Helping pets in post-disaster Japan

A loose network of groups is working to assist animals stressed by the ordeal and, in some cases, separated from their owners. Many find that animals' welfare is often integrally linked to that of people.

A volunteer rescue worker rescued this small brown dog in the debris fields of Natori. Activists have found a few abandoned or homeless pets in the tsunami-struck area, but not many. A few have been reunited with their owners. (Brian van der Brug, Los Angeles Times / March 30, 2011)

By Mark Magnier, Los Angeles Times

March 30, 2011

Reporting from Miyako, Japan—

The dog had been left tied up in a yard in Fukushima, the largely emptied city synonymous with the words "nuclear disaster."

Despite the threat of radiation leaking from the nuclear plant 40 miles away, Toby Weymiller, a teacher who got the distress call from the shelter Animal Friends Niigata, drove to the city and rescued the dog and a stranded cat.

Photos: Japan in crisis

"The dog was really freaked out," said Weymiller, who downplayed any danger to his own health. "But he's in the shelter and happy now."

More than two weeks after Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, a loose network of pet groups is working to provide many of the services for stranded and stressed animals that emergency services have been providing for people, including food, medicine and shelter.

Some question why scarce resources should be devoted to saving animals when gas shortages are endemic and human beings have so many needs. Their response: The welfare of animals and people are often integrally linked.

"Many people are very anxious, having lost their houses and most everything else," said Kazumasu Sasaki, a veterinarian who has been traveling to hard-hit communities around Sendai with donated pet food and animal medicine. "One way to take care of anxious people is to take care of their pets."

Some pet owners went to great lengths during the tsunami to save their animals. Ofunato resident Atsuko Oikawa was helping her mother-in-law into their car when the earthquake hit, and their two beloved miniature dachshunds ran off toward the port and the killer wave.

She found Carlos, but Ghosn — the two are named after Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn — couldn't be found despite frantic searching. As the wave approached, she reluctantly headed for the hills with her husband, but there was a hole in their hearts over the missing dog, she said.

A week later, however, in what she considers a near-miracle, they received word from the police that Ghosn had not only survived but was in good shape. He had been found far inland near a beach sign, and the Oikawas speculate that he may have ridden the wave in.

"Maybe he rode on it, a surfing dog, perhaps," said Oikawa's husband, Yuki. "We're so incredibly happy to get him back."

For the pet lovers in Japan who saved their animals, however, that was often just the first step.

The growing tension between pet owners and others in temporary shelters has forced some to keep surviving animals in their cars or tied up alone in the cold, Sasaki said, compounding the animals' stress.

Historically in Japan, animals that didn't hunt, guard the house or kill pests were seen as a luxury in a society that for centuries produced barely enough to feed itself, animal specialists said.

Economic conditions have changed, however, and cats and small dogs are increasingly common for companionship and even fashion accessories, with a booming market in designer dog clothing and even animal funerals.

Still, outside big cities, tradition still runs deep. "And the Tohoku area where the earthquake hit has more traditional views than elsewhere, particularly among older men," Sasaki said.

At Miyako's Yamaguchi Elementary School, a post-disaster shelter, Chizuru Nakaya, 19, and her family have retreated with their two hyperactive Yorkshire terriers to a narrow balcony, aware that their animals aren't appreciated by others.

Seconds before the earthquake hit, the family's younger dog, Lion, started shaking and his companion Lucky started barking, the waitress said. Although she can't be sure, she said, she suspects that they had some kind of premonition.

Amid the devastation a few days after the tsunami, volunteer rescue worker Maki Oshiro found a small brown dog wandering in the debris fields in Natori. The number of abandoned or homeless pets hasn't been huge so far, reflecting the deadly force of the tsunami, though animal lovers said they may still find more in still-isolated areas.

On Wednesday, Animal Friends Niigata helped rescue a corgi found on the roof of a house that had floated out to sea.

"He bites, but I'm sure that is because he's stressed out to the eyeballs," Isabella Gallaon-Aoki said. "It's possible the owner might turn up — and we'll wait before placing him with another family — although I doubt it."

Activists also worry about pets left behind when foreigners evacuate because of nuclear radiation risks.

