Norman, the ginger ninja

Two weeks ago, we found an abandoned kitten just behind our house. 

What brought him there, we can only guess and it makes for a horrid world if someone just placed him there. He was frail, left for dead, had a cold, fleas and enough flea poo on his body to make him look as though he had rolled in mud.


We took him in and shared a great ten days together, including with Elbi. Norman grew strong and unabashed and very friendly but in need of endless hugs and love. 

This Wednesday, ever so suddenly in the morning, it took a massive turn for the worse and we had to rush him to the vet. There was little we could do for him - something was ravishing him from the inside out. He had a massive infection and as much as he got better on the outside, he was getting worse on the inside. We took the time off work to be with him and he passed away at 2.45 on Wednesday 18th September 2013.


We are praying for him and putting him to rest today.

I know there are many more cases like this in Japan, and that makes me even sadder.
At least we did what we could for this little cutie. xxx RIP NORMAN xxx

Sanpo - round 3

Its hard to believe tha this is the third sanpo! 
Its just over two years since the big earthquake and the first sanpo was set up to help raise funds for the animals in need.
Well, as the even becomes more and more popular - today 100 people have signed up - we 'regulars' now have the chance to get involved!

Animal Walk Tokyo!

This year, the money went to help the animals at SALA (Save animals, Love animals) and we were lucky enough to meet some of the dogs staying with SALA right now.

The second AnimalWalkTokyo was a great success (Read about last year's HERE).

The turnout was once again a good one and some similar faces were there too.

Marley

Lucky Marley!

The first creature that caught my eye was an Elbi look-a-like! So I was happy, although again, I wished I could have brought him in! Marley (the 17kg Frenchie) was lucky to bag a ride with mama at the back of her bike!! It gave me more ideas for Elbi, although I should probably limit myself to the pram!!

The walk was a lot quicker than last year even with the inevitable stops for snacks. It was nice to see families and newborns even enjoying the event.

So well behaved!

Maku 7 months old.
A rescue dog from Fukushima, now with Sala.

Hello :)

Marley guarding the donations box

There was tight security - Those funds were precious.

To round of the walk itself, cookies were on sale for 200 yen a pop. They were delicious and each cookie sold would pay for a meal for one of the dogs at SALA.

Catching up with V, left and finally meeting a wonderful animal lover and tireless volunteer, K

To accompany all the chit-chat, the catch ups and the barking, there there was some delightful music form a husband - wife duet (whose performance name I forget....doh! They are at  'What the Dickens?' tonight...). It made for a wonderful morning in the breezy sunshine!

And for me, it is a day out in Tokyo! These days, it's a rare occurrence; it's so far from home and, like Marley, I get tired easily!!

Pooped!

Trains, planes & Elbi

So, we have had things turned upside down of late and we are now planning to move back to UK.

Luckily, very luckily for us, we have until Spring 2013. We have plenty of time to prepare and make a list of things to do and see in Jappers (there's sooooo much even after all this time!)

It's a good job we have so long too. We have Elbi. He is such a special dog, to us and to the canine world. So special in fact, that we face a big hurdle. Most other dogs can happily sit in a crate and be shifted as cargo to foreign lands, long haul and otherwise. however, Elbi simply can't.

Elbi is a short nosed dog, (Bracycephalic, for those care to remember such a word). He finds it difficult to breath at times. he can't stand the heat, he can't stand being alone for too long (this has nothing to do with his nose, mind!) and he could get stressed easily. Basically, all of these things mean that he cannot be sent as cargo on a plane, most certainly not to UK. There is such a high chance it would result in his DEATH....Yes.

I have already read horror stories within the States where dogs haven't made it and that is a relatively short flight. Short nosed dogs are the ones who die on flights so a lot of the airlines are refusing to take them these days.

So, wehn we learnt that we should move back to UK, we actually had to start thinking about ways to get Elbi back home. We had talked about the train (trans siberian), we now had to see what existed.

