**$420 in pledges to any rescue that may pull!**
**NEW NOTES AND VIDEOS**
Blanca ACCT-A-211050 is currently considered urgent and at risk of euthanasia due to behavioral concerns, specifically her fearfulness, which is impacting her handleability and raising safety concerns in our care. Blanca must have confirmed placement with AN EXPERIENCED ADOPTER OR RESCUE PARTNER by Monday, January 27th at 10 A.M. Should Blanca’s medical or behavioral status change, her urgency and timeline for placement may also change.
Blanca is a shy but incredibly sweet female dog who was heartbreakingly surrendered by her family of two years on January 10th after they faced unexpected eviction and housing loss. Blanca had spent her life with her family, including children aged 5–18, and was described by her former owner as bubbly, loving, and protective. Despite her nervousness in the shelter, her potential to be a loyal and loving companion shines through.
Blanca is struggling to adjust to the shelter environment, which has left her feeling overwhelmed and scared. However, her resilience is evident—she’s shown moments of trust and even wagged her tail when she heard the words “going home.” Blanca appreciates gentle affection on her terms, often leaning into her handler for comforting butt scratches and staying close for reassurance.
Though she previously lived with children, her current nervous behaviors suggest that an adult-only home would be best for her. She needs a quiet, patient environment with an experienced adopter who understands the importance of letting her decompress and rebuild her confidence at her own pace. Blanca has shown potential to blossom in the right setting, as her demeanor softens when given time and space to adjust.
Blanca has no interest in toys or treats at the moment, and while she can coexist with other dogs, she’s likely best as the only pet in a home. She’ll need a rescue who is ready to provide her with love, structure, and understanding as she navigates this challenging time.
If you’re looking for a loyal and loving companion and are willing to give Blanca the time and space she needs to feel safe, she’ll reward you with her trust and unwavering devotion.
Videos:
*NEW*
Bianca video log: https://youtu.be/c8EO66AsAIk
NEW
Blanca takes treats from a new friend!: https://youtube.com/shorts/cdwFbvjw29s?feature=share
Blanca is so excited to make new friends!: https://youtube.com/shorts/uEzc74T7lOU?feature=share
Blanca being brave with her new friend: https://youtube.com/shorts/j-r8BtI1yr4?feature=share
Blanca learns new tricks!: https://youtube.com/shorts/pCzKiLRMGwk?feature=share
Blanca giving and getting affection:
https://youtube.com/shorts/39iJtmPX2ns?si=KhJhVlsmv3N_X5cI
Blanca and Masi meet: https://youtube.com/shorts/-H5vVJvMazQ?feature=share
Blanca checking out the office:
https://youtube.com/shorts/jnyAx2hrQIA?feature=share
Blanca getting comfortable: https://youtube.com/shorts/W4QJwXOfais?feature=share
Blanca warming up in the office: https://youtube.com/shorts/zMk1gUXn6vI?feature=share
Blanca with her favorite staff member: https://youtube.com/shorts/eqY-IkGddnY?feature=share
Blanca zoomies: https://youtube.com/shorts/60xA2EyYchQ?feature=share
Blanca eats some snacks: https://youtube.com/shorts/dR7Hiu-3bko?feature=share
Behavior Notes:
NEW Per staff 1/25/25: A male volunteer spent time with Blanca today - she was extremely friendly and affectionate towards him (it was his first time working with her). He worked with her on sit, down, and she showed her belly to him while laying on her back. She took treats nice and while they were working together in the eval room a family came to the window and started banging on the glass and she did not react and remained engaged with her handler
NEW Per staff 1/25/25: A volunteer brought her into the yard and she did a few rounds of zoomies and then ran and hopped on top of the volunteer's lap on the bench and licked her face, allowed all over petting, butt scratches, and then would zoom around and repeat. She was extremely loose bodied and had a wagging tail. She will be sending in a video of this interaction.
This was the volunteers first time taking her out.
Per staff 1/19/25: Blanca was tested for her male reactivity. An ACA was sitting down on the bench as she slowly approached him with a mid level wagging tail. She sniffed him, wagged and walked away. While she walked around the room she avoided him for the majority of the time and when he did approach and tried to greet her she was tolerant, sniffed and continued on her way. I told the ACA to offer her some treats she came right up to him, sat patiently and was snatchy with treats but motivated and focused. After treats and interaction, I allowed another staff member (female) to enter the room and they both interacted with her. She was tolerant of them and allowed light handling but backed away back to the handler. She was warming up the more time she had around them and was coming closer and closer. During this interaction she showed no concerning behavior, walking away when she was uncomfortable, wagging tail, loose body language, soft eyes and curiosity.
