11/21/2025
Confirmed rescue
Dezzie
TIMESTAMPED for Sun 11/23
ANIMAL IDACCT-A-235931
BREED Mixed Breed (Medium)
S*X Male
WEIGHT 33.6 lbs
AGE 1Y/6M/1W
LOCATION Large Dog Kennel, B10
Dezzie ACCT-A-235931 is currently considered urgent and at risk of euthanasia due to length of stay and lack of space for incoming dogs. Dezzie must have confirmed placement with a RESCUE PARTNER, or ADOPTER by Sunday, November 23rd, 2025 at 10AM. Should Dezzie’s medical or behavioral status change, his urgency and timeline for placement may also change.
Meet Dezzie, the smart and sensitive stray who’s ready for the right match. Found roaming by police, this handsome boy clearly comes with a history of training—he knows “sit,” heels beautifully, and is incredibly food-motivated. Dezzie can be a little unsure at first, especially with leashing or head handling, but gentle guidance and treats quickly help him relax. Once he trusts you, he leans in for pets, takes snacks politely, and shows off his affectionate, people-focused personality.
Dezzie is a bright dog who responds well to structure and positive reinforcement. Around other dogs, he can be conflicted—sometimes offering friendly sniffing and play bows, other times getting overwhelmed and reacting—so slow, thoughtful introductions are key. He has also shown that he can get startled or protective in close, fast-moving situations, especially around children or unexpected approaches, so he’s looking for a calm, adults-only home that understands canine body language and can give him space to feel secure.
On walks and day trips, Dezzie has been a lovely companion: easy to handle, curious, and content to explore. With a patient adopter who appreciates his intelligence and respects his boundaries, Dezzie will blossom into a loyal, attentive, and deeply rewarding best friend. He’s a great dog—he just needs the right person to help him shine.
Video:
Dezzie's day trip walk: https://youtube.com/shorts/b6upBJtTdaU?feature=share
Meeting mirage: https://youtube.com/shorts/2C_IEZTC0pU?si=Ipj40qLRhdCSbFGV
Meeting Mirage: https://youtube.com/shorts/dxg5Uv9QhPk?si=iKYxjMdDVkmEqZ8t
Behavior Notes:
Per staff 11/14/25: Barks and lunges repeatedly, self interrupts and engages with the handler looking for reinforcement . Behavior appears to be trained using operant conditioning.
Easily redirected with food.
Also met Hunter, shows same behaviors.
When in close proximity, will sniff the rear, tolerated being sniffed while being distracted with a treat (very hard mouth while eating during this, indicating stress), without food lunged and snapped at Hunters face.
Highly food motivated and clearly has lots of prior training. Will heel perfectly and walk at a very slow pace, ignoring distractions with a food lure in your hand. Knows sit as well.
Per staff 11/6/25: Dezzie is a smart, social, and food-motivated boy who was found as a stray. While he may be a little shy at first—especially with leashing or head handling—he quickly warms up with gentle guidance and treats. Once comfortable, he leans into pets, takes treats gently, and shows off his friendly personality.
Dezzie enjoys walks, rides in the car, and time spent exploring. He is very treat-motivated, learns commands like “sit,” and is highly handleable once he trusts you. He can be a little territorial at times, especially around children or in certain situations, so he’s recommended for a home without kids.
This affectionate boy will thrive in a calm, patient adult-only home where he can continue to build confidence, enjoy his favorite treats, and form a strong bond with his people. With the right family, Dezzie will be a loyal, loving, and rewarding companion.
Per staff 11/3/25:
Kennel Presentation: Standing on bed when I approached. He started to bark, ears forward, furrowed brow and mid tail wagging.
Leash Skills: When I opened the kennel door and presented the leash he backed up. I used a treat lure to leash and it took a few times for him to fully put his head through.
Sociability: Very social after a few minutes. He sniffed around the x pen and then sat in front of me staring at my treat pouch. Takes treats nicely and is highly food motivated. Leaned into pets and allowed all petting.
Play: n/a
Dog Interaction: Met barbie through the fence. Barking when he saw her, barbie moved away and then came over again. Sniffed through the fence and then barbie walked away and he started barking at her.
Return to Kennel: Easy to return, no hesitation through the kennels. Trying to eat anything on the ground that could be a treat. Went right into kennel.
Per day trip 11/2: He is a great dog. He is great to walk. He had no issues with other dogs walking by or people. He was great in the car but can be territorial. My husband left the car to run in the store for more water. I was sitting in the back seat with Dezzie. When my husband came back he approached my opened window and Dezzie got scared and growled and lunged at him. No one was hurt and when my husband got back in the car Dezzie was fine. We had a great day overall.
Per staff 11/2/25: When the day trip foster was in the lobby and she had Dezzie, a mom and her child, 6 was also in the lobby. The mother was asking me a question when her 6 year old was reaching his hand out to pet Dezzie and The day trip foster was asking him not to and he wasn't listening to her. I heard growling and she was holding him very tightly by the harness and I yelled at the kid to back up immediately. The mom heard and grabbed the kids but Dezzie was whale eyeing and growling low- no kids
Per staff 11/1/25: Head shy of leashing at first, had to lure with treats but came out easily once secured. At first he is head shy with petting but if you approach with a palm faced up under his chin he'll sniff and lean in for pets after some time. He loves treats and knows sit! To begin he will be snatchy with treats and then get more gentle, probably due to his hunger. Allowed me to pick up all paws with no problem, very handle able but shy to warm up
Per staff 10/29/25: Friendly & takes treats nicely.
Medical Notes:
11/13/25: Ocular discharge, mild mucoid nasal discharge. Mild increase in RR
URI 11/6/25: This dog has been 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.
Intake 10/30/25:
Weight: 33.6 lbs
Body Condition Score: 4 - Lean
Age- 1 years
Urogenital- Male
Altered- Intact
Eyes- Clear, Red
Ears- Clean
Nose- Moist clear
Coat/Skin- Flea dirt
Teeth- White
Gums- Pink moist
Musculoskeletal- Good
Behavior- BAR, fearful, food motivated
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.