In the past two weeks, I have researched so much. We are both determined not to leave him in Japan, eve with a loving family, because, quite simple, Elbi belongs with us. He is so much part of the Hawgood family, that we could not bear to be without him. However, we couldn't risk something horrid happening en route either. (We had just read the most awful story about poor, poor Kranksy - http://kranskybulldog.wordpress.com/ and couldn't let that happen to us wither. The move was already filled with enough sadness as it was.)

So, with many tears in our eyes at the loss of one family member, and at the prospect of life without Elbi, both my husband and I, across the oceans started a google frenzy.

There are airlines able to fly Elbi (Lufthansa and KLM) but it still didn't seem the right choice. Lufthansa even boast a pet lounge in the Frankfurt terminal - sounds like fun, but not if your dog doesn't make it through the 11 hour flight.

I mailed many many animal shipping companies. I got some replies offering me quotes ($5000 - although, money wouldn't be the issue, I would eat rice for a year to get Elbi home) and the 'reassurance that Elbi 'should' be OK.

Grumpy!

SEA - The main option we thought about was by sea. There is ONE cruise ship that allows dogs. Cunard Cruises - They even dock in Japan (passenger only, though). The New York - Southampton route is the one that would offer Elbi as much luxury as us! But, how can we get to NY (without flying!!!) It still remains one option, so we are now looking into getting to America, because doing the whole trip in English would be sooo much easier!

I looked into freight ships. Some journeys from Hong Kong to UK or a DIY route, through China, and then onto the train...

I didn't get many replies from all of the emails I sent out. Needless to say that people must think me very strange indeed when I begin a mail with something like 'Can we bring a French Bulldog on board your cargo ship!'

LAND - I found comments on the tran siberian saying that, depending on the conductor, animals were permitted in the baggage section! JOY! We had a lead.

7. Pets

Dogs are required to be placed in the baggage wagon. The owner must provide a cage and feeding. There are no official rules about smaller pets (cats, birds, small dogs...). You will have to negotiate the issue with the conductor, cabinmates and possible pay a surcharge. We do not recommend to carry any pets with you inside the regular passengers cabin for long distances.

Now, how can we get him TO Russia?!

We need this to at least get him to West Japan!

I found one freight company based in Japan, who very kindly put me in touch with DBS ferries. They travel from West Japan, via Korea, to Vladivostok (very near the train station, I believe). I received a mail back and BINGO! Elbi can travel.

So, the main option we have so far is this.

JAPAN - RUSSIA, by ferry

ACROSS RUSSIA, by train

RUSSIA to GERMANY by train ( I hope, still waiting on a reply!)

GERMANY to HOLLAND by train / by car, whatever it takes

HOLLAND to UK by boat (Stena link are a VERY animal friendly ferry)

This is by no means the end of our worries (nor is this the definite route...still researching!!).

In fact, we have to prepare so many documents (good job we have that year; it will take at least 8 months), but, we can rest at ease knowing that our Elbi can travel with us alllllllll the way back to UK.

This will be an epic journey. I cannot wait to blog it all. Watch this space!!

Rehousing animals

It is almost 6 months since the Great Eastern earthquake, and only now, can we bring you news that people are being supportive to the face that there were animals involved too.

Here is an article printed yesterday. So many animals have already died or suffered unnecessarily. At least something is being done, even if it is so very late.

Stray Sendai kittens seek Tokyo homes

Kyodo

The government in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, is promoting the adoption of stray kittens born in Sendai following the March 11 quake and tsunami.

The first 15 kittens were brought to Tokyo on July 21 and owners for most of them have already been found, with Chiyoda Ward hoping that about 50 kittens will be accepted in the capital or its vicinity by the end of the year. Volunteers are caring for them.

The number of stray pets in Sendai has more than doubled compared with usual years.

Many kittens have also been born to runaway house cats that apparently panicked and left their homes after the disaster.

On a positive note, Selena, from JEARS, who works so very hard to feed and look after so many of the animals at the Fukushima base, just forwarded this picture. She has a driving companion! You see, you look after the animals, they look after you!

