Dog kennels reopen to the public at KC Pet Project
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Puppy dog eyes. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
KC Pet Project's dog kennels reopened for public walk-throughs last month for the first time since the pandemic.
Why it matters: The pet rescue is overcrowded, and leaders are hoping more exposure and easier access for people will result in more adoptions.
The big picture: CEO Kate Meghji showed Axios how they've had to divide dog kennels in two to provide enough beds.
- "Some days we bring in 50, 60 dogs, and so it's really kind of playing Tetris," she says. "Getting this down to appropriate housing is the most important thing."
Context: COVID-19 safety protocols forced KC Pet Project to adopt a virtual process where applicants used the website and a kiosk to find potential matches, which narrowed the range of face-to-face interactions with dogs.
- As to why they didn't open back up: "We really tried to mitigate stress for the dogs," Meghji, who was hired this year, says of previous decisions, adding that increased foot traffic can make for a stressful environment for dogs.
Yes, but: More foot traffic can also bring more exposure, which can lead to more adoptions — and ultimately shorter stays and less stress.
- We weren't "allowing people to fall in love by just seeing and making eye contact," Meghji says.
How it works: Volunteers can now escort guests along the kennels to meet and interact with the dogs, which helps the dogs stay calm and allows visitors to ask questions.
- Staff have been training the dogs to stay calm during visits and reward them for sitting quietly when people pass by — a method called "four on the floor."
💭 Travis' thought bubble: I was amazed at how well this appeared to be working — I expected a cacophony of barking, but was instead greeted with curious eyes and quiet.
- The pieces of hot dog and piped-in orchestra music probably didn't hurt.
What's next: Meghji wants to begin blurring the lines between fostering and adoption to take the pressure off people while getting more dogs out of kennels and into caring homes.
- As for the walk-throughs, the first weekend open to the public resulted in 90 dog adoptions — as evidenced by several empty kennels.