Dates closed due to rain were: 6 days
(3/25, 3/29, 4/12, 4/21, 4/25, 5/2)
Partially closed: 4 days
(3/28 12:00 - 16:00, 4/3 12:00 -16:00
4/24 10:30 - 14:00, 4/29 13:30 -16:00)

We were very fortunate in having so many fine and glorious days. This helped attract a lot of visitors. Everybody who came, regardless of whether they came with their pets or not, were clearly having a good time and stayed for long hours. We can confidently report that we concluded the event successfully and without any negative incident. We believe this can be attributed in great part to the help of the trainers who controlled the site while judging the master / dog relationships (evaluated by recall-tests), and the dog / dog relationships (by affinity tests). I think that all who came to the facility were pleased to find professional trainers present. This meant everybody could relax which undoubtedly contributed to ensuring a good end-result. The number of 'repeaters' gradually increased. Each Master learned how to lead their dogs, when socializing with other dogs, through affinity tests. Some of them commented that they no longer had any problems when taking their dog for a walk or that their dogs had changed. Others wanted to know where they could go for guidance after the final Dog Run day. Everyone was sad when the Dog Run came to an end. There were many visitors who came along without dogs. Among them were a 3-month-old baby as well as people with special needs, both physical and mental, and some people with senile dementia. Such visitors were able to gain positive stimulation from the event. It was obvious that the Dog Run can be an enjoyable leisure time meeting point for all generations of people and dogs, and equally open to people who do not keep dogs of their own.

One entry requirement we specified was that people must attach both a license and rabies vaccination tag on their dogs. We found that many people usually do not bother to attach these tags. (Fortunately, those who we could not allow inside came back the next time with the appropriate tags attached). Some people registered again in order to enter the Dog Run. In fact, as approximately half the visitors would not have been able to enter under the rule, we did admit those who could provide evidence of the registration tag numbers. Even then about one-third of visitors were not allowed in each day. But while this rule remains a legal requirement, it should be strictly enforced. It is a very effective weapon in the campaign to prevent the spreading of rabies. In 1999, Hyogo Prefecture received 3,997 strays. While 415 of these dogs were returned to their masters, 3,582 could not be returned. Basically there are only three days of stay time after they have been brought in. If those dogs had been fitted with license (name) and rabies vaccination tags, they could have all been returned to their owners. This reminds us that the tags are not only important for rabies prevention but also for ensuring lost dogs are returned to their masters.

(So one message we have for all our supporters is, if you want to fully protect your much-loved family member, make sure you always put the right tags on your dog.)

Treatment and Sterilization (for feces and urine):

Mokusu liquid spraying:	Two sprayings during the period
Tools (only) Sterilization:	Pakoma, in diluted solution.
Urine treatment:	Owners used a watering can to pour diluted EM solution over the urination point. This is very effective for eliminating the smell of urine.
Feces treatment:	Collect and compost. We asked many people to cooperate in composting feces waste. Treating with diluted EM solution, straw and rice bran was used. Waste that was buried immediately decomposed completely and changed the quality of soil. (We thank everybody for their cooperation). Composting was successful and the waste returned to the soil very effectively.

After 44 event days, we came to see that a Dog Run is an event style that can fully achieve its goals. Held under a system that utilizes the expertise of specialists it is useful for not only those who have their own dog, but also for those without a dog. The event was an excellent platform to facilitate exchanges between people and people, people and dogs, and dogs and dogs. To see the people going home at the end with such happy expressions was far more than we ever expected. There were many repeaters, too.

30% of all households in Japan now keep some kind of pet so, especially in the Kansai region where a greater volume of urbanization has been going forward, a Dog Run is a fixture that should be actively encouraged as a form of social mission. The expression on the faces of visitors (whether they were owners or not) and dogs as they left the venue demonstrated this need eloquently. Now that the coexistence of people and animals has been receiving attention and an emphasis within youth education and aged welfare, we shall try to search for better management methods that involve the cooperation of relevant groups, to serve as a basis for the coexistence of people and animals. If a Dog Run can be established as a permanent fixture we believe there are a number of possibilities.