TAKARAZUKA, Hyogo -- A widespread movement has begun in Japan to post health-ministry created "assistance dog marks" at toilet entrances as part of efforts to inform the public that assistance dogs who help people with physical impairments can use multifunctional restrooms when out and about.

       This photo shows the "assistance dog mark" created by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to raise awareness of the Act on Assistance Dogs for Physically Disabled Persons.

       Following cases where users of assistance dogs including guide dogs, service dogs or hearing dogs have been denied access to multifunctional toilets, measures are being taken to ensure they can use the services without hesitation.

       Japan has only a limited number of toilets for assistance dogs, including at Haneda Airport in Tokyo and southwestern Japan's Fukuoka Airport. Users sometimes enter multifunctional toilets to let their assistance dogs relieve themselves, as they themselves need to use multifunctional toilets and there are not many suitable outdoor bathroom facilities for dogs in cities.

       Assistance dogs are trained to relieve themselves when their user gives the command "one, two." When using a multifunctional toilet, a service dog uses a pee pad on the floor, while guide dogs have a special belt to secure a plastic bag around their backside.

       Moves to display assistance dog marks at multifunctional toilet entrances were triggered by a June online study session on the animals. In addition to assistance dog users, over 25 local council members from northernmost Hokkaido to the southwestern Kyushu region attended the meeting.

       Examples of cases where users tried to enter multifunctional toilets with their assistance dogs and were told by others it was unhygienic to allow dogs in and that animal waste should not be flushed down the same toilet attracted attention.

       The Act on Assistance Dogs for Physically Disabled Persons enacted in 2002 mandates the acceptance of assistance dogs in public places such as transportation and restaurants. They can therefore also use restrooms in facilities and stores.

       Yoshitomo Kimura, 61, lives in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, and is president of the Japanese Service Dog Users Association. He said, "Assistance dogs are trained and certified before they begin working, so they usually don't make a mess."

       (Japanese original by Kayo Inada, Hanshin Bureau)

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