Nonna

Meet Nonna (ACCT-A-252716)! This sweet girl is a total "leaner" who just wants to be close to her favorite humans. Nonna had a bit of a rough start before arriving at the shelter, so she can get a little overstimulated and stressed by all the new sights and sounds. However, her true personality shines through once she gets a few gentle pets and some "baby talk."

She is a big fan of physical affection and will often sit right on your feet or lean her whole body into you to show how much she appreciates your company. When she's in the yard, she's a happy explorer who loves to sniff around and investigate every corner. Nonna also has a playful side! She absolutely loves squeaky stuffed toys and will happily carry them around with a wagging tail.

Nonna is a smart girl who is very food-motivated, though she can be a bit "snatchy" with treats because she's so excited to have them-tossing her snacks is the best way to reward her. While the shelter environment is a bit overwhelming for her, she is looking for a patient adopter who can give her the stability and love she deserves. If you're looking for a cuddle buddy who will literally be by your side (and on your feet!), come meet Nonna today!

Videos: ISO Playgroup 6/26: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFjGkYUuiHhw

Nonna & Hartville: https://youtu.be/WFOTGXQR104 https://youtu.be/3KzNAYh6P6A

Behavioral Notes

06/26/2026 playgroup: Once in the playgroup yard, started exit searching with pasted tail, going from Corners to gates to exit. Tolerant of dogs sniffing her and following her. Removed from the yard and placed in next yard. She held a stuffed toy in her mouth and stood at the gate most of the time until returned to her kennel.

06/25/2026 | Per volunteer: "I took Nonna out again last night. As usual she was easy to leash, walk and return to her kennel. She allowed pets and sat with me most of the time while in the play yard. She is very sweet. She does seem to like having a stuffed animal in her mouth."

06/24/2026 per staff adding good dog meet attribute however, while Nonna was able to be sniffed she was avoidant of the other dog and choosing to move away from Hartville.

06/24/2026 per staff: Nonna & Hartville - handler oriented, avoidant, moving away. Able to be sniffed.

Per volunteer 6/23: I took Nonna out again last night. She was easy to leash, walk and return to her kennel. She just wanted to sit with me and be pet last night. She is a very affectionate girl.

06/14/2026 per staff behavioral eval: Kennel Presentation: At the front of her kennel, ears to the side, mid to high tail wags, soft eyes. Took treats snatchy through the bars.

Leash Skills: Moved back when the leash touched her head, ears back, tail low. Tried to push out of kennel. Tossed in some treats to move her back when she came back to the front was able to leash with a treat lure. Once leashed came right out and walked pulling moderately, high tail, ears back. Shook off once outside, mid loose tail, ears to the side.

Sociability: Sniffing around the yard, tail high, ears forward, nose to the ground. Came over when I sat on the bench, soft eyes, ears back, mid tail. Takes treats very snatchy so tossing them is best. With handling, flinched and skin crawled at first, tail low, ears back. She remained near my side and we played some treat and retreat. Attempted handling again and she tolerated it all with a low tail, ears back. I stood up to move around the yard and she sat on my feet and leaned into me, slightly open mouth, ears to the side, soft eyes. She started to sniff my treat pouch and would move following me sniffing and nudging it with her nose, tossed treats away to redirect her.

Play: Likes the squeaky stuffed toy in the yard, picked it up and carried it around with a mid wagging nub, ears back, loose body. She allowed handling with the toy and would drop it for treats then picked it right up again. Dropped some treats so she would drop it and then moved her away from the toy when it was time to leave the yard.

Dog Interaction: Passed by some dogs while walking out, moved away from them, tail tucked, hunched body, ears back, wide eyes.

Return to Kennel: Walked back, mid tail, ears to the side, hopped right into kennel and flinched when I went to remove my leash, ears back, wide eyes, tail low. Put some treats on the ground and was able to clip my leash while she ate them and remove it easily.

Color Level: Blue

06/13/2026 per staff: Completed check in. Nonna seems to like human touch and being cuddle . Less is more when it comes to restraint and using a leash muzzle.

06/12/2026 per staff: 2nd attempted on Nonna for check in was unable to get completed. P was great with eating snacks and being loved on. I attempted the first vaccine bordetella ,which is nasal spray, P attempted to bite me I believe thinking it was food. After, I applied cream cheese on the door using food to distract, which almost worked until I approached to begin vaccinating and P began to thrash, bucking, and excessively panting. Staff attempted to restrain using body to pin against the wall, but staff was having a hard time handling P from thrashing. After 5 mins allowing P to calm down we were able to redirect and walk her back to kennel. Spoke about trying to change or up the dosage on medication.

06/12/2026 per staff: switching meds from trazadone to clonidine, at attempted check in was reported to be heavy panting, bucking, highly stressed, medication appeared to have no effect

06/12/2026 per staff: Upon arrival to shelter I was able to leash out of truck without issue, Nonna pulled very hard on leash, darting in multiple directions. Heavy stress panting, seemed very overstimulated. Pulled toward staff members in hallway for attention. Sniffed a couple staff members. Brought to dispatch, when a dispatcher pet her, she calmed down and leaned in for pets. Brought to dog intake for Cap Star, given without issue. Hesitant to go into kennel at first but was able to walk in with her and she went in with a little baby talk

06/11/2026 per staff: Observed coming in, pulling hard and erratically in all directions breathing heavily. Touch calmed her down and she would stand still, tail down and still, soft eyes, ears back, slower breathing.

06/11/2026 per staff: 6/11/26 5:00pm caller stated she's an aggressive dog, that she "growls and tries to jump on her". When removing her, no aggressive behavior was observed. She seemed overstimulated from behind kept in the basement. She did a lot of crying and whining, and pulled heavy on control pole, which was only used due to the way she was at the basement door.

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