Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
Good with dogs,
Not good with cats,
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
**$75 in pledges to the rescue that pulls!**
Arya ACCT-A-255601 is currently considered urgent and at risk of euthanasia due to length of stay and lack of space for incoming dogs. Arya must have confirmed placement with a RESCUE PARTNER, or ADOPTER by Sunday, August 9th 2026 at 10AM. Should Arya’s medical or behavioral status change, her urgency and timeline for placement may also change.
Arya is a loving, affectionate girl who is ready to leave shelter life behind and settle into a cozy home with her favorite people. Surrendered through no fault of her own when her owner lost housing, Arya has been slowly rebuilding her confidence at the shelter. While new situations can be overwhelming for her at first, the people who know her best describe her as the "sweetest thing in the world" once she feels safe—and her recent volunteer notes show just how much she's blossomed.
These days, Arya greets many of her favorite people with happy nub wags, gentle "bear hugs," kisses, and requests for endless belly rubs. Volunteers describe her as a "big sweetheart," "the sweetest girl ever," and a dog who loves leaning into her people for comfort and affection. During a recent photoshoot, she charmed everyone she met, happily approaching new people with curiosity, rolling onto her back for belly rubs, and soaking up all the attention. She loves treats (especially when they're tucked into meatballs!), enjoys spending time outside, and has even shown a playful side with zoomies and a bouncy walk. Her previous owner shared that she's housebroken, crate trained, and happiest curled up on the couch next to her favorite person for a cozy nap.
Arya has also shown polite social skills with many dogs, often greeting them calmly before choosing to stay close to her handler. While she has had some mixed interactions, she has successfully lived with another dog in the past, and our staff can discuss her dog-to-dog history in more detail with interested adopters.
Because Arya can be fearful in unfamiliar situations, she is looking for an adult home or one with children 13 years and older, ideally with someone who has experience helping shy dogs adjust to a new environment. She may need extra patience with new experiences—car rides, for example, are still scary for her—but every day she continues to show that she's capable of incredible progress when given time, kindness, and reassurance.
If you're looking for a loyal companion who will reward your patience with unwavering love, soft cuddles, and happy tail wags, Arya is ready to find the forever family she's been waiting for.
Videos:
Arya getting and nudging for pets: https://youtube.com/shorts/IHz7AAgqqT4?is=-eYOJod8HXPXJ5Gp
Scared and sweet https://youtube.com/shorts/cfCvShVk4XA?si=YEv5UkXO7t27KOeT
Meeting pickles: https://youtube.com/shorts/_33K2RspcqE?si=_p8fqld4i9OH35j2
Tyson & Arya: https://youtu.be/oXi27lnhN1Y
Pets for Arya: https://youtube.com/shorts/4JKzixY2b6I?is=BUZqzKcKG5Ia2pIE
Meeting smooth: https://youtu.be/x0DLHKP3m0g?si=52xIuKLzLG2Bs6NY
Arya Belly rubs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5vJb5cQoBA
Behavior Notes:
Walksheet notes:
7/16 - low/medium energy, good dog meet, tried pushing out of kennel for a second, got her out from the backside, pancaked a few times through the kennel, can pull strong at times, likes meatballs, peed with handling and will shy away from your hand at first
7/19 - low energy, peed and pooped in aisle, allowed petting but did not solicit attention
7/24 - low energy, people lover, prefer handler attention
7/25 - very nervous when approached, peed on her blanket when leashed, continuously whale eyeing and tongue flicking, pancaked a lot
7/25 - low energy, very good girl
7/26 - low energy, calm walk
7/27 - medium energy
7/28 - low energy, neutral dog meet, came right up to door to be leashes, easy to walk, carry treats
7/28 - low energy, love her
7/29 - high energy, helps you leash her, loves treats, a big sweetheart
7/30 - low energy, good on leash, wants so many pets and belly rubs, very affectionate
7/31 - low/medium energy, the sweetest girl ever, so great on leash
8/1 - low/medium energy, circles while walking thru kennels, pulls a little slow to warm up, might pull towards other dogs
8/2 - medium energy, very obedient on leash, playful in yard
Per staff 8/3/26: Tried to go on a day trip, was so fearful to get into car
Per volunteer 8/2/26: I took Arya to the photoshoot. When I approached her kennel she was at the front. I did some baby talk and saw her nub start to move. She kept all 4 paws on the ground as I leashed her and came right out. She has a very bouncy walk and continuously checked in with me. When we got outside and slowed down, she jumped up with her front paws and gave me a bear hug. Her mouth remained open and her eyes soft. I pet her head and her ears (which are so soft!). Another dog walk by us and she glanced in their direction but directed her attention back to me unprompted. Once we got to the shoot, I put a bandana on her and she remained loose with her nub wagging. She was extremely social and approached different people with curiosity. She rolled onto her back a few times, exposing her entire belly. She did urinate twice while on her back. She was wiggling and accepting lots of pets. I was so surprised to see just how social she was! She's really opened up. No issues going back into her kennel
8/1/26: Due to size needs a physically strong handler, ideally take to places with minimal other dogs out of an abundance of caution
Per staff 8/1/26: Kennel Presentation: laying in bed, approached the front very loose and wiggly. Took treats gently.
Leash Skills: sat when leashes presented, then turned head and avoided a few times. Once leashed came out. Circling the handler while walking, midlly to moderately. Kennels were crowded and busy. Peed small amount immediately coming out of kennel
Sociability: initially tail was pasted down, slightly hunched body while sniffing the ground, pulled mildly away from handler. Lip
Licks, checking in frequently with handlers with direct eye constant. Neutral ears and eye contact.
