On this occasion, we extended a special invitation to Dr. Joan Dalton, Director of Project Pooch Inc. to provide us with the keynote speech. Project Pooch is a rehabilitation (correctional) program for juvenile criminals.
　Under the program, young people are assigned a dog (from a dog shelter) and encouraged to assume responsibility for its care, training and for finding it a new home. The process allows them to learn how to be responsible and patient, how to show consideration for another life, the feeling of being needed and many other forms of empathy etc. Training is not based on the exertion of physical ‘power’, but utilizes the ‘positive enforcement method’ involving praise etc. This method also teaches young people how to control their own behavior. From their relationship with the dogs they also learn the practical skills needed to become trimmers, discipline trainers, pet sitters, etc. Results have shown that the young people who join the project have a higher level of motivation and are better able to resolve problems than those who do not.

However, the greatest gain from the project has been the result, to date, that there have been zero repeat offenders from among those who took part, evidence of the extraordinary effectiveness of the project.

The Symposium audience listened to Dr. Dalton’s lecture very attentively. At the end of the lecture, a video was screened which told the story of one youth who had graduated from Project Pooch. The story moved many people.

After the break, one of the panelists, Mr. Aoyama, Director of Nara Probation Office reported the current situation within correctional schools. Despite the fact that delinquency laws have been tightened since 1999 offences have not decreased and correctional facilities remain over-crowded. It is therefore extremely difficult to provide satisfactory rehabilitation or educational guidance on an individual basis to young offenders.
　
　Mr. Aoyama said that he hoped the introduction of a Project Pooch-style program in Japan might be a real opportunity to exert a positive influence on juveniles and create a stir in the education at correctional facilities. He also explained about Japan’s correctional probation system which uses Volunteer Probation Officers, a system which is unique to Japan. Correctional probation means that the state, in cooperation with private citizens, helps people who have committed crimes (and delinquents) to learn how to rehabilitate themselves into society as early as possible. Ultimately, the aim is to prevent crime and further delinquent behavior. Citizens who, as private volunteers, tie up with probation officers in order to conduct corrective probation activities are called Volunteer Probation Officers. There are 48,000 of them in Japan. This is a wonderful system unique to Japan.

Next, Professor Kageyama of Tokyo Institute of Technology, a specialist in criminal psychology, introduced data about Japan’s murder rate and violent crimes, such as assault and bodily harm, and compared the data with statistics from the USA. In Japan, while overall crime is on the decrease, the number of female teens committing crimes has been increasing which is a shocking development. Another interesting piece of data from America shows that children brought up by a single, but loving, parent are less likely to go astray than those brought up by two parents who do not get on. Dr. Kageyama also said that early stage interference seems to be effective in preventing juvenile delinquency and that correctional education programs suited to individual cases prove more effective.　

　Finally, Dr. Yamaguchi from the Veterinary Inspector of Japan Animal Welfare Society talked about how welfare for animals is the same as welfare for humans, humans being just another kind of animal species. In Project Pooch, by saving animals children themselves are saved and, in the end, the happiness of the animals can have a wonderful influence on children. In Japan people are very susceptible to trends and willingly engage to create ‘boom’ phenomena. Now there are many therapies using animals, however, Dr. Yamaguchi insisted on the importance of protecting the animals’ own happiness and said that, if the welfare of the animals involved is not securely monitored, the excellent results gained from such good programs as the Project Pooch project would not be possible.
　
　 After the above speeches the chairperson, Ms. Yamazaki, moved on to the panel discussion followed by a questions and answers time.
Ms. Yamazaki said that if programs with such excellent results as Project Pooch were introduced in Japan, it would be very important to ensure high standards in the ‘software’ used, referring to the manpower involved with the projects. A great deal of attention needs to be paid to the young offenders entering the project, and also to the dogs to ensure their happiness and a high level of well being. Ms. Yamazaki warned that unless there is a firm and stable policy exercised by the staff concerned, and throughout management and training, the program could end with a negative result.
As in the previous year, the Symposium enjoyed far more attendants than expected, and the venue was full. In particular, many students came from distant prefectures. The running time was extended. In recent times there have been several tragic incidents involving young people. The Organizers sincerely hope that everyone involved in this symposium, and all the adults attending, will give careful consideration, and act where necessary, for the good of children and animals to prevent an increase in the number of wrongdoers and victims. It was hoped that this symposium provided such an opportunity.

　
After the Symposium, a small welcome party was held for Dr. Joan Dalton and the other speakers. This event was open to anyone paying the entrance fee and guests were able to talk to the Symposium speakers directly and exchange views among people with similar interests. This time the guest count was 66 people.

Ms. Tominaga, the Knots Representative gave the opening speech followed by a speech by Tim Wilson, the Marketing Manager of Nestle Purina PetCare who promised to support the 2005 symposium, a commitment which is gratefully acknowledged. Mr. Wilson proposed the toast and the party started. Many people were soon involved in deep discussion, exchanging business cards etc., and the atmosphere was cheerful throughout the room.

There was also a display of the ‘Wonderroom’, a sound proof cage for pets developed by Kawai Sound System Company, one of the companies supporting the Symposium. Many people, including Dr. Dalton, inspected the product and offered their opinions and advice.

This Symposium addressed the important and serious theme of crime prevention and correctional education for youth offenders, and also seeking possibilities for helping out unhappy animals. It was extremely encouraging to know that so many people were interested in the issues and thought about them seriously, and further more, the day of the symposium made many more new ‘knots’ amongst people.