(My) Tohoku update

Being back from holiday is great. feeling so ready and refreshed to do so much.As I wrote before, there was to be one promise and that was 'my pace'.Sadly, this pace includes the financial path as well as the mental one.

If I could have it my way, I would be back now to help this weekend. But, such things are not possible.

Work, Elbi, many personal projects (work related) and then some visitors too, all stop me from dropping things and going up north.

So many people are helping and this is great.

We have a plan to go up (my husband and I together) once again in October. There is a long weekend, and we can devote more time to the work needed.

In the meantime, there is still plently to be done from Saitama. JEARS is still running strong and we must update the facebook page almost daily. The animals are all being cared for by amazing people who still need our support.

Sadly, Susie had to return to the shelter she came from. Having two dogs completely opposite to each other was difficult. She needed walking at 5am, Elbi just wanted to muck around. He never accepted her, she never responded to his play requests and subsequently hit back one time damaging his eyes (now recovered - phew).

The shelter is is at, is HEART, Tokushima. I have mentioned it before (one of the 3 JEARS shelters). We promised to go down and help at the shelter, but I just checked the flights down there and it isn't cheap, so we may have to wait until we have a longer break in order to use the time more wisely.

In the meantime, we are still collecting donations

JEARS HOME PAGE

and you can read about all the updates on our facebook page.

JEARS on facebook

My Pace

From now on, 'My pace' is the only pace.

Yes, we are back and I have adopted this great bit of katakana as my new motto.

Before we left Japan, it is safe to say that we had taken on far more than we could handle and were pushing ourselves far too much.

Life with Susie was not a simple one, especially not with all the other daily chores such as life, work and endlessly trying to save the world.

Well, I have come to realise that the world cannot be saved with no energy and no time, so these are the things I shall now focus on.

All in good time, while making sure to allow plenty of time for family and work life.

One other thing that this time away has reignited is the taste for adventure. It had been a (mad,busy) year since our last vacation and we can now remember the importance of time-out, adventure and exploration.

In short, this holiday did what it should. We are ready to continue with our hard work but with a lot of balance for our own peace of mind.

More on the blogs soon....my pace, remember.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Kasukabe,Japan

Donations

It hasn't been a complete success trying to round up the troops.

The animal food drive fell on its face, perhaps because we had to cancel the first one and then, for the second, I began the day in hospital, so any efforts were as limp as my leg.

However, thanks to lovely friends and the great takkyubin of Japan, I have a stash of donations that will make their way up to Fukushima next week.






I have some more goodies at work to add to this wee pile too, which will feed the volunteers too.

So, the next challenge in all this is more awareness, more donations and more care for the animals.

There are still some big steps to take in all this.

Four months on almost, and still so much is uncertain.

I will be back in August with a fresher mind and a new determination to help the animals and the people of Tohoku.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Kasukabe,Japan

Earthquake Pets

So, little miss silly here totally forgot about her work schedule, and, after booking a bus to Sendai, I had to go and cancel it within hours.

Sadly, there will be no trips to Sendai for me this month.

However, one awesome JEARS volunteer is there right now and she IS updating her blog with rescue and relief work.

I want to point you in her direction. Yesterday, they collected two corgis, sorry, two stinky corgis. Follow the stories from the ground here...

EARTHQUAKE PETS

our garden

I am (re)discovering my green fingers and my love for the flowers and plants outdoors. Our garden is great fun and I love being out there with hubby and the dogs. Here is a regular visitor to the garden!

Hello!

Now, last week, I saw a caterpillar amongst the small fruit trees we have. I thought nothing of it and simply cut the leaf away. Of course, this being Japan, that was no ordinary caterpillar.

My co worker happened to tell me about the kemushi (毛虫) just by chance the very next day after my encounter with the beast. I was standing under a tsubaki tree and she told me to be careful. They can land on you and then get you with their spikes. Her husband was 'attacked' the week before and had to go to hospital to get medication for rashes all over his body. And you can't just wash out the spikes. In fact, they can spread to other items of clothing too. Be careful.