In the pen, sniffed the ground, laid down when pet, overtime her tail went from pasted to low by the end. Solicited pets, leaning, pretzeling, lip licks, sneezing.
Ignored treats outside at first, then began eating readily,
Ears neutral throughout, loose body language. Panting.
Play: mild interested, chased when thrown, then ignored.
Dog Interaction: passed by a dog, pulled towards. Then looked back at dog
Twice as we kept walking. All body language remained neutral, mouth open and quiet.
Return to Kennel: easy
Color Level: exp gold
7/30/26: Please ensure any adopter knows that she takes meds in meatballs, cheese does not appear to work
Per staff 7/29/26: She was all wiggles and soliciting all the pets and attention when I saw her. Comes in low, lays down at your feet, then gently jumped on me. Excited, loose and happy
Per staff 7/29/26 (Regarding meet with Smooth): High tail, chasing the other dog as he was fleeing repeatedly. Ended up vocalizing while over the other dog, easily removed with the leashes. No injuries
Per staff 7/29/26: Arya was so sweet with me today while doing meds. She gave lots of kisses, nub wags, and let me reach into her bowl multiple times to gather the meds she didn't eat the first few times around with no signs of aggression
Per staff 7/28/26 (Regarding meet with Tyson): Loose body, mid to low tail wags, ears to the side. Tyson kept moving away and she remained near her handler. When close enough attempted to sniff and he moved away.
Per staff 7/21/26: Was called to help get a PCR for Arya. She was laying at the back of her kennel with wide eyes, ears pinned back, avoiding eye contact. Gave little low nub wags when I talked to her in a baby voice. Not eating the hot dogs that I had to offer. Able to gently lasso her and once leashed came out. Walked tail low, ears back, wide eyes. In the room she came over to me and leaned her body into me, resting her head on my legs with wide soft eyes. Allowed the nurse in there to lightly pet her back. Since she was comfortable with me, I did the swab. She dodged it at first then allowed me to swab her mouth. When I finished she leaned into me, ears back, wide soft eyes, low nub.
Per volunteer 7/18/26: Arya (ACCT-A-255601) is a sweet soul looking for a patient home where she can truly shine. She was surrendered along with her sister when her owner lost their housing. While the shelter environment has been a bit overwhelming for her, her previous family shares that she is the "sweetest thing in the world" once she feels safe and comfortable. Arya is a professional lounger who loves to jump up on the couch to relax with her favorite people and snore away!
This clever girl is already housebroken and crate trained. She has a fun, playful side too; she loves being outside and is known to get the zoomies after she’s had a bath. If you’re looking for a way to her heart, look no further than some tasty treats, which she takes very gently.
Arya has lived successfully with other dogs in the past. Because she can be a bit protective of her "castle" (her crate or home) and is currently feeling a little shy, she would do best in a home with children ages 13 and up who can give her the time she needs to acclimate. If you have a cozy couch and a lot of love to give, Arya might just be the perfect companion to fill your home with soft tail wags and gentle snores.
Per staff 7/16/26: Children 13+, Adopters must have experience with fearful dogs and acclimating them into the home
Per staff 7/16/26: Kennel Presentation: On the backside of her kennel, ears back, wide eyes, tail low. Took treats gently through the bars. Started giving low nub wags when talking in a baby voice about going out.
Leash Skills: Tried to push out slightly then was easy to leash. Once leashed pancaked and urinated, got moving again with some calling to her, ears back, head low, body crouched, tail tucked. We went outside a quiet way, started to stand straighter on our way outside. Walked loose leash most of the time, outside occasionally pulled moderately.
Sociability: In the yard came up to the hanlders when they coruched down with soft wide eyes, ears back, tail tucked. Deficated when the other handler touched her head. Not eating at first. We walked around the yard a bit and with time tail untucked and was low, looser body, taking treats gently from me. Came over when I sat down on the bench and rested her head on my legs, allowed all handling with soft wide eyes, ears back, looser body and a low looser tail. Would gently paw at my legs when I stopped petting.
Play: No interest in the toys
Dog Interaction: Met Pickles, mid tail, looser body moving away on her own. On the last greeting face to face higher tail, ears back, sniffed and moved away.
Return to Kennel: Walked back loose leash, ears back, wide eyes. Pulled moderately when we got into the kennels, tail tucked, hopped right in and leash was removed easily .
Color Level: Blue
Per staff 7/16/26: Tail pasted down, exit searching, didn’t eat meds, was eating hot dogs from handlers hand, turning away constantly so unable to be leashed at this time. Will try again
Per staff 7/14/26: TTA- due to fearfulness, whale eyes, flinches when touched, avoidant. Giving time to settle
Per owner 7/14/26: Arya was surrendered alongside another dog after their owner was unable to locate housing. Both dogs lived with their owner since they were puppies.
The owner noted that they are both “cage aggressive” and that he taught them both to bark in their crates when someone approached their porch to protect his home. Once they are out of their crate, they are very sweet and they do not show signs of food aggression and you are able to touch their food. They will get the zoomies when you lay on the couch and will jump up and fall asleep with you. They are housetrained, crate trained, high energy, and they like femur bones as high value enrichment. They can be “aggressive” towards strangers when the owner is not around, has never interacted with children, aggressive towards cats, and friendly towards other dogs.
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Due to being significantly overcapacity with dogs and cats 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 a dog or cat.
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 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.
