Autumn

Autumn is an adoptable female Bullmastiff looking for a home at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control - West in Phoenix, Arizona. She is fully grown and large in size. She is currently on the shelter's euthanasia list with only 4 days left, listed due to behavior. Adopting Autumn, or even sharing her story, could save a life before it's too late.

Memo 8/25/2026 08/25/26 12:26 Canine is showing high levels of anxiety and stress around handling and is not thriving behaviorally in the shelter environment despite extra time being given due to hope of improvement. Placement with a New Hope Partner is needed by close of business 8/30/26 to prevent behavioral decline and provide support in a more appropriate setting. May be at risk for euthanasia 8/31/26 or sooner if warranted. Evaluation Comments (Observations from our staff and volunteers) 8/25/2026 Updating color due to NHO status. 8/21/2026 Laying on bed upon approach, tense body, head low, unable to coax to front, turned away when leashing but overall easy to leash, returned to bed and pancaked, unable to coax forward with treats or leash pressure, bed lifted up slowly, dog retreated to front of kennel, then out into taxi, rode well to M&G room, stayed in taxi for a couple minutes once taxi tipped over, refused treats, slowly exited taxi, explored room for a few moments then laid in corner by chairs for remainder of interaction, allowed petting, skin crawled, leash picked up, dog entered taxi willingly, rode well back to kennel, retreated to back of kennel when taxi tipped, leash removed by hand. 8/20/2026 Dog was lying in bed, body soft, gave tail wags as handler spoke to dog. Would not approach with verbal coaxing or treats but ate treats tossed on bed. Head shy as handler reached in to place leash, unable to coax out of kennel, handler positioned taxi and stepped in kennel, dog allowed pets, remained frozen on bed, handler slowly tipped bed, dog scurried to front of kennel but wouldn't enter taxi, attempted to hide behind bed propped against wall. Gave dog a moment to settle, handler was able to guide dog into taxi, restless on the way to yard but no attempts to escape, sat up and observed surroundings. Dog exited taxi and explored yard briefly with soft body and low wagging tail, lied down near handler, scanned environment, lip licking, allowed light petting on head. Handler moved closer to dog, skin crawled when touched but relaxed and allowed petting all over, eyes soft and closing, looked up at handler when the petting stopped, licked treats placed nearby but didn't eat, overtime dog began panting and yawing, remained stationary througout interaction. Handler positioned taxi in front of dog, entered without assistance, no issues riding back to kennel, dog entered kennel and allowed leash removal, ate treats handler placed nearby. 8/18/2026 Dog quickly retreated to back half of kennel on approach, slowly closed divider. Approached back half of kennel, leaned in to leash. Repositioned behavior taxi then stepped into kennel, dog would slowly enter into behavior taxi, rode well to small PY. Explored with nose to ground then approached handler on own. Allowed petting without issues. Would stay sitting next to handler while looking around for majority of time while in PY. Repositioned behavior taxi, attempted to coax both verbally & with treats, would not approach behavior taxi. Approached dog slowly with a sort board in hand, dog would stand up & enter into behavior taxi, turn body & sat down. Rode back to kennel without issues. Exited back into kennel & allowed leash removal by hand. 8/15/2026 sleeping on bed, raised head, tense body, unable to coax forward, retreated to back of kennel when door opened, divider closed, at back of kennel when approached from back half, tense body, crouched, tail tucked, head low, avoiding eye contact, allowed dog to sniff before placing leash, turned head away but allowed leashing, took dropped treats, pulled back when mild leash pressure applied, able to slowly treat trail dog out of kennel and into taxi, placed front two paws in taxi to get treats, walked fully in when handler lightly touched hind end, rode well to small play yard, exited taxi willingly when tipped over, explored half of yard, tense body, low tail, urinated and defecated, small tail wags a couple times, took a couple treats, sat in same spot with head turned away from handler for a couple minutes, explored a bit more of the yard then laid in corner, started panting, able to pet head without issue, skin crawling when touched on body, stopped taking treats, leash picked up, unable to coax to taxi with treats or leash pressure, pancakes, brought taxi close, dog slowly entered taxi halfway, entered fully when lightly touched, rode well back to kennel, head tucked into back of taxi, exited taxi willingly and retreated to back of kennel, removed leash by hand. 8/7/2026 Dog was standing towards back of kennel; tossed treats into kennel; handler stepped away for a moment; dog approached front; closed front of kennel; dog lowered head; furrowed brow; allowed handler to place large loop over; opened door wide; placed taxi at front; verbally coaxed; tossed treats; dog started to eat treats; made treat trail; dog followed treat trail; would not exit; retreated towards back of kennel; handler stepped in; used bed as sort board; dog walked into taxi; ate treats in taxi; rode well. Tipped taxi over in m&g door way; dog remained in taxi; crouched; verbally coaxed; tossed treats; only ate treats tossed