The beast himself, before I knew how nasty he was.

Apparently, they come out in May & June and again in October & November. Great.

It is very easy to forget about the beautiful butterfly when you know of this monster's capabilities.

He has attacked the pear tree the most, but the cherries we had have just fallen to the ground because they made a feast for some annoying little beast.

So, now, Saturday, I am chopping all the affected leaves off, as well as finding other areas where he has left his trail of spikes.

And, I am on the hunt for any information possible to get rid of him. My co worker said that we must contact the ward office and they will send the exterminator around. This sounds extreme, but I shall soon find out if it is indeed the case. Right, back to the garden!!

Beautiful cherries in the making. One week later they are gone.

A rather colourful little spider.

Volunteering at Heart Tokushima

One of the JEARS team members spent some time at one of the JEARS shelters (remember, there are 3 in total).


Junko went to HEART TOKUSHIMA. Here is her blog where describes her time there. The blog is in Japanese, but there are some pictures too. She talks about the dogs who are so eager to go out for walks. All they want is the love and attention from the volunteers. She also talks about Maruko, who was rescued from the rubble after 11 days following the earthquake.


Here is Junko's blog - Junko's blog from Heart Tokushima


If you want to know more details, just ask!!


 Want to volunteer at JEARS? CLICK HERE.

Death in the road

So, along the walks with the dogs, I have already written about the creatures that we see. There have been ducks, turtles, cranes and they have all made me smile.

But, there is another, darker side to this beautiful countryside we love so much. Survival is something we all must do. Failure, means one thing. Death. Sudden, dramatic, however it may happen, it is going to end.

Remember I mentioned a turtle crossing our path? How I wish we had rescued him and put him back in the water. Ian saw a crushed turtle, shell and everything, on the side of the road just the other day. It is hard to say it was the same one, although, he did think it had the same dark shell (the turtles here are mostly terrapins with the stripes, so a darker one would be remembered).

He had also spoken to me of dead shrimps in his path. I didn't believe him. Surely the lake wasn't so fertile that they were living there. Well, they do, or they were.

So, the fishermen really do have their pick of things in the lake, which is surprising to think about when you look at it, for it isn't that healthy at all.

And, lastly, for this post, I have to just describe what Susie and I came across.

I could see on the path ahead a couple of crows on the road. Really, I knew they could only be doing one thing, but I prayed that there was no creature involved. But, of course, crows are crows and they were eating at a poor, poor pigeon. The pigeons here are clean and cute unlike those I am used to back home.

The crows flew away as I approached, so after a car passed, I was able to try and move it to the side of the road. Unfortunately, Susie wanted a sniff too, and even though I pulled her away, she still found some feathers and looked at me as if to say 'what?'.

I moved the carrion but I had clearly disturbed the peace. The crows were all up in arms as I walked on and by the racket they were making, they were not happy. I was scared they would swoop down to peck at me (they are horrible creatures and totally would), so Susie and I ran as fast as we could home.

Nature isn't always so nice, is it?

Happy Monday!!

Susie

I have never fostered before.

They say that fostering is harder than adoption because you cannot keep the animal(s). I can see this to be very true indeed.

One week on from Susie arriving and I love her immensely already. We have had set backs this week from various outside factors, but that has not stopped us having fun with her. I would easily say that this will be a difficult goodbye and not without tears.










This morning was hectic, I walked Susie, then tried to walk Elbi, but each time (total of three!), Susie was barking in the garden. I had to return as it was before 7am and I worried about the neighbours.

I decided to take them both out, a job that should be reserved for the after work part of the day. By half past 8, I reached the train station to begin my working day and I was shattered, not to mention starving!

But, coming home to Susie and her hugs...well, it was all worth it! She jumped in my lap and I tickled her curly-haired neck for ages. She just loves the love.

Even Elbi behaved, well, for a short while.

