Abstract
Life education using animals is a method that could solve social problems such as incessant bullying and student suicide in schools. We use school-owned animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens as “living teaching material” to educate children.Our group of veterinarians conducted various programs to support schools—“animal contact classes,” seminars for teachers, after-school animal classes, education on keeping pets, and public seminars on school-owned animals—from 2010 to 2014. The Nagoya City Board of Education helped us conduct an evaluation through questionnaires.We know that school-owned animals are useful in providing life education even though the number of schools that keep animals is decreasing and schools are facing problems such as allergies from animals and maintaining animal care during school vacations. Teachers in Nagoya city are becoming aware of the issues regarding school-owned animals and know about the importance of these animals, while veterinarians strive to continue operating Animal Assisted Education.