nearby; would not exit; handler slowly pet; skin crawled; lip licked; dilated pupils; did not want to exit taxi; gave dog a few moments. Tilted taxi back up; rode well to play yard; in yard dog exited right away; defecated; urinated; stood distant from handler; furrowed brow; tail tucked; tossed treats; not interested. After a few moments, dog started to explore; briefly approached handler; tolerated petting on head; sat in front of handler a few feet away; offered treat by hand; sniffed; turned head away; allowed handler to slowly fully approach; allowed for petting on head; slowly pet; along back; skin crawled; lowered head. Handler brought behavior taxi over; moved away; picked leash up; used sort board; dog entered taxi; rode well back to kennel; nudged handler's hand while in taxi; exited taxi; entered kennel; scurried towards back; allowed handler to remove leash slowly by hand. 08/11/26 13:55 Updating color status. 8/6/2026 Dog was closed to back half of kennel during AM cleaning. Offered treats, gently took treats @ kennel gate. Opened kennel door, would retreat to divider wall. Slowly leaned into kennel while dog would be standing still bodied, using a wide loop leash. Would not walk forward with verbal coaxing to behavior taxi. Was able to treat trail into behavior taxi but would not place hind legs inside. Handler presented a sort board inside kennel, dog would walk fully into behavior taxi without sort board touching dog. Rode to small PY while looking around surroundings. Slowly exited out of behavior taxi & would explore while air scenting. Would not approach handler with treats or verbal coaxing. Handler would approach dog, dog would stand still while licking lips & looking away from handler, offered treats, would slowly take treats then look away again. Handler would walk around, dog would continue to explore. Approached dog again, dog would stand still & look away. Tolerated petting without skin crawling while looking opposite direction of handler. Slowly picked up leash, dog would walk towards behavior taxi, not entering inside with treats or verbal coaxing. Handler picked up sort board, dog would enter into behavior taxi again without sort board touching dog. Rode back without issues, entered into kennel with verbal coaxing. Removed leash by hand without issues. 8/6/2026 on approach k9 laying on bed watching handlers. Handler opened kennel door and spoke softly to k9, stepped into kennel and large looped leash over k9s head. handler softly pet k9 on head and chin, k9 closed eyes and rested head in handlers hands. Handler did light muzzle wrap as precaution (injectable that was being administered is known to sting), k9 showed no reaction to muzzle wrap or injection. Released muzzle wrap, handler pet k9 on back, k9 rolled on side for belly rubs, closed eyes while handler pet all over. leash removed by hand, no issues. 8/5/2026 Closed to front half for AM cleaning. Dog was lying at kennel door, calm, eyes soft, ate treats tossed nearby. Retreated towards towards divider when presented with leash, ate more treats, stepped foot in kennel and placed leash, unable to coax out of kennel verbally or with treat trail. Handler positioned taxi, dog ignored treats tossed inside, able to use bed as sort board to guide dog into taxi, rode well to small yard. Dog exited taxi, explored yard briefly then lied down in corner away from handler, ate treats tossed nearby, wouldn't approach with verbal coaxing. After a moment handler approached and offered treats by hand, took gently, shifted weight away as handler sat in nearby chair, eyes wide and shifty, took more treats from hand, flinched and skin crawled when pet. Sat up as handler picked up leash, unable to coax away from corner, handler positioned taxi, resisted when trying to guide dog in with gentle leash pressure, able guide in using sort board, no issues on the way back, dog was hesitant to exit taxi, able to guide dog into kennel by holding leash taut and nudging dog's hind end, dog retreated and pancaked against divider, used clip leash. 8/3/2026 purpose of walk to move off of ramp into building kennel approached holding kennel, laying in corner, sat up, cowered in corner, allowed placement of c.d., low growl, slowly wadlled out of holding kennel with coaxing, flailed briefly, settled, head crouched, stopped walking, layed with back on floor, layed frozen with legs up / curled (\"dead bug\"), tailed tucked, frozen in same stance, allowed tech to examine for spay, canine completely shut down on ramp, unable to coax to walk, canine not moving or engaging with handler, staring off avoiding eye contact with handler, placed into pet taxi, canine sunk itself into corner of pet taxi burying head in corner, shaking and flinching when handler pet canine, placed canine off of pet taxi, canine plopped onto floor and layed on floor not walking, had to physically put inside the kennel, removed c.d., canine ran away from handler and retreated to back of kennel with tail tucked, layed on floor curled up used c.d. due to intake notes however during interaction on this walk canine did not bite or air snap at c.d. or handler. shut down at this time. submissive at this time. 8/1/2026 used control device for intake, allowed all handling, mild restraint for vaccines, shut down, timid, used pet taxi to transport to kennel, use caution when handling Name: Autumn Animal ID: A5169314 Breed: BROWN AM PIT BULL TER Sex: Spayed Age: 5Y 0M Weight: 67.8 lbs Kennel: West Kennel, Wing S - 328 Intake Date: 8/1/2026 Deadline Date: 8/30/2026