The thing with Susie is that she needs to know you are there. So, even now, as she must stay outside (thankfully no typhoons!), I am sat by the back door, so she knows I am near.

She whimpers when she can't see you and that whimper can easily become a bark, nay, a howl at one point!

I find it hard to leave animals when they make noses, make eyes, anything. I can't stand the separation. It breaks my heart even to know that, right now, poor Susie is sat alone in the kennel. I am thankful there is no rain and no winds to add to the lonely trauma of outside life.

Elbi suddenly loves the kennel!








I still cannot understand why you would have a pet but not actually interact with it. Animals left in kennels, it is too lonely.

Anyway, Susie is a grand dog, full of love, full of strength and desire to run the open road. I love her! She is so much fun to walk. She follows her nose, something that Elbi is copying! She runs through hedges, puddles, she doesn't care where! She just loves being outside and on the move.

Elbi and her get along to a point. He is still to genki but he just wants to play. She doesn't mind him so much, but gets a little miffed when he over sniffs her crotch!








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Kasukabe,Japan

JEARS WISH LIST

JEARS WISH LIST ON AMAZON

JEARS now has a wish list, for those who want to donate, but don't know what to choose, how to send it, etc etc.

Amazon can do it all for you!!

All cards should work, so please click away!!!

THANK YOU!!!

Animal lovers? It's just a different mentality.

I feel like I can't say to much right now, but yet, there is a rant and a half brewing.

The good thing is that I write from almost-the-flip-side.

Setbacks, knockdowns,we all have them and the reason we have them is to see how we all bounce back from them.

Right now, I am perched down as I type, sat outside a kennel, where little Susie is sleeping/eating her new bone/ looking lovingly into my eyes.

She is just a lovely dog, and we have had a great few days with her.

Unfortunately, there have been other factors that have ruined our relaxed vibe here and also put her permanently outside in the kennel.

Animals are 'cared' for ever so differently here in Japan.

Even our neighbour is a prime example. They have a beautiful chocolate brown labrador, and as much as they might love her, she lives chained up, outside in a kennel. She might go inside when the father of the house comes home, until then, she barks at anything that moves, but more out of frustration, I think than anything else.

She is lovely, but, when I go to the side of the house for the recycling, I can see her big poo, piled just at the end of the area where the chain reaches.
The pet culture here is harsh and for some reason, I am only just waking up to it.

I have seen marmosets in the pet store before. And while this shocked me beyond sickness, I did my research and sadly found out that this was not illegal. And the day before yesterday, we saw some marmosets in cages here in Kasukabe. I am not sure what kind of shop it was but I would suspect that they are 'on display'. Sick.

A few weeks ago, we saw a man with a monkey on his shoulder just a-walkin' along. I did a few double takes, tempted to run over there and question the dude, but, the monkey seemed happy enough.

The idea of having a pet is to make the animal happy, and they, in turn, make you happy or am i missing something?

In Japan, animals are sold in small boxes from a far-too-early age. Some kittens and puppies can barely open their eyes, yet they are being sold for 100 000 plus (more often double) yen.

When they get to a certain age, where they aren't seen to be cute any more, (tender age of 3 months sometimes...) they aren't in the shops any more.

Speculation says that they are sent to hokenjos to be gassed.

Unwanted animals are gassed in Japan. Something like 500 000 animals are killed there each year. They don't all come from pet stores, they can simply be abandoned and, as you can imagine at this time, from the earthquake and tsunami.

And then, there are the cases of those not euthanised properly, not giving treatment when sick, so they just get sicker....

Right now, I feel disheartened. So many people are working towards doing the right thing for animals, yet others lack the heart even with their own animals.

It doesn't even take that much effort from the start. If only we can think first.

Maybe then a dog won't be abandoned in a ditch and left starving and shellshocked, but not from the earthquake and tsunami. How could you do that to your pet? Why have the pet in the first place? Let's just hope that the owner and animal actually aren't reunited...!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Caroline Pover of 'Being-a-Broad', has been doing so much to help Japan. And in this blog, she mentions the Sendai house!!

