Pet Entry Trouble and Improvements Ahead

Hello everyone. This is tejimax.

This time I want to tell you about the pet-entry trouble at Burning Japan 2023, and, from that experience, think through some ideas for building a better event.

At Burning Japan 2023, someone arrived late at night with a dog. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed at Burning Japan. We had said so on the ticket site, in the survival guide, and elsewhere, but they did not seem to know.
It was a rule that pets are prohibited, but considering the stress on the dog from a long trip, we allowed them to stay temporarily in the Oasis area inside the venue.

From the next day on, though, they broke the promise to stay in the Oasis area, moved into the Below area with the dog, and kept camping. That was trouble we had not expected.
Many of you must have wondered, "Why is a pet that is supposed to be prohibited inside the venue?" The venue is of course closed to pets. We apologize for the misunderstanding.

Based on this experience, here are the improvements we will make as organizers:

Clearer notice and guidance on the site
We will state more clearly that pets are prohibited, so participants can get accurate information.

A stricter rule at entry
At entry, whatever the reason, we will not admit a participant (or group) who has a pet with them.

We will prepare next year's event, and the ones after it, on the basis of this policy.

Before this incident, in October 2023, the community discussed pet entry, and there is a community consensus that pets are prohibited. This case is not the only one. Rules and policies during the event should be shared by the whole community, and even something decided earlier can be changed through discussion and effort.

If you have an idea for improving pet entry and can act on it, please join the improvement forum inside the community.