Per staff 1/18/25: I was called to G row for Blanca as she wouldn't over from her bed. I approached her kennel and called to her and she jumped on the kennel door with soft eyes and a wagging tail. she allowed easy leashing and once secured jumped on my chest giving me slobbery face kisses. i held her for a bit, giving her some cuddles (with PPE), before bringing her to the backside of her kennel.
Per volunteer 1/15/25: Took Blanca out for a walk today. Was warned she is avoidant and will let me know if she is unhappy. With that in mind, she was super easy to leash, came right out of the kennel, walked outside no problems and from there on she started to blossom. We went for a 16 minute walk (super cold) she did her business and enjoyed the time outside, but was very nervous, cars and busses scare her, looked at every human looking for her previous owners (that was super sad) but followed directions well, walked evenly with little pulling just likes to sniff. We came in with no problem, although she wagged her tail for the first time when she saw and smelled familiar areas. She's just scared and not sure where she is! I get it! We stopped in the volunteer room for a look about and Blanca really opened up! Let me scratch her butt, leaned into me a little, searched the room for treats, and was generally a happy pup. Went back to her cage no problem, then stood on her back legs to say goodby through the bars with full tail wags! She is really coming along!
Per staff (based on volunteer interaction) 1/15/25:
A volunteer brought Blanca in the office. She kept her on the leash the whole time, but she initially was tense bodied with a tucked tail and exit searched the room while lip licking, but after a few moments and after the volunteer sat down, Blanca leaned against the volunteer and allowed booty scratches. Her tail untucked and she lip licked a few times, but she continued to allow butt petting and leaned into her handler. She then walked around the office with looser body language, but the tail remained tucked.
When the volunteer mentioned "going home" Blanca's demeanor loosened and her tail momentarily untucked and she pranced around the room.
She brought her into the kennel and brought her back into the office after a few minutes and her body language was looser. She wagged her tail and hopped around a few times. She did not take treats, but allowed more petting from the volunteer. The volunteer noted that she seemed to perk up around dogs and when passing dogs in their kennel.
Per staff 1/14/25: Got a dog meet for Blanca today. She seemed to be much more comfortable in the room with us, actually walking around and doing some mid to high wags. She was doing well for the dog meet at first, a little dominant but not too bad. Unfortunately, the dog she was meeting, Masi, was incredibly submissive, and accidently kicked her in the face while rolling over on her back. Blanca had quite a big reaction to this, growling intensely and beginning to go after Masi. We were able to separate them without incident. While Blanca was doing well at first, her reaction/correction was a bit over the top. She should likely be an only dog, as she would be quick to start a fight if another dog irks her.
Per staff 1/14/25: Blanca came out for activity time today. in kennel, she was laying on her bed with soft scared eyes. she let me reach in for easy leashing and gave some mid level wags while exiting. in the room she gave a big stretch and tucked her tail with pinned ack ears. she began her nervousness and fearful demeanor again but was very tolerant to handling. she solicited for me a lot, pushing herself into me, leaning her head back, and telling me how much touch she was comfortable with. she laid against my lap and legs so i began giving her some face pets but she had enough and bared teeth at me so i stopped and gave her some time. she pushed her side into me again, seeking comfort so i gave her some more pets.
Per staff 1/13/25: Brought Blanca out again today for activity time. Once again, she was very easy to leash and exited without issue. In the room Blanca was mor nervous today compared to yesterday and was trembling under the table, paw lifting, giving lots of whale eye, and huffing. She was stress yawning frequently in a room and doing lots of stretches. She allowed me to lightly pet her back again, but gave lots of whale eye and remained very uncomfortable. Blanca is doing her best here, but remains very scared and tense, not open to much interaction. To remain rescue only.
Per staff 1/12/25: Blanca came out for activity time today. She was easy to leash and was curled up on her bed when approaching. She gave the handler tense wide eyes but allowed them to slip the leash over her head and exited easily. In the room Blanca remained very fearful and tense. She was trembling and would give wide hard eye contact, but chose to stay near us in the room. The main handler was able to pet her head and her back without issue. She remained tense and very fearful but was tolerant to light handling. She would also come over when called standing close to her main handler. As time went on her eye contact began to soften a bit and she appeared more comfortable, but overall was still very scared and shutdown. To remain rescue only, urgent promo, but if handling improves could be made available to experienced adopters.
