05/02/2026
Due to lack of placement as of an expired timestamp, Achilles was humanely euthanized.
‼️URGENT‼️
👉 For the most up-to-date notes, please check the bio located in the comments.👈
Achilles ACCT-A-248578 is currently considered urgent and at risk of euthanasia due to medical and behavioral concerns. Achilles must have confirmed placement with a RESCUE PARTNER by SUNDAY, MAY 3RD at 10AM. Should Achilles's medical or behavioral status change, his urgency and timeline for placement may also change.
Achilles is a senior boy who came to ACCT Philly on April 28th as an owner surrender alongside his companion BB. Their family of many years found themselves in the middle of major life changes and made the difficult decision to surrender them. The owner reported that they know basic commands, are housetrained, and are friendly with strangers and children, having lived with multiple children ages 2 to 7.
In the shelter, Achilles has shown that he responds well to food and gentle, patient handling. He noticeably perked up when reunited near his companion BB, wagging his tail and sniffing at her with clear comfort. He moves slowly and often needs encouragement to get going, likely due to arthritis pain. Achilles has severe periodontal disease and very painful ears, making him sensitive to handling for cleaning and medication. He is also at high risk of developing an upper respiratory infection and declining in the shelter environment. He’ll need a rescue experienced with senior dogs that can give him the time, compassion, and understanding he needs to decompress, along with the medical care to keep him comfortable. Due to his medical concerns, Achilles is urgently seeking placement with a rescue partner.
VIDEOS:
Achilles and Zegras: https://youtu.be/YAG0fLPxhos
Achilles and Muffin: https://youtu.be/4TXGbuDCLW8
BEHAVIOR NOTES:
Per staff 5/1: Brought out for a few dog meets, approached kennel and opened door, he walked to the front of the kennel and I slowly looped him up with the leash. He walked right out and walked to the volunteer office with me. In the office he did lots of sniffing and was disinterested in me and another staff member that was in there. I started tossing hot dogs and he was engaged with me while I had them, but as soon as they were gone he walked away from me and started sniffing around again. I was able to touch his lower back and give a few pets and he had no reaction or interest in recieving them. Overall a bit aloof and disinterested in people at this point.
Per staff 4/30: Gave Achilles a few pieces of hot dog through bars which he ate. Returned a few hours later, volunteer shared BB came in with him, and walked BB up to him and started to wag his tail and sniff her. She walked away. I decided to move him to be next to her to see if that helped. He didn't want to come out of the crate, slow to rise and very slow to walk. I put leash loop on him and required a trail of fries to go about five feet, then walked over into the crate next to BB. I put the water bucket in and tossed in some cheeseburger bits to get him to walk full in. I removed the leash and left.
Per staff 4/30: Volunteer was struggling to get him back into his crate, he stopped outside of it, wide eyes, low still tail, tense body. The volunteer had already tried treats in a trail, he was no longer moving forward for them. Needed to loop my leash under his belly near his back legs to assist him going in. Once in his crate he slowly laid down with soft wide eyes and started eating his food.
Per staff 4/30: Patient trembling, shaking, growling throughout exam despite Gabapentin/Trazodone pre-med. Attempted to bite when I tried to touch ears (painful ear infection), will be unable to treat ear infection without sedation.
Per owner surrender notes 4/28: Achilles loves children and socializing. Medium energy. Fully housebroken, lives inside. Not crate trained. Knows basic commands. Favorite toys and treats include balls, bones, and ears. Friendly toward strangers and children. Friendly/reactive towards dogs. Aggressive toward cats. Ideal home would be a family with a big yard and children who like to go to the dog park.
MEDICAL NOTES:
4/30 Vet Exam: Achilles was pre-medicated with Gabapentin and Trazodone prior to his exam. His right ear is extremely inflamed and painful with heavy dark brown debris; both ear flaps are scarred and deformed from previous aural hematomas, with the right worse than the left, likely the result of chronic untreated ear infections. He has severe periodontal disease throughout his mouth and a diffusely stiff gait, more pronounced in his back legs, consistent with arthritis. A small skin lesion was found on his right side, suspected benign. Blood work could not be obtained due to his temperament. His ears could not be cleaned or medicated during this exam as he did not tolerate it — sedation will be required to treat his ears and draw blood. He was neutered the day before, so re-sedating him at the time of the exam was not ideal. He is currently on Gabapentin twice daily for pain and Rimadyl once daily for arthritis. He will need his ears cleaned, senior bloodwork, and a dental cleaning, along with ongoing arthritis management. Some diagnostics and treatments may require sedation due to his behavior.
4/29 Vet Exam: Right ear extremely inflamed and painful with heavy debris. Small skin lesion on right side. Diffusely stiff gait. Moderate periodontal disease. Ear cleaning and bloodwork recommended prior to continuing NSAIDs for arthritis. Exam could not be completed as Achilles was very dysphoric and reactive following his neuter surgery earlier that day. Re-attempt the following day.
On 4/29, Achilles was neutered.
4/28 Intake Exam: Eyes clear with some redness and crusting. Ears inflamed and crusty. Dry, red nose. Clean coat and skin. Weakness and stiffness in both back legs, appears to be in pain.
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Due to being significantly overcapacity with animals and higher than usual intake, extensions are unlikely to be granted. If you are interested in an animal please contact ACCT Philly immediately.
Due to limited space, timestamps may also be proceeded with early so it is imperative to let us know if you are considering adopting or tagging an animal.
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.
