02/07/2025
Grace was adopted!
‼️URGENT‼️
👉 For the most up-to-date notes, please check the bio located in the comments👈
Grace ACCT-A-211503 is currently considered urgent and at risk of euthanasia due to lack of space for incoming dogs, and length of stay. Grace must have confirmed placement with an RESCUE PARTNER or ADOPTER by Monday, February 10th at 10 A.M. Should Grace's medical or behavioral status change, her urgency and timeline for placement may also change.
Grace is a 4 year old sweet and affectionate girl who warms up with patience and a gentle approach. Since arriving at ACCT on 1/23 as an owner surrender due to too many pets in the home, Grace has been struggling with the noisy, overwhelming shelter environment. She spends most of her time curled up under her bed scared until someone stops to give her attention. The moment you give her attention or she hears a gentle voice, she slowly crawls out, seeking affection and enjoying being taken out.
Her former owner shared that Grace lived with big dogs, a cat, and kids and described her as mostly housebroken, crate-trained, and medium energy. She knows basic commands like sit, lay, and down, walks well on leash but pulls, and her favorite toys are stuffed animals. They also noted that Grace barks at strangers, good with children and cats and good with dogs that she knows.
While she may be shy at first, once she feels safe, she leans in for pets, sharing tail wags, and even rolls over for belly rubs! She enjoys being outside and sniffing and exploring the area. Grace thrives with consistency and is looking for a friend she can trust. She’s a loving pup who just needs someone to give her the time and care to blossom into her best self.
VIDEO:
Grace & Bruce meet https://youtube.com/shorts/k1HmOPxX9h4
Per staff on 2/5: I took Grace out today for a dog meet. When she was in her kennel, she was hiding under her bed, nervous, but with some baby talk and showing her my leash, she happily crawled out and easily allowed me to leash her. She walked nicely out, and we explored a bit. She enjoys stopping to sniff things, so I allowed her. She really enjoys her sniffs and might take a second to move along. Another handler brought out Bruce, who was also nervous at first, but once they saw each other, they both got excited, pulling toward each other. I was trying to get them to do a walk-along, but they were both pulling strongly to greet each other, so we allowed a face meet. Both did well, but Bruce was a bit more pushy, which made Grace step away, and he did well giving her space. She even untucked her tail for the first time! We walked around a bit again and had them meet once more, but she didn’t seem that interested—she just wanted to sniff and explore on her own. When going back in, she was a bit nervous, but with more baby talk and petting, she allowed me to guide her to her kennel. At her kennel, she put on the brakes, but I was able to lift her slightly to get her in—all while praising her and telling her how brave she is, while she wagged her tail.
Per staff on 2/5: Grace hadn't been out since the 27th, and while usually I see her sleeping on the bed, this morning it was during cleaning and she was hiding under it. I opened the door and she sniffed my hand, and then started to crawl out (I moved the bed to help her). She was easy to leash and we walked outside. There was a community cat about ten feet away watching her, she didn't react but I'm not sure it registered there was an animal there as she was looking around and I called her to walk away from the cat. She didn't pull on the leash when we walked despite not having been out, and she just wanted to smell the things. we went into the run and she explored and sniffed. When we walked back inside she stopped in front of her kennel and didn't want to go in. I lifted her up and she turned into deadweight, and once in the kennel she tensed up and tried to leave very wide eyed. She's clearly very anxious in there understandably so.
Per staff 2/2: I've never met Grace before, but when I walked up she was sitting facing away from the kennel door. She turned around and started wagging her tail. I had a container of a little wet cat food and knelt down and she very eagerly ate that while I stuck the PCR swab up her nose. She didn't seem to notice as I swirled it around. Once done with that I put the swab in her eye, she closed her eye but was still eating with gusto though almost done. I got it in and she was pretty much done with the food so backed up, and I didn't push it as I had enough and she was being so good. I pet her and pointed out some food she missed on the floor and she ate that up all wiggly and wagging.
On 2/2 Grace's PCR test came back negative.
Per staff on 2/1: I've never met Grace before, but when I walked up she was sitting facing away from the kennel door. She turned around and started wagging her tail. I had a container of a little wet cat food and knelt down and she very eagerly ate that while I stuck the PCR swab up her nose. She didn't seem to notice as I swirled it around. Once done with that I put the swab in her eye, she closed her eye but was still eating with gusto though almost done. I got it in and she was pretty much done with the food so backed up, and I didn't push it as I had enough and she was being so good. I pet her and pointed out some food she missed on the floor and she ate that up all wiggly and wagging.
