Meet Kenji the Labrador Retriever 🐾

Helping Kenji leave the shelter may begin with spending time together during a meet and greet interaction outside the kennel environment. Some dogs seem more playful once they are brought into outdoor interaction spaces while others simply appear relieved to relax in calmer surroundings for a while.

At Chicago Animal Care and Control, visitors may spend time walking with him, using toys or treats, or simply relaxing nearby while getting to know him better. Some interactions begin in smaller enclosed areas before moving into larger yards where dogs have additional room to move around and exercise.

Volunteers can explain fostering through rescue organizations for visitors interested in helping him leave the shelter sooner. Foster homes often provide dogs additional time to decompress and settle into more stable routines outside the shelter environment.

Watching Kenji interact outside the kennel area often helps visitors imagine what life together could eventually look like. Spending time together in person usually provides adopters with a much clearer understanding of how he responds in calmer surroundings.