Uzi

Uzi ACCT-A-169310 is a senior male who came in as an owner surrender on 7/26 with cat Dipsy (since adopted), due to various, inconsistent, reasons including: construction in the home agitating them, and Uzi being "full of fleas. After some initial tension and elevated levels of fear, anxiety, and stress, Uzi has become a big-hearted, easygoing (if occasionally insistent and loudmouthed) office foster who loved getting bellyrubs, treats, and walks from his favorite folks. Behavioral notes: Per staff on 7/28: Head shy at first, use treats to help him warm up, very treat motivated. Due to improved behavior with handling, I'm making Uzi available to experienced adopters. Per staff on 7/28: Uzi got out for some activity time and got check in today! In kennel he was napping on his bed, but looked up with semi soft eyes when I called him. He didn't come to the door so I tossed him some treats, and he stood up and came up to me. He put his head through my loop for a treat, and came right out once secured. When we got to the room Uzi allowed some body pets without treats or time to warm up! He looks SO MUCH better after his bath, and I know he feels better! He was still a little nervous when I reached for his head, and did a tiny lip raise, but did not fully bare teeth. He allowed me to pet his head with some treats, and with some time, he allowed head pets without any treats! After some treats, he allowed all handling with no issues! I tried some toys again to see if he had any energy to play, but he's still pretty exhausted. We just hung out and I gave him gentle pets and lots of treats. At one point I had to step out of the room quickly, and when I came back in Uzi approached me and pushed his own head under my hand! With how well he was doing, I took him to get checked in. Uzi did amazing in intake! He needed no restraint, just a food distraction, and took his vaccines like a champ! He did cry out and head whip around for the microchip, but his skin was too tough for the needle to pierce, so we decided to skip the microchip for now. Uzi held no grudges and went back to licking his food distraction after attempting the microchip. When it was time to return to kennel he walked slowly, knowing where he was going. When we got to his row he put on the brakes and lowered his head, looking at me with soft, sad eyes. He didn't want to go back! I was able to coax him in easily with some treats, and he gobbled them up as I removed the leash. Per staff on 7/27: I went to give Uzi a bath today due to his flea problem he has going on. He leashed easily and walked to the back where the hose was rarely ever pulling besides when he wanted to sniff some grass. Once we got back to the hose i turned the water on and he did get spooked a bit but quickly calmed down and kept looking around. I put the water on him and he enjoyed his little shower a lot. he allowed me to do all around handling as well as scrub him with some dawn dish soap. I had zero problems while giving him a bath. Once we got done, A staff member was in the small run OutFront with a dog so I went up and did a fence meet where neither dog really paid attention (see video: Chilling with Cassandra (feat. Itchy Uzi). We walked back in side through the adoption lobby where there was another dog . Both dogs sniffed and then turned and minded there own business. I called over a staff member to show her how he was doing now and he did bare his teeth a little bit when she went towards his face but then calmed down and aloud her to rub his back and sides. He was pretty easy to put back into his kennel with some treats but he seemed like he did not want his outside time to end. Per staff 7/27: Making rescue only due to extreme handling sensitivity at this time. Will see if he improves over the next couple days, but he will need an experienced adopter if made available. BEHAVIOR EVALUATION (7/27): KNOWN HISTORY: Stray KENNEL PRESENTATION: Uzi was laying on his bed when I approached. I had been giving him treats and high value food through the door throughout the day, so when he saw me he came to the door with soft eyes and a low wagging tail. He took some more treats from me, but retreated when he saw the leash. I was able to leash him easily by coaxing his head through my leash loop with a high value treat. He was tolerant of the leash and came right out once secured. LEASH SKILLS: Pulls minimally HANDLING: In the room I held onto the leash and let Uzi sniff around and adjust. I got some more treats and started giving him some. He can be pretty snatchy, but when I used an open palm he was much gentler. I tentatively reached for his face after he finished a treat and he instantly bared teeth, before I could even make contact. I stepped back and he twitched his lips for a few seconds and then disengaged. He continued taking treats so we took handling even slower. He walked with me around the room with a neutral body and would occasionally give some low wags. I tried some toys but he wasn't interested. A member of Lifesaving came in to see him, and he avoided them until he gave Uzi some treats. Uzi took treats from the other staff member and allowed a couple gentle back pets, but did head whip after more than 2 touches. The staff member had to step out for a minute, so I tried using the pointer for some more extensive handling testing. Uzi was neutral to the pointer and never reacted to that touch. With time and lots and lots of treats, he began to allow some more body pets, but very short and gentle touches. I did not try to touch his head or face again, out of an abundance of caution. The lifesaving member came back in and we decided to try and clip two of his extremely overgrown nails. We used treats to distract him, and he tolerated the nail cutting amazingly well! He did not react at all, except for one whine when he tried to pull his paw away and tugged on his nail. He never showed any concerning body language as we cut his nails! After this he tolerated body pets for longer periods, but he was still very uncomfortable, and would keep his head low and avoid eye contact when touched. Poor Uzi is so flea ridden that I can't imagine how painful his skin is. His nails are also horrifically overgrown, to the point where he can barely stand on his own feet. I believe that his abysmal body condition is what is leading to his handling sensitivity. I believe with a lot of time, treats, patience, and medical care he would open up a lot and allow more handling. PLAY: No interest TOYS: No interest COLOR LEVEL & ANY RECOMMENDATIONS: Experienced blues - will get out over the next few days to see if handleability improves with trust and time Per staff on 7/26: [Needs time to adjust], Barring teeth accompanied with slow stressed tail wags, lip licking, tense body language. Refusal to any sort of touch. Medical notes: During a minimal-contact (due to initial stress) senior exam on 7/31, staff noted: Lichenified and erythematous skin on ventrum. Very pruritic in this region. Very thin fur along dorsum and tail, but no evidence of associated pyoderma. No live fleas seen today. Thoracic auscultation, abdominal palpation, and orthopedic exam not possible at this time, but stiff hind end gait suggestive of likely hip osteoarthritis was observed. Thin body condition, ravenous appetite During an intake exam on 7/28, staff noted: waxy ears, flea dermatitis, long nails, fearful. Videos: Chilling with Cassandra (feat. itchy Uzi) https://youtube.com/shorts/ccYQbFjwxa0?feature=share Vivienne Westwoof and Lazlo meet Uzi through fence - https://youtube.com/shorts/XrheROq0J38?si=DZjImy2skeFb8EQC Gordo and Uzi https://youtube.com/shorts/MsPWhgMFldY?feature=share Gordo and Uzi Part 2 https://youtube.com/shorts/FIjtWyaKGKk?feature=share