Per staff on 2/1: Grace got out for some play time today, and she was such a blast to hang out with!! She appears quite fearful in kennel, and looked up at me with the saddest eyes. When she saw the leash she gave me some low wags, and was patient for leashing. When we got to the eval room her demeanor completely flipped! She raced around the room with bright, soft eyes and pressed into me so hard she almost flipped over! She was soooo affectionate and submissive! She cowered when I reached for her leash at one point, half rolling onto her back in submission. She allowed all handling and even got to play with a toy! She lost interest in it quickly, and preferred to just do zoomies and get pets! Another staff member came in to get some better pictures of her, and she greeted him the same way she greeted me! She rolled over for belly rubs and was just such a loving, fun girl! Grace took treats gently and knew "sit", and was happy to show off for some snacks! She gave me no issues and was just such a pleasure to hang out with!!
Per staff on 1/29: just want to flag that we were unsuccessful in attempting to PCR Grace both yesterday and today. She is not aggressive but goes into a full blown panic.
On 1/28 Grace came down with a upper respiratory infection and was started on doxycycline.
01/27/2025 staff notes: Brought Grace out today for some activity time. Today was my first time meeting Grace. In kennel Grace was laying on her bed but came to the front and allowed for easy leashing without any issues. Once out of kennel and in the room Grace warmed up a lot and was very affectionate with me. She much preferred to approach me on her own terms vs being approached. If I would walk up to her she would stiffen a bit, but when sitting down and letting her come up to me on her own terms she would give soft eyes, low wags, and lean her head on my leg when petting her. With more time she even rolled over for belly rubs and was very gentle and sweet. When a male handler entered she was very scared and nervous of him. She would hide behind me and slowly approach him with low body language and tucked wags, before retreating again. She was very hesitant to interact with him but after some more time and lots of baby talk she began to warm up more and was more open to interaction; just needs a very slow and gentle approach.
01/27/2025 staff notes: Grace came out for activity time 1/26. She was laying on her bed with wide scared eyes and reached her head forward to sniff me. I reached my hand out to see if she would come forward and she didn't. I was able to lasso her and once secured she came out slowly. Grace in the room was focused on me and stuck by my side in the room. She sat down next to me pushed her head back into my legs. She is very good with the main handler but anyone else that came into the room she gets a little stiff and avoidant. She was very wiggly and loose with me and pushed her entire body into me, playing with me and taking treats from me.
Walksheet as of 1/27: Grace was taken for a walk twice on January 24th, once on January 26th, and once on January 27th. Her first walk on January 24th was noted as an 'eval', and no interaction information was provided. During her second walk on January 24th, mild issues with shyness were noted, and her energy level was rated as medium. Grace's handler noted that she is 'very shy at first', but 'once [she] warms up, she's very affectionate' and gives 'lots of kisses'. During her walk on January 26th, no interaction notes were provided. During Grace's walk on January 27th, no issues were noted, but her handler noted that she guards food and is submissive, and noted that other handlers should 'go slow' with her.
On 1/25 Grace was started on anxiety meds for her fear, anxiety and stress.
01/24/2025 staff notes: Grace was sitting on her bed with wide scared eyes and extended her neck to sniff the leash. She refused to get off the bed and allowed easy leashing, neutral body and once secured came right out. Pulls minimally on the leash– fearful on leash. In the room, Grace had a tucked wagging tail and was trying to be so brave with the handlers. She allowed all handling and immediately came in the handler legs and leaned against them. She allowed some more handling (uncomfortable with overhead handling) before darting off and going to the bathroom. She would trot with an open mouth and neutral tail. She is very fearful and was nervous of a direct approach, tucking her tail, lowering her head and then warming up into the handler scooting closer. She pushed her body upside down into the handler with a tucked fast wagging tail and then got scared and ran off. She does not like lots of hands around her face and hyper fixated on your hands as she is a bit nervous of handling. Fearful during play and minimal interest in toys.
On 1/23 staff noted: could not do px was to scared didnt want me to touch her get near her
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.
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.
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.
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
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