Amarillo

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

Memo 8/27/2026 08/27/26 15:27 Canine is becoming increasingly difficult to manage safely while in care. Placement with a New Hope Partner is required by close of business 9/1/26 to ensure the dog has access to appropriate behavioral support in a different environment. May be at risk for euthanasia 9/2/26 or sooner if warranted. Intake 8/7/2026 08/07/26 09:27 NCrosson A5169620 A5169621 A5169622 Evaluation Comments (Observations from our staff and volunteers) 8/24/2026 Dog was standing in front half of kennel, able to verbally coax to outside half of kennel. Offered treats then presented leash while dog would have a relaxed body & soft tail wag. Would attempt to push out of kennel gate during leash placement. Exited out of kennel & walked past behavior taxi. Would start to bite & thrash on leash. Waited for dog to settle, dog would turn & jump up towards handler while continuing to bite @ leash, handler was able to keep arms length distance with leash. Waited for dog to settle then attempted to continue to walk towards PY. Dog would walk then start to alligator roll, stood up & would walk around building support beam while pawing & biting @ leash. Handler called for assistance to return dog back to kennel due to rising FAS levels. Handler was able to walk dog back to kennel slowly with dog biting @ leash. Dog would start to bite @ handlers treat pouch, handler would straight arm leash again to create distance. Assistant handler called dog to inside half of kennel while handler returned dog to outside half of kennel. Handler did not attempt to remove leash. 8/23/2026 Dog was being removed from kennel to fix broken guillotine. Dog allowed handler to leash by hand then backed away when removed from kennel. When handler tried to return dog to inside of kennel, dog backed away and bit at leash. Handler went to back outside of kennel. Dog went into kennel with no issues. When handler went to remove leash by hand, dog bit at pants around ankle. Handler pulled back leg and dog let go. Dog did not make contact with skin. 8/15/2026 Out for Yellow training. Soft & affiliative, mildly apprehensive but came right up for leashing (outside), dog pulled right past taxi, did not need it during walk, may be able to update walk instructions w/ a little consistency. Soft in yard, a bit independent but after a while came over, briefly & softly prompted some interaction but tended not to prompt a additional soft contact much. Not eager to go back into kennel, soft resistance, responded well to gentle leash handling/steering, dog opted to go in, leash removed by hand w/ ease. 8/14/2026 Dog slowly came foward to front of kennel after handler offered hot dogs. Dog would sniff and then back away from leash when presented. Was able to leash dog after treat trailing with hot dogs and placing the leash in front of treats. Dog avoided going into taxi, pushing their way past it to go further into kennel building, even with a hot dog trail going into taxi. Another handler followed slowly behind handler and dog with behavior bucket while dog walked, just as a precaution. Dog would walk slowly, stopping, and then proceeding foward. Dog would pull against handler at times to stop and sniff a spot, but then would keep going. Dog walked voluntarily into outside portion of kennel, and easy to unleash by hand. 8/9/2026 Neutral soft body at front of kennel, came forward to sniff and accept treats gently. Placing \"YELLOW\" based on intake notes and kennel presence. 8/7/2026 dog approaches with soft wiggly body tail wags. dog allows petting all over body. dog allows leash, but does not walk on leash. no muzzle wrap needed to pick up and carry to truck. 8/7/2026 does not walk on leash, allows all handling and petting, light restraint for vaccines, neutral body, solicits attention, used pet taxi to transport to kennel Name: Amarillo Animal ID: A5169620 Breed: BLACK/BROWN GERM SHEPHERD Sex: Neutered Age: 4Y 0M Weight: 90.0 lbs Kennel: West Kennel, Wing H - 260 Intake Date: 8/7/2026 Deadline Date: 9/1/2026