Job Discussion Forums

[thermal]

I live in the country side in Shizuoka and frequently go past a house with 2 dogs. One in particular is being treated disgracefully. It is a medium sized dog that is chained to its kennel all the time as far as I can tell.

I walk past it on average of about once a day and always at different times. I have never seen it not chained there. It can either sit in its kennel or stand at the front of it. As far as I can tell this is the extent of its freedom. Its really sad. I pat it sometimes and when I walk off it whines pathetically.

Anyway, just wondering if Japan has an equivalent of animal services/protection (we say animal services in Australia) that I can call to either take the dog and give it to a new owner, or get the current owners to treat it in an acceptable manner.

Thanks

[TokyoLiz]

I hate to tell you this, but that is the generally accepted way of treating a dog, especially a guard dog, in Japan. Nobody has space for dog runs, and there are no dog-walking services (that I've seen, anyway) in Tokyo or elsewhere. Are the residents old or infirm? The kids too little to handle the dog? That might tell you why the dog doesn't go anywhere.

You may not be a citizen of Japan, but taking an active role in your adopted neighbourhood goes a long way. Have you considered asking if you could walk the dog? If it tolerates you petting it, maybe it will tolerate a dog-walk from you. That simple action can change the animal's outlook considerably.

Look at this - Animal-lover from Kansai teaches Tokyoites about pet care

http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/586/faces.asp -

[Lyrajean]

In front of the house behind my apartment building on Okinawa they have a dog who spends most of his life chained up by the front step.

Also, judging by the number of male dogs I see with their "bits" still attached, neutering is not the norm here.

Okinawa also has an overwhelming population of stray cats. I do notice people putting out food for them in places, but a trap-neuter-release program would do a lot more about the problem. The cats are not "friendly" and would probably not be adoptable.

There is also a really skanky "shop" or "shelter" on the main street where some woman has lots of puppies and kittens caged up. Not sure if they are for adoption or sale? Some of the kittens look too young to be weaned and they do not look well-looked after.

All that said, people here are not well-off and most people live in apartments that do not allow pets, so when push comes to shove the humans come first...

I am not saying it's right, but we have to remember that even 20-30 years ago these types of animal treatment would be considered normal in the USA too.

Many students have told me that they have dogs or cats, or would like to have one, so a lack of affection for domestic animals is not always the issue.

I worked for a Vet before coming here so please don't try and accuse me of not being an animal lover. Different cultures have different opinions on what constitutes an acceptable level of "animal welfare".

[cornishmuppet]

You might find that these chained up dogs are given a walk at some ridiculous time like 5am or something. People work long hours here.

While on 'drawing day' at my school this afternoon, I walked past a pile of rubbish with some students and there was a nice drowned kitten lying on top of a box next to a barrel of yellowish liquid with mushrooms floating in it which looked scarily like soup. Needless to say, we were all pretty glad lunch was already well digested. Not a nice thing to see.

[AgentMulderUK]

Japan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals


www.jspca.or.jp/