"Our concern is that animals will be left uncared for in apartments," said Ashley Fruno, a Manila-based senior campaigner with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Those whose pets have survived the disaster with them, however, said they've provided comfort.

"We can't tell you how happy we are that Ghosn is back," Atsuko Oikawa said. "He's part of our family and he's taught us a valuable lesson: Never, never give up."

mark.magnier@...

Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times

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http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/03/animal-welfare-japans-katrina-moment.html

Animal welfare: Japan's 'Katrina moment'?

March 22, 2011 | 7:41 am

The Humane Society of the United States is no stranger to the political stage. For example, the organization aggressively pushes state ballot measures on animal welfare and has called for a boycott of Canadian seafood until the fishing industry agrees to give up its annual seal hunt. But weighing in on natural disasters is a little different, especially if it's a natural disaster in a country that doesn't exactly embrace animal welfare on a large scale. And why weigh in at all when that country is struggling with a devastating human toll?

But Humane Society Chief Executive Wayne Pacelle managed to tread delicately on that ground onstage during the organization’s annual Genesis Awards gala Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. He talked about the devastation in Japan, and something he had observed about the aftermath. 

"Japan has a terrible animal welfare record," he said, noting its commercial whaling interests and disregard for dolphins. But the individual survivors are obviously connected to their pets, he said. "It provides a reminder of the bond between animals and people."

The Humane Society International -- the global arm of the group -- has already provided $170,000 for supplies and temporary shelters for animals in Japan. And the organization is helping Japanese animal welfare groups as well.

"Amidst the catastrophe there’s an opportunity to have a Katrina moment," Pacelle said after the awards show. For animal welfare advocates, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans underscored the loyalty that went both ways between people and pets: Many residents clung to their pets, reluctantly evacuating without them or, in some cases, refusing to leave without them.

"I do think pet-keeping is on the rise in Japan," Pacelle said. "We want to nourish that." He details his organization’s efforts in Japan on his blog.

The Genesis Awards, which feature celebrity presenters handing out awards to films and TV shows, including news programs, that delve into animal issues, was taped to air on Animal Planet on April 30 and May 1.

-- Carla Hall

Photo: A Japanese man holds his dog as they wait to be scanned for radiation exposure near the quake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Credit: Gregory Bull / Associated Press

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http://www.livescience.com/13383-japanese-abandoned-pets-rescue-110323.html

Lost Victims: Animal Groups Rush to Help Pets in Japan

by Jennifer Welsh, LiveScience Staff Writer

Date: 23 March 2011 Time: 04:48 PM ET

Japanese vet Dr. Sasaki treating dogs at one of the evacuation centres in Sendai City. He's already seen over 20 animals who need medical care in the past two days.
CREDIT: JEARS

Once the massive earthquake had hit his home in Sendai, Kamata-san ran to alert his neighbors of a possible tsunami, and his dog, Shane, escaped from his yard. Once the colossal flood had washed in, Kamata-san couldn't find Shane and thought the worst.

About six hours after the wall of water washed through his home, Kamata-san hears that a dog has shown up outside the shelter where he was staying. Miraculously Shane had found his way to the shelter and back to his owner. The Akita dog had scratches on its leg likely from clinging to debris as the water rose, so animal rescue workers gave him antibiotics. [Photos of Japan's Rescued Pets]

Some Japanese pets and pet owners are not as lucky as Kamata and Shane.

n the face of great human tragedies from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan on March 11, there is one group of victims finally gaining notice: pets. In response, several rescue groups have jumped to aid these injured and abandoned four-legged survivors.

"We’re at the beginning stage of trying to find out how many animals are out there," David Wybenga, of Japan Cat Network, told LiveScience. "There are a lot of unknowns." This network, along with rescue groups Animal Friends Niigata and Arkbark, have formed a coalition called Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support (JEARS) focused on the animals left behind.

The coalition has been taking in stranded animals, coordinating the pickup of pets that had to be abandoned, and dropping off food and supplies at shelters and for anyone in need. Jennifer O'Donnel, the Japan Logistics Coordinator for World Vets, said in an email that she expects there will be at least 10,000 animals that end up in local shelters and rescue organizations, most of those being cats and dogs. (World Vets is a non-government organization that provides veterinary aid around the globe.)

