Ebony

Ebony is an adoptable female Black Labrador Retriever looking for a home at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control - West in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a young adult and medium in size. She is currently on the shelter's euthanasia list with only 5 days left, listed due to behavior. Adopting Ebony, or even sharing her story, could save a life before it's too late.

Memo 9/30/2026 09/30/26 12:54 Canine has a history of concerning behavior toward a cat while at large with another dog resulting in an extreme circumstance. Placement with a New Hope Partner is required by close of business 10/5/26 to provide secure management, behavioral evaluation, and any needed support. May be at risk for euthanasia 10/6/26 or sooner if warranted. Intake 9/23/2026 09/23/26 15:50 A5172122 and A5172123 found together and killed a cat together. 09/30/26 12:45 Per activity notes: Two at large dogs chased a stray cat into an unknown person's outdoor laundry room, closed the door in the attack, and killed the cat. The dogs were confined in there with the dead cat. The complainant went to do laundry and the dog(s) barked at her aggressively so she closed the door again. Evaluation Comments (Observations from our staff and volunteers) 9/30/2026 Updating color due to NHO status. 9/28/2026 Dog was closed to outside half of kennel during AM cleaning. Offered treats, would retreat to kennel divider wall. Able to step in & place leash onto dog without issues. Would not walk forward. Able to pick up & place into behavior taxi, rode well to small PY. Once in PY, dog would slowly exit out of behavior taxi with verbal coaxing while keeping head lowered & a fast tail wag. Would stand in middle of PY while looking around surroundings. Able to approach dog & pet on head, dog would close eyes while licking lips. Handler would sit back onto chair, dog would sit down & look around. Handler would offer treats, not interested in treats. Handler would approach fence line & kneel down, dog would slowly approach handler with verbal coaxing. Sat down in front of handler & allowed petting on head, would start to lean into handlers hands while being pet. Picked up leash, would stand up but not walk around. Able to pet on side of body without issues. Picked up dog & placed back into behavior taxi. Rode well back to kennel while looking around surroundings. Exited back into kennel on own. Allowed removal of leash by hand. Offered treats in hand, would sniff but not eat. Placed treats onto ground, dog would eat treats. Closed kennel door without issues. Families should be counseled on safe containment and supervision practices. Interested parties should be counseled on providing this dog with proper decompression time in a new home.  Allowing time to adjust is important for their comfort and well-being.  Adopters should be counseled on proper dog-to-dog introductions, which should only occur after the dog has fully decompressed. ***Interested parties should be aware of all intake notes. Placing NO SMALL ANIMALS & NO CATS as a REQUIREMENT due to history in activity notes. *Needs Behavior Taxi 9/26/2026 Dog was lying outside, resting head on divider ledge, stared at handler, eyes soft, unable to coax inside verbally or with treats, closed divider. Handler approached back half, dog was standing in the middle of kennel, head low, stoic, still not interested in treats, able to reach in and place leash with large loop, dog pancaked, remained frozen, unable to coax out of kennel. Handler positioned taxi, dog allowed handler to approach, tense and whale eyed when lightly pet, able to guide halfway into taxi with gentle leash pressure then lift dog in the rest of the way, rode well to yard. Handler slowly tipped taxi, dog would not exit, handler sat at a distance, dog remained in taxi, scanning surroundings, ignored treats tossed nearby, wouldn't approach with verbal coaxing. After a moment handler approached, dog remained frozen, whale eyed, allowed light petting, rode back to kennel with no issues, hesitant to enter kennel, able to guide dog in with gentle leash pressure and lightly nudging dog's back end, slowly removed leash by hand. 9/23/2026 Dog had just finished killing a cat and was being a posessive over it giving me a hard stare. Allowed leash placement but thrashed so I used control device to help carry to truck. Tolerated cautious handling and no outward aggression. 9/23/2026 does not walk on leash, allows most handling and petting, mild restraint for vaccines, timid, tense body, hard staring, whale eyes, tail tucking, go slow when handling, used pet taxi to transport to kennel Name: Ebony Animal ID: A5172122 Breed: BLACK/WHITE AM PIT BULL TER/LABRADOR RETR Sex: Female Age: 1Y 1M Weight: 41.8 lbs Kennel: West Kennel, Wing G - 205 Intake Date: 9/23/2026 Deadline Date: 10/5/2026