Per volunteer 1/12/25: Blanca is a timid pup who was surrendered due to housing insecurity. The shelter environment has left her overwhelmed and scared, and she’s currently seeking a rescue partner who can provide her with the patience and understanding she needs to decompress.
Blanca tolerates close proximity to people but is not ready for direct handling or interaction just yet. She communicates her discomfort clearly with growls or lip raises, asking for space when she feels overwhelmed. Though she hasn’t shown interest in toys or treats, she appreciates having a calm, steady presence nearby for reassurance.
This sweet girl needs a quiet environment and an experienced handler who can respect her boundaries while helping her rebuild her confidence at her own pace. Blanca has so much potential and deserves a chance to feel safe and loved again.
Per staff 1/11/25:
KENNEL PRESENTATION:
Blanca was laying on her bed and had wide scared eyes. I threw the leash in for her to sniff and she took some interest in it so I opened the kennel door a bit wider to get a good also. I lasso her once and secured her, I opened the kennel door fully, gave her some space and she walked out slowly.
LEASH SKILLS:
Pulls minimally –fearful
HANDLING :
In the room, Blanca stood very close to me and began shaking but wasn't soliciting or seeking comfort, I was just the closest thing near her to hide behind and lean on. When I talked to her in a baby voice she softened up a little with her eye contact and looked up sniffing the air. I touched her back once to test some handling and she growled at me. I gave her some space and let her be. The other handler offered some toys to test play and ran around when she stayed seated, watching. The other handler offered her a hot dog, treats, and some cheese but she declined. I offered her some treats as I was closer to her and she looked up, sniffed them, and ignored them. The other handler crouched down near her and reached her hand out with a more high value treat and talked to her in a baby voice and she lip raised and did another growl. She was more comfortable being near, on, and around the handler but did not want to be greeted or acknowledged. She was tolerant as I reached down slowly to clip the leash with neutral eyes. I began walking with her before pulling the stopper up so she was distracted and returned her to the kennel.
PLAY:
No interest
TOYS:
No interest
Per staff 1/10/25: Got called up to help bring Blanca to kennel. There was conflicting information being given by the owners. The man said she would be fine with a stranger, and the woman said "she's going to need a muzzle". I had the male owner walk her to kennel, and she was nonreactive to multiple people we walked by. After Blanca was in kennel I asked a little bit more about her behavior around strangers. He said that Blanca can be reactive in her crate, and will growl at people in her crate, but when she's let out she will just sniff strangers and then walk away. He also said that she can be "barky" and nervous around new people. He mentioned that she will likely take a couple days to warm up, but that she really likes treats.
Per owner 1/10/25: Bubbly, loving, and proactive. Lived with children ages 5-18. Fully housebroken. High energy. Knows commands: yes, sit, lay, stand. Protective towards strangers, loves kids, barks at cats, and barks/sniffs dogs. When asked about the ideal family for you, they responded “She will love and protect your family”
Medical Notes:
On 1/19, Blanca was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection (URI) or "doggy cold" and started on medication. She tested negative for pneumovirus.
Intake Exam 1/15/25:
Microchip Found? Y/N: No, not able to place safely
Eyes -clear
Ears -appeared clean
Nose -small amount of clear d/c
Mouth/Teeth/Gums -unable to examine due to behavior
Coat & Skin -shiny, clean coat
Urogenital -female, not able to determine altered status
Gait/Mobility -no lameness noted
Attitude: BAR, Not tolerant of handling, muzzled for exam and vaccines.
Vet Exam 1/12/25:
Exam Reason: Behavior/Trazodone Check
Subjective: Per behavior team: "Reactive in kennel, very fearful, growling, baring teeth, cannot be handled at this moment"
Assessment: FAS in shelter
Plan:
Gabapentin 400 mg PO BID x 7 days for TTA
Trazodone 100 mg PO BID x 5 days for TTA
During his intake exam on 1/2, Billy’s eyes and ears were red, his ears were hot to touch, his teeth were slightly yellow, and he had some thinning fur on his hind end. He was bright, alert and responsive.
ACCT Philly is located at 111 West Hunting Park Ave in. 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
