Nylah ACCT-A-178891 is currently considered urgent and at risk of euthanasia due to behavioral concerns. Nylah must have confirmed placement with a RESCUE PARTNER or ADOPTER by FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH at 10AM. Should Nylah's medical or behavioral status change, her urgency and timeline for placement may also change.
Nylah arrived as an owner surrender on October 21st, along with another dog, due to housing issues. The other dog was quickly adopted, but Nylah is still searching for a new home. While she has a history of being good with young children, we are requiring that any children in her adopter's home be over the age of 15, due to her current behavior in the shelter environment. She could do well in a home with another dog, but needs a meet and greet prior to adoption to see if they are compatible. According to notes from her previous owner, Nylah should not go to a home with cats. She has been fearful and stressed since arriving at the shelter, and is now displaying severe signs of kennel stress, including self-harming and destructive behaviors. Due to these behavioral concerns, Nylah is urgently seeking placement with a rescue partner or adopter.
BEHAVIOR:
Per staff 11/3: As I walked past Nylah's kennel, an ACA brought out her food (metal) bowl that was torn apart and was covered in blood. Her mouth was all cut up and she seemed to be very stressed. She paws at the door excessively and whines and mouths at all her food bowls, chasing them around and destroying them until her gums bled. She is extremely stressed in the shelter.
Per volunteer 10/28: She's a good girl. Energy low. Likes walks way better.
Per volunteer 10/25: Nylah walked perfectly on leash. We initially went to the yard, she sniffed around the fence and came over to me a few times, but only solicited affection once. She seems to want love but is very nervous and likely just needs some time to warm up, she didn't show any signs of aggression but just seemed scared. We went on a walk after the yard and she seemed to prefer that and was more comfortable with a loose body. I'm hoping to return and hopefully get a better sense of her personality the second time we meet.
Per staff 10/25: Got Nylah out to see how she's doing today. She was reactive in kennel early on in the day, but when I went to see her this evening she greeted me with semi soft eyes and mid to low wags! She was easy to leash and came right out! We went for a short walk and Nylah walked very nicely for most of the walk. She did pull a bit at times, but was easy to handle. We went to the large run to see if Nylah wanted to play at all. When we entered the yard I crouched down to switch her to a clip leash instead of a slip lead and she leaned in hard against my legs, pushing her head into my arm pit. Nylah allowed some all over handling and cuddles, but did lip lick here and there. She's trying so hard to be brave, but she's still unsure of interactions. After a few minutes of cuddles I walked around the yard and Nylah followed close behind. She went off on her own for a bit but came back up for more attention. I offered her some toys but instead she climbed into my lap and stood on my leg, watching a dog in the ISO yard far away. She watched with neutral eyes and just seemed curious. I sat on the bench and Nylah followed me over, hopping up next to me and sitting like a lady. She allowed some all over pets again, but didn't solicit this time. Nylah seems to be opening up slowly, and just needs some more time to truly come out of her shell. When it was time to go inside she walked nicely back to kennel and returned without an issue!
Per staff 10/25: She's a good girl. Sometimes timid and she will protest for attention (LOL).
Per staff 10/24: Nylah was very affectionate outside today with staff during his dog meet. She jumped up on me multiple times soliciting attention, wagging and leaning in for pets.
Per staff 10/23: Nylah has been playing with her food bowl for the past two days. She does not like to release it and will hold it in her mouth and hard stare and growl at you if you watch her play with it. I tried to get her to trade for a treat or a new knock around toy, but she just hard stared and growled.
Per volunteer 10/23: Go slow. Unsure, seems to want affection but very timid + scared, preferred walking to yard.
10/22 BEHAVIOR EVALUATION:
KNOWN HISTORY:
Owner surrender - came in with Maze
KENNEL PRESENTATION:
Nylah was on the back side for cleaning and was sitting near the door. She looked up with hard eyes and began growling at the handler. She saw the leash and continued hard stares and growling but came up to sniff. She whale eyes when the handler reached in to leash her but allowed easy leashing.
LEASH SKILLS:
Pulls minimally - fearful
HANDLING:
In the yard, Nylah sniffed around and ignored the handlers. A handler approached her and she continued to avoid eye contact.. She allowed the handler to approach her and give her some pets which she tolerated and continued to sniff. With time she went up to the handler and gave some sniffs but went back to ignoring the handler. She refused treats and ignored toys. She was tolerant and allowed all handling and solicited once for some head pets but then stiffened up.
PLAY:
No interest
TOYS:
No interest
Per staff 10/22: When I approached Nylah's kennel, she was on the back side and ran over with her hackles raised, high tail, and was hard barking. She had wide eyes and began wagging once I came closer to her door and would lip raise.
Per staff 10/21: A sweet, shy lady. In the car with her owner and her small dog buddy Maze, Nylah was much more outgoing and happy, greeting me with big tail wags and allowing pets. She was calm, relaxed, and loose. Once she was brought into the shelter, she became more shy and fearful, walking with low posture and ears back. Per owner, she does best with her little friend Maze around!
Summary of owner notes 10/21: They told us that she lived with young children, is mostly house trained, medium energy, knows sit, and loves "any and all treats and toys. They described her as "very friendly, especially with kids. Rather lay on your lap than walk and want her to find "someone that can love them like we did. A house where they can live their best lives. Nylah was noted to be standoffish with strangers at times, "love, love, loves children, and is friendly with other dogs, but is not good with cats. The owner also stated that Nylah is allergic to chicken and beef, causing skin issues.
MEDICAL:
On 10/31, Nylah was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection (URI) or "doggy cold" and started on medication.
Per vet exam on 10/24: BAR, holds head low, tolerates gentle handling for exam including ear exam, cleaning, dental exam. Suspect FAD vs. other allergic dermatitis, mild. Mildly waxy ears but no obvious otitis - cleaned. Two mammary-associated masses. Owner-reported food allergies, no record of allergy testing or treatment with hypoallergenic diet. Applied Douxo mousse to dry skin on back and cleaned ears. Recommend removal of mammary masses and biopsy analysis with spay.
During her intake exam on 10/21, Nylah had red eyes and dirty ears. Nylah also had thinning patchy fur on her hind end, with scars on her body and broken nails on her paws. She was bright, alert, and responsive.
VIDEOS:
Mollie and Nylah: https://youtube.com/shorts/jAno9X-pOPs?feature=share
Nylah cuddling in close: https://youtu.be/OuWDRXdnc8w
Nylah cuddling 2: https://youtube.com/shorts/Ec7iQ_ogTbs?feature=share
Due to being significantly overcapacity with animals 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 an animal.
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 a 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.
