Otis
County ID A5169209
Deadline: Thursday, September 10.
Otis is a 112-pound mastiff who has been through this shelter twice now, and the pressure breaks him down every time. He resource guards his toys, he doesn't want strangers in his space, and he needs a handler who understands that a dog this size with a history this complicated doesn't get a learning curve. When he's not terrified, he's a calm, gentle giant who will follow you around a yard and settle for quiet affection.
Already applied? Call or text 602-834-4911 and tell us it is Otis.
What the shelter has seen
- Returned after two weeks when the owner couldn't manage his resource guarding over toys and territorial behavior when people came over
- Shuts down hard under shelter stress—sits in the back of his kennel, refuses food for days, needs coaxing and treats to engage
- Once outside and decompressed, walks easily on leash, explores calmly, softens for petting, ignores other dogs in passing
- History of chasing cats aggressively and tense body language around unfamiliar dogs—owner kept him separated to prevent escalation
- Startles easily, head-shy at first touch, required a muzzle for intake vaccines when he was at his most afraid
What Otis needs
This is not a beginner's dog and we will not pretend otherwise. Otis needs an experienced handler with no other animals, no visitors dropping by, and the skills to manage resource guarding and territorial behavior in a dog this powerful. He is New Hope Only and must be pulled by a partner rescue with behavior support by end of day September 10th.
Everything here comes from Otis’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
- 6 years old
- Sex
- Neutered
- Breed
- Brown / Black Mastiff
- Weight
- 112.0 lb
- Shelter
- West shelter
- Kennel
- West Kennel, Wing I - 290
- Deadline
- Thursday, September 10
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.