The threat of radiation from the damaged nuclear power plants is also making the rescue difficult. The radiation could have health consequences for both the animals and humans. The teams have just started venturing into the radioactive zone to rescue the animals there.

Helpful humans

"The dynamic of every disaster is that the human-centered concerns dominate. The animal-related impacts emerge as a subsequent concern," said Bernard Unti, senior policy adviser for Humane Society International. The animal-centric worries are just starting to emerge, and it will be a long road to recovery, he said.

Several groups are touring the damaged areas and handing out supplies, including pet food, water, gasoline and medications, to pet owners. One such group, led by Isabella Gallaon-Aoki of Animal Friends Niigata, is also rescuing pets, those that might be roaming the streets or left behind by evacuated owners.

Many animals have been rescued or reunited with their owners, though in the worst-hit areas many are missing. "It’s a huge area to cover, and there are lots of little isolated communities," Gallaon-Aoki told LiveScience. "It's just so overwhelming."

The animals aren't allowed to stay in the human shelters that have been set up, so some pet owners are staying in their crumbling houses with their animals, which in the wake of continued aftershocks can be dangerous.

JEARS volunteers met up with this woman in Sendai, who had been living in her partially destroyed house because her dog wasn't allowed in the shelter.
CREDIT: JEARS

Cat Island

The Animal Friends Niigata group is also working to help the animals and people left on "Cat Island" – a small island, officially called Tashirojima, with more cats than people. The island survived the tsunami with minimal loss of life after being hit with 20-foot-high (6 meters) waves, Yutaka Hama, of the island's Hama House Inn, said in an email to LiveScience.

Cat Island, known for having more cats than people, dealt with 20 foot high waves from the tsunami. Most residents and cats are fine, though they are in desprate need of supplies.
CREDIT: Hama House Inn

While most of the people and animals seem to be OK, there is difficulty in getting supplies to the island and the electricity and water are still off. Helicopters have dropped off human supplies, like gasoline and food, but the pet food situation is unknown. As soon as they can find a boat, Gallaon-Aoki and her team will bring food and water to the community.

"The people on the island are very protective of the cats, so taking them off the island isn't a choice," Gallaon-Aoki said. "We will offer support to give them supplies and help with the injured animals, but a mass evacuation isn't in the cards."

Sending support

Several groups, including the Humane Society International and World Vets, have pledged monetary support. The Humane Society International is shipping $120,000 worth of supplies and equipment to Japan, Unti told LiveScience. World Vets has also sent a veterinarian to Sendai to help the JEARS teams and Kazumasu Sasaki (a local vet living in one of the hardest-hit areas) administer medicines and care for injured pets.

Visit the JEARS' Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/AnimalRescueJapan, to learn more about their efforts and to donate to their cause. Monetary donations are preferred, though helping hands and homes are needed for rescued pets. "We need help at our shelter right now," said Japan Cat Network's Wybenga. "If they can't come to the shelter we need foster homes. We want to get animals out of the shelter and into homes."

JEARS shelters are no-kill, and will keep as many animals as they can for as long as needed. They are focused on finding homes for the animals. Government-run shelters do gas animals, but the rumors that they will be euthanizing lost pets are unfounded; they will hold on to the animals for as long as they can.

All of these organizations are taking donations, so check their websites for instructions.

You can follow LiveScience staff writer Jennifer Welsh on Twitter @microbelover.

• In Photos: Rescued Pets in Japan

COMMENT

Thanks livescience, for deleting posts and showing what your true agenda is. As stated before, the rumor about gassing happens to be true, you, livescience are talking about rescue groups stating they don't gas, but government-run kill-shelters can and do, and there was NO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIVE who ever made the statement to Jears, it was a non-profit who made the statement. Just ask Nippon-SPCA, they know this, and are out there in the field helping animals and rescuing them from shelters because they know the kill-shelters are under no obligation to hold animals indefinately. Try getting the facts before you keep propagating this information, which seems to be the trend whenever animals in Japan are featured in the news. FACTS please!! Jears has stated hundreds of times the rumour is not true, yet half the other rescue groups know it to be true. Try asking them.