RESCUE-ONLY DEADLINE CLOSE OF BUSINESS Thursday April 2, 2026 Must be pulled by a partnered rescue Name: Royce Animal ID: A735002 Age: 6 years Weight: 21 lbs. Web Link: 24petconnect.com/PimaAdoptablePets/Details/PIMA/A735002 About: If you are looking for a handsome, seasoned companion with a big personality, Royce is ready to meet you. This 6-year-old black and white Pomeranian mix has spent the last five years in a home, and his previous owners had many wonderful things to say about him. Royce is a smart fellow who is already crate trained and even knows a few tricks! Once he feels comfortable and safe with his people, he is incredibly affectionate and settles in for quality time. Royce is an active guy who truly enjoys his daily walks and is always excited to play with his favorite toys. In addition to his behavioral needs, potential adopters should be aware that Royce has some medical considerations to keep him feeling his best. He has been diagnosed with crystals in his urine, which means he will require a consistent, special prescription diet and ongoing medical care to manage his urinary health for the long term. This is an important commitment to consider when deciding if you are the right fit for his future. While he has a lot of love to give, Royce is a complex little dog who needs a very specific, experienced environment to be successful. He is a significant resource guarder of his food, his toys, and his inner circle of people. Because of this, he has a known bite history related to guarding his prized possessions and has also been known to bite when redirecting if he feels overwhelmed or pushed past his threshold. When meeting new faces, Royce can be quite nervous and prefers to take things slow. He isn't the type to jump into a stranger's lap immediately; he needs an adult-only home that respects his boundaries and won't push for affection before he is ready. His future family must be highly savvy in managing resource guarding and recognizing the signs of over-stimulation to help him stay below that threshold. While Royce has done well with other dogs in the past, his new home will need to strictly manage and monitor any potential guarding between him and other pets. We know a dog as cute as Royce will draw a lot of interest, but for his safety and the safety of his future family, we are looking for a match that truly understands both his high-level behavioral management and his long-term medical care. Royce is currently on a Rescue-Only deadline, which means he requires a partnered rescue group to pull him and oversee his placement. Adoption Process: All interested parties must meet the dog at PACC before their deadline. Some dogs may also require an introduction to any dogs they may potentially live with. Once introductions are complete and if the IP has decided this dog may be a good fit, the process is as follows: Interested parties: • Must visit PACC before the COB Thursday April 2, 2026 deadline to meet with an adoption counselor who will go over notes and introduce you to the dog. • Are encouraged to reach out to a rescue group ASAP (even before coming to PACC), to start the rescue approval process. Please have the rescue contact PACC at PACC.UrgentDogs@pima.gov if approved to pull. • If an IP has not already contacted a rescue, PACC will notify all partnered rescue groups of an interested party and request their assistance. Once you have come to PACC to meet with the dog and determined that you’d like to move forward, your information will be sent to partnered rescue groups. If a rescue group is interested and feels they may be able to pull, they will then reach out to IPs. Collaboration with Rescue Groups: • Rescue groups are encouraged to reach out to PACC immediately if they will pull this animal into their rescue (and if there are requirements: Interested adoptive party, spay/neuter if not already completed, etc.) • Rescue groups are encouraged to start their adoption process with any interested parties who have contacted them directly and email PACC at PACC.UrgentDogs@pima.gov. Please note that it is ultimately up to the rescue group's discretion to decide whether to proceed with adoption. HOME MANAGEMENT PLAN: Bite History: • Incident Details: minor bite- Royce was overstimulated, barking at coyotes outside his yard, victim tried to pick him up and he re-directed and victim was bitten on the hand. Undocumented Bite History: multiple • Incident Details: due to resource guarding and re-directing No Kids: • Royce is not suitable for a home with children. • Reason: given his bite history and resource guarding behaviors • Management: For safety and comfort, they should be in an adult-only home where interaction can be calm, predictable, and structured. Resource Guards Items or Food: • Royce may guard valued items such as food, toys, bones, or resting spaces. • Management: Do not attempt to take items directly from their mouth or reach into their food bowl. Instead, trade with a high-value treat or toy to encourage voluntary release or when picking up a food bowl, call the dog away from the bowl into another room before picking up. • Feeding Protocol: Feed them separately from other pets and in a quiet, low-traffic area. Allow them to eat undisturbed. Remove food bowls only after they have finished and moved away. • Muzzle Training: Conditioning them to wear a muzzle can be beneficial during resource-handling practice or when introducing high-value items around people or other animals. • Professional Support: Work with a qualified trainer or behaviorist to develop safe management and counterconditioning techniques. • Recognize Warning Signals: Be aware of early signs of guarding behavior, such as stiffening, hovering over items, growling, or showing teeth. Respect these signals by calmly creating distance and redirecting their focus. Resource Guards Attention From People: • Royce may guard attention or affection from certain people, particularly those they are bonded to. • Muzzle Training: Muzzle training is strongly recommended for all new introductions to ensure safety and reduce stress for both [INSERT NAME] and others. • Professional Support: Establish clear boundaries early and seek guidance from a qualified trainer to help manage and modify guarding behavior. • Management at Home: Create a calm, designated space where they can relax when guests arrive or when attention is divided. Avoid scolding or punishing guarding behaviors - focus on redirection and rewarding calm, appropriate responses. • Recognize Warning Signals: Watch for signs that they are becoming uncomfortable, such as stiffening, growling or placing themselves between people. These behaviors should be respected by giving space and calmly redirecting their focus. Stranger Danger: • Initial Reaction: Expect your new dog to be uncomfortable around and with new people including yourself until they are comfortable with you, they may bark, snap, or flee.