Rocket
County ID A5163733
Deadline: Monday, August 31.
Rocket is an 8-year-old Min Pinscher mix who spent two months in a home before his owner surrendered him after the bite incident. In the shelter he has been steady and responsive with handlers who move slowly and let him come to them, but his history shows he can escalate when someone he is guarding leaves or when he feels uncertain about a stranger.
Already applied? Call or text 602-834-4911 and tell us it is Rocket.
What the shelter has seen
- Calm in a busy shelter—when handlers walked past his yard or cleaned kennels around him while other dogs barked, he wagged and watched, unbothered.
- Warmed up quickly once given space to settle—timid at first if approached too fast or loomed over, but with slow movement he relaxed and stood near his handler.
- Walked on leash with mild pull, ignored passing dogs in the hallway, sniffed around the yard and came when called.
- Has a history of resource guarding people—lunged and bit someone who walked away from his previous owner, leaving a bruise.
- Reactive to movement—chases cats, rabbits, birds, and barks or growls at strangers until he knows them.
What Rocket needs
This is not a beginner's dog and we will not pretend otherwise. Rocket needs an experienced handler who understands resource guarding and can manage his reactivity to small animals and strangers. No cats, no children, a secure home with predictable routines. Rocket is New Hope Only and must be pulled by a partner rescue with the capacity to support his behavior long-term.
Everything here comes from Rocket’s Maricopa County Animal Care and Control record. We leave out the parts that belong between the shelter, the rescue and the vet, and we do not soften what a dog needs. If something changes at the shelter, this page changes with it.
The county record
- Age
- 8 years old
- Sex
- Neutered
- Breed
- Black / Brown Min Pinscher / Mix
- Weight
- 16.8 lb
- Shelter
- East shelter
- Kennel
- East Kennel, Wing B - 104
- Deadline
- Monday, August 31
This dog needs a rescue partner
New Hope Only means the county requires a partner rescue to take this dog. Apply and raise your hand, and we work the rescue side for you. You can still be the home they land in.