Duke (ACCT-248992) is a 1.5 year old adorable boy who was sadly surrendered to the shelter on 8/9/26 after his owner experienced an urgent health and housing situation and was unable to take Duke with him. This was a heartbreaking change for a young dog who had only known life with his person. Duke did not have the opportunity to become comfortable around many people outside of his previous owner, so the shelter environment has understandably been frightening and overwhelming for him. The good news is that Duke has been socialized with other dogs, and the shelter has started him on behavioral medication to help him feel more relaxed. What he needs now is an adult-only home (preferably with another dog to help him blossom and grow) willing to give him the most important things he cannot get in a stressful shelter environment: time, patience, consistency, and a quiet place to decompress.
VIDEO:
Playgroup 8/16:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPFWBaqnaMWY
Playgroup 8/15: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLes8DKheeP2w
Petting Duke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj8mQn6aUVU
Duke knows sit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuy81Bmu_CPbqAYOCQxqfLA
Playgroup 8/13:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX1vtvzy12ck
8/12 Playgroup https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBKAGlc9KOfk
Behavioral Notes:
Playgroup 8/16: Steer test 4/5 with water and can
Came in quickly. Immediately trying to play. Some low vocalizing. Running shoulder to shoulder with neo. Play pauses
Playgroup 8/15/26:
Steer Test - Water 3/5, Can 3/5
Good fence greetings with ears back and mid tail wags. Came in hot, engaged in good push/pull play with play bows. Tried to mount a couple of times but could be redirected.
Per Volunteer 8/14/2026: When I approached his kennel, he was laying on his bed, and as I approached, he started to tremble. I dropped a few treats, then came back after my next dog, and he was still trembling when I approached. I had the door slightly open and started to record him to show how scared he was in kennel and he suddenly darted forward to try to get out of the kennel. Luckily, I closed the door in time and he stayed right at the front so I easily leashed him from there. He actually walks out quite confidently but then when he see people he backs up and cowers a bit. Walks nicely on leash with some moderate pulling. After a few minutes in the play yard he was super affectionate with me and took pets all over. He was very comfortable in my presence and solicited out pets constantly. He seemed to love to romp and run and would chase after toys too! Takes treats pretty gently and seems to be quite treat motivated. On the way in he met a few new handlers and greeted them with a loose and wiggly body. It seems like he just needs some time to warm up. Easily went back into his kennel voluntarily.
8/13/16 Playgroup
Steer Test - Water 5/5, Can N/A
Did not can test due to being highly steerable with water.
Got very frustrated at the fence greeting. Tail high, lots of whining and barking. Came into the play yard hot, good greetings with good shakes. Pushy with play but moves away on own.
8/12/16 Playgroup behavioral eval:
Steer Test - Water 4/5, Can 4/5
When sniffed, ears back, tail low, lip licks. Lots of stress yawns in the yard. High tail when being greeted. Good greetings with other dogs and moved away on own. Engaged in a little push/pull play with Armani.
8/11/16: Behavior Eval
Kennel Presentation: Laying on his bed trembling with wide eyes, ears back, sniffed the treats that landed next to him and ate the hot dog.
Leash Skills: Remained on his bed when I opened the door trembling with the same body language. Able to gently place the leash over him. Once leashed came to the front and hesitated for a second trembling with a tucked tail and wide eyes before hopping out. Walked pulling moderately with ears back and a low tail, eyes darting. Outside would pull strongly towards the road at times ears back, low tail. When walking along the side of the building pulled mildly, ears back, low looser tail.
Sociability: In the pen came over to me when I called to him, ears back, wide soft eyes, low tail. Allowed all handling with the same body language. Move away when I stopped handling. Took treats gently outside.
Play: n/a
Dog Interaction: Met Misty, loose body, sniffed and was sniffed, moving away on his own.
Return to Kennel: Walked back towards the door wide eyes, ears pinned back, low tail. Once we made it to the door started to pull back hard on the leash. Went back to the gate where he was pawing at it. Had Misty go in front of us and with a jog he followed inside. Once inside tail tucked, wide red eyes, ears pinned back tried to go back outside. Followed Misty again and with light leash pressure got moving away. Walked to his kennel wide eyes darting, tail tucked. Hopped right into kennel and leash was removed with hand.
Color Level: Exp Blue
08/10/2026: Initial Eval
This dog is being started on behavior meds for FAS.
Kennel Presentation: Laying on his bed, trembling, wide eyes. Did not eat any treats that I offered.
Leash Skills: Would not come forward, remained laying down on his bed with wide eyes, ears back, trembling. Was able to gently place my leash over him. Once on leash started to tremble more and came to the front of his kennel wide eyes, ears pinned back. Crouched down and he hopped out. Walked pulling on leash with wide eyes darting, tail low, tense body, ears pinned back, looking back at me regularly. Outside pulled strongly towards the road with the same body language, went into a yard.
Sociability: Exit searching in the yard heavy panting, wide red eyes, ears back, not eating. Did not come o over for calling or treats. Allowed all handing with low tail wags, ears back, heavy panting. Remained next to me when I stopped for a few seconds before moving away and returned to exit searching.
Play: n/a
Dog Interaction: n/a
Return to Kennel: Pulled hard towards the road on when going back inside, made it to the door where he pancaked and with leash pressure started to pull back hard on the leash. Not eating treats so we walked around to a different door where the same thing happened. Went into a yard and called for a second handler. With the second handler behind him for people pressure we made it inside along with some leash pressure. Would pancake when going through door ways and needed leash pressure to move. Able to clip my leash and when at his kennel needed leash pressure to enter. Through making our way back he was heavy painting with wide red eyes, ears back, heavy panting.
Color Level: not ready for walks at this time.
ACCT Philly is located at 111 West Hunting Park Ave in Philadelphia. We are open for adoptions 7 days a week. Please visit www.acctphilly.org/adopt for details.
If you are a rescue interested in pulling this animal, please email our lifesaving team, or visit here if you are not currently a rescue partner: https://acctphilly.org/acct-philly-love-local-partnership-program/
Confirmed placement is considered a confirmation of an actual rescue pull. Possible placement, interested parties, and other "TBD" statuses are not considered confirmed and do not indicate an animal is no longer urgent.
All animals at ACCT Philly are from Philadelphia, as the only open-intake animal shelter in Philadelphia, we are not able to accept animals from outside of Philadelphia. ACCT Philly's Pennsylvania kennel license number is 08313
SMALL FRY
Terrier
🇺🇸
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
male, small, adult
Terrier
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
