Free visits by therapy dogs to elderly and disabled facilities in Kanuma City begin -- Selected for Kanuma City GCF for the second consecutive year

Interacting with therapy dogs can be a catalyst for changes in conversation and facial expressions.

The Tochigi Animal Therapy Association (Location: 102-28 Fuchu-cho, Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, Director: Tsuyoshi Hirasawa), a specified non-profit corporation, has been selected for Kanuma City's "Public Activity Support Project Utilizing Hometown Tax-Based Crowdfunding" for the second consecutive year. Donations for the 2026 fiscal year project, "Free Animal Therapy Visits and Citizen Awareness Project for Facilities in Kanuma City," will be accepted starting July 1, 2026.

This year, the association will provide free animal therapy visits 12 to 20 times annually to 6 to 10 facilities in the city, including those for the elderly, disabled, medical institutions, and educational institutions, using therapy dogs that have undergone training and whose suitability has been confirmed. The estimated total number of beneficiaries throughout the year, including reading dog experience sessions (twice a year) in collaboration with the Kanuma City Library (Main and Awano branches), is approximately 190 to 340 people (estimated figures based on the number of facilities and visits).

What We Want to Achieve with This Project

Scenes from therapy dog activities conducted at facilities for the elderly and disabled. We deliver peaceful moments spent with dogs, valuing each participant's pace.

Many elderly and disabled individuals living in facilities have limited opportunities to go out and rarely have the chance to interact with animals. However, time spent with dogs can sometimes lead to softened expressions, the emergence of words, and a desire to move their bodies. These are changes repeatedly observed at the visit sites.

Specialized training for therapy dogs and handlers with appropriate knowledge are essential for such activities. On the other hand, the costs associated with maintaining the dogs' health, transportation, hygiene supplies, and activity equipment, among other expenses necessary for continuation, are primarily borne by the organization itself, and external support is needed to maintain the frequency of visits.

This crowdfunding campaign will not offer return gifts. All donations received will be used for visiting activities at facilities within the city related to this project, as well as for the training, health management, hygiene management, transportation, equipment maintenance, and citizen awareness activities for therapy dogs.

As donations are made through the hometown tax system, individuals who meet certain conditions, such as being within their deduction limit, can support the activities with a reduced personal contribution.

Last Year's GCF Results and This Year's Development

In the reading dog activities, children face books with a sense of security near the dogs. Reading to a non-judgmental audience eases tension and fosters a positive attitude towards reading.

In fiscal year 2025, the project "Therapy Dog Project for Children's Learning and Mental Care Support" was selected for the Kanuma City GCF. In about one month from the start of the campaign, over 70% of the target amount (1.5 million yen), exceeding 1 million yen, was donated by many individuals, primarily from outside the city and prefecture.

However, it became clear that awareness-raising activities within the city for elderly and disabled facilities had not progressed sufficiently. Based on this reflection, for fiscal year 2026, we are positioning outreach activities through direct visits to facilities and providing experience sessions as one of the pillars of the project, and will fully expand the scope of support to include the elderly, disabled, medical institution users, and children within the city.

Project Schedule (Overview)

First half of 2026: Start of visits to facilities in the city, Reading Dog Experience Session 1 (Kanuma City Library Main Branch)

September 2026: Start of direct mail and publicity activities for facilities

Second half of 2026: Reading Dog Experience Session 2 (Kanuma City Library Awano Branch)

December 2026 - February 2027: Compilation of interim results

March 2027: Project completion and results report

Use of Donations

Costs for maintaining and certifying therapy dogs, including external consignment fees; transportation costs (fuel, parking fees, etc.) required for facility visits.

Costs for hygiene management supplies (disinfectants, grooming supplies, care products, etc.); costs for consumables and equipment necessary for operating reading dog experience sessions.

Printing and binding costs for citizen awareness activities within the city; costs for operating briefing sessions and experience sessions.

About Our Association

The Tochigi Animal Therapy Association, a specified non-profit corporation, was established in Kanuma City in 2016 and has been providing mental care in medical, welfare, and educational settings through interaction with therapy dogs.

We have a track record of activities in diverse settings, including facilities for the elderly and disabled, schools, libraries, Utsunomiya National Hospital, and Tochigi Prison. Our reading dog program has been implemented in a total of 9 libraries, including the Kanuma City Library, 6 libraries in Tochigi Prefecture, and the Oizumi Library in Gunma Prefecture, demonstrating our collaborative achievements beyond regional boundaries.

In December 2025 (December, Reiwa 7), we obtained certification from the Public Interest Incorporated Association Animal Donation (Anidone). This is the fifth organization nationwide and the second in Tochigi Prefecture to receive such certification as an animal-assisted activity organization, having undergone an examination by a third-party organization regarding our activities, accounting, information disclosure, safety management, and consideration for animal welfare.

Our association's activities have been featured in various media, including NHK Utsunomiya, BS-TBS "Inujikan & Neko Jiman," Shimotsuke Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, and Sankei Shimbun. Furthermore, in April 2026, our activities were featured as a professional introduction to therapy dog handlers in Akane Shobo's "Shin Shokugyo no Zukan 8" (New Encyclopedia of Occupations 8).

The reading dog activities are also featured on the official YouTube channel of BS-TBS "Inujikan & Neko Jiman."

Project Overview

Project Name: Free Animal Therapy Visits and Citizen Awareness Project for Facilities in Kanuma City

Implementing Body: Specified Non-Profit Corporation Tochigi Animal Therapy Association

Donation Period: July 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026

Target Donation Amount: 1.25 million yen

Donation Reception: Furusato Choice Government Crowdfunding *Return Gifts: None (Empathy-based, eligible for hometown tax deduction)

Contact Information

Specified Non-Profit Corporation Tochigi Animal Therapy Association Director: Tsuyoshi Hirasawa Location: 102-28 Fuchu-cho, Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture Phone: 0289-65-4321 Email: [email protected] Official Website: https://xn--p8j3a5c0374a5q9b.jp