eyes clear, moderate amount of brown waxy discharge in canals AU with erythema, no nasal or ocular discharge noted
Oral Exam: minimal tartar present; adult dentition
PLN: No enlargements noted
H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic
ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated
U/G: male intact, 2 te**es palpable
MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat though soaked in urine and very foul smelling, mild interdigital erythema
CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities
Re**al: externally normal
Assessment:
~2 y/o MI LMB
Malodorus, urine soaked coat
Otitis externa AU
Prognosis:
Good
Plan:
Ok for intake tasks
Cleaned both ears with Aurocin
Applied 1 tube of Simplera into each ear canal
SURGERY:
Okay for surgery
VET 992065
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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.
