Asta

Meet Asta (ACCT-A-252916)! This sweet boy is looking for a home where he can get all the love and "butt scratches" he deserves. Asta was found as a lost dog and is described by those who have met him as friendly, cuddly, and playful. He has done well walking on a leash and has shown a happy, social side around strangers and children.

While the shelter environment can be a bit overwhelming for him at times, Asta really shines when he is outside or when someone uses a soft, "baby voice" to talk to him. He is a smart pup who takes treats very gently and loves to lean in for rubs once he feels comfortable. Asta is looking for a patient family who will help him feel secure and provide him with plenty of snacks and affection. If you're looking for a loyal companion who just wants to be close to you, Asta might be the perfect match!

Behavioral Notes 06/21/26 Per volunteer: Mild hesitation Walked nicely on the leash, no pulling Yes, I handled the dog. Asta leaned in for more pets and loved his butt and belly being scratched. When on the grass, he would roll over while I pet him. While I sat on the bench, he would sit by my feet when I pet him Walked right into kennel and unleashed without issue Asta is housetrained. He pooped and peed once he got outside. He sits nicely for treats and is very gentle taking them. He has a calm amd gentle demeanor. He was hesitant when first meeting him, but after a few minutes outside, his body language became loose and his tail wagging.

06/19/26 per staff behavioral eval: Kennel Presentation: standing in the middle, ears back, tail down and still. Closed mouth, tense body, furrowed brow. Tossed in cheese, slowly dipped head to eat it. Showed the leash, Low tail wag, squinty eyes, easy to leash

Leash Skills: pulled mildly, slightly hunched body.

Sociability: gently touched on back And sides, tolerant, tense, gentle taking treats. Head low, averted gaze when i approached to pick up dropped leash. Peed and pooped Met male staff member at the fence. Approached fence, stopped about 3 feet away, air scented then moved away, gently took cheese from his hand. Backed away again Then observed with a staff member he already met, Loose and wiggly. The body language difference is clear and stark.

Play: did not do

Dog Interaction: met Ralphie. Loose, wiggly, play bow, tolerant of being sniffed intensely and jumps towards her (lifesaving has video)

Return to Kennel: easy

Color Level: blue

Recommendations and considerations: No kids out of an abundance of caution Needs slow intro with new people Prepare to muzzle train for safe vet visits

06/17/2026 per staff: Got Asta out for surgery as a staff member was unable to get him out. He was further back in his kennel, heavy panting, wide eyes, ears back. A staff member talked to him in a baby voice and he came to the front with soft eyes, mid tail wags, and a loose body, and was easily leashed. He walked back to surgery with a loose body, mid tail wags, and ears to the side. In surgery it was decided to double leash him; when a staff member came over to leash Asta, his tail went low and still, and he had a tenser body and ears back. When leash pressure was applied he started jumping up and air snapping towards the staff member with wide eyes, a tense body, and a tucked tail. The staff member dropped the leash and backed up. Asta stopped jumping up and loosened up, though he was heavy panting with ears back and a low tail. After a few seconds, the second leash which got wrapped around when he was jumping up was untangled. Asta allowed all handling with a loose body, mid to low tail, and ears back. When the staff member came back over, Asta had a tense body, low still tail, and ears back. Another staff member came over and held the leash and he remained looser. Staff were able to bear hug him and give him his injection.

06/16/2026 per staff: In his kennel with soft eyes, ears back, and mid tail wags. Slowly came to the front and took a treat very gently through the bars. Moved back when the door was opened, then came forward slowly again for treats with wider soft eyes and slow mid tail wags. Able to leash with a treat lure; once leashed, he came right out and walked with a mid to high tail, ears back, and a tense body. Outside he shook off and showed a looser body, ears to the side, and a mid tail. He sniffed around in the yard but would not come over when called or for treats. He was tense with handling at first, with a skin crawl, closed mouth, and tail low and still, then moved away. Attempted after a few minutes and he tolerated all handling with a low tail, ears back, and closed mouth. We went back inside to attempt to check him in, but in the intake room he had a tense body, low and still tail, ears back, and a closed mouth, and was not eating. We decided to go back outside to attempt check-in as he was looser out there. He allowed all handling from staff and the nurse outside and leaned into butt scratches with soft squinty eyes, ears back, and a loose body. Able to give barrier and scan for a chip with no issue. We double leashed for vaccines; when poking, he pulled away, and on the second attempt, he pulled away again and did a slow closed mouth head turn. He started moving away from the nurse when approached so we decided to end it there. Walked back with a low tail and ears back on a loose leash and hopped right into the kennel.

06/16/2026 per staff: Asta seemed to do much better outside for check in, was able to get a physical exam but want to hold off due to stress levels.

06/14/2026 per staff: While the dog was in the lobby he allowed touch all over, he especially loved butt scratches. He stood close and kept coming up for more rubs. While there were two women standing a few feet away from him, he did start to bark a little but it was more of an alert bark than aggressive. Staff was able to redirect his attention and he would stop barking. Again came in for rubs.

06/14/2026 per staff: Based on notes, switching to evaluate

06/14/2026 per staff: When closing the door in dog intake, pt began to hard bark at the door and became weary and avoidant of any touch. Staff tried to touch pt on the back and pt tried to lunge/bite.

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