Awesome, http://www.carolinepover.info/2011/05/part-2/


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Typhoon

Kasukabe has so many frogs that it is something rather special taking Elbi for his evening walk. You literally have to side step them all as they hop from lake to rice field.

It has been a soggy, damp week. It hasn't helped the mood. It is important to recover and re-align from all the activities of late, but not easy when the weather also knocks it out of you.

Last Sunday, there was a rally for the animals in Fukushima, to make the government aware of what they had (not) done. Over 600 people attended in full force. One JEARS member, Katrina, was interviewed there -

And, it appears, some of the petitions worked and this week, some residents were allowed into their homes. But, a quick hour was all they had to collect as many possession they would need for a length of time they would not know.

Here is a story I found. It was a very real explanation of what it was like and it makes it all too real how horrible life still is, 2 months on, for so many people.

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201105110150.html

So, while some residents are cramming possessions, urgent medication and clothes into their small plastic bags, I heard that there is a possibility of the zone being extended. Apparently, there is more leakage of radioactive waste into the water and there was mention of a potential meltdown of number 1 reactor if they try and flood it.

The news is so exhausting each day. I am assured by the fact that there are so many amazing people out there doing their bit to help and make things better. They give me the strength I need too.

I am making more plans to return to the north, but this takes time and money. I will probably go in a few weeks time. In the meantime, there is still plenty to be done from my little white desk. I am also trying to get the local stores to put up a little flyer saying that people can send donations directly to Sendai or, they can call me and I will collect from them locally.

Can you believe one store actually refused me? They are a supermarket in a shopping centre, so they said I should speak with the centre's security first. What I didn't get was that they had a notice board right there. all I needed was a pin!

So much for me thinking that the mentality for volunteering and helping had changed. Well, it was just one lady, and she shall not deter me in my efforts.

On a similar note. I had a meeting this week (tired Monday after work and in Tokyo - Ugh) for Kalaweit (Gibbon rescue, Indonesia). I was trying to petition for Kalaweit, the Japan branch as it were, (https://www.facebook.com/KalaweitInJapan) to get a stall at this year's Fuji Rock festival. Basically, they have an NPO village and having a stand there would be perfect for promotion for Kalaweit in this country. Again, I wanted to share with people about the rainforests of Indonesia and the possibility of volunteering in Borneo.

After much faffing about and last minute requests for translations that they could have asked for months ago when I applied, I managed to complete every single thing they asked for, despite their demands. but, did we get through? NO!

I was told it was because there were too many applicants.Mmm. It is a shame though, because the people at the festival would be the type to want to go learn about the rainforests and the gibbons....

On the same note, it makes me want to return to see the animals of the forest. It is a life I love! We watched 'Gorillas in the mist' today, and as sad as it is at the end, there is nothing that quite beats the magic of these awesome creatures, all of them.

In the meantime, I am still updating my Indo blog from my last visit... http://leonoraonthemove.blogspot.com/

There has been quite a bit of soul deflating news this week and general depressing media stories, especially in Europe. Tonight, I just read about a poor woman getting beheaded in a supermarket in Tenerife?!?!?! What kind of world do we live in???

So, when things get you down, you have to remember that there is so much good still in the world.

Here is a story of yet another rescue from Fukushima. God bless these little creatures and all the people working to save them.

Pets in Fukushima

This is a harsh reminder of the reality residents of Fukushima face.
This video is in Japanese with English subtitles.
Yoshida San, speaks very candidly about her situation. She is right, Japan should be a respectful country, however, these incidents prove it is not so.
Owners will be allowed to go get their pets now, but not until Mid-May.
The government has left these creatures to STARVE. There is a rally today in Tokyo for animals lost and animals still suffering. If you can show your support, please do

Details are here - http://animaldemo.blog.fc2.com/

And, as Yoshida San requests, please continue to support the animal welfare organisations in Japan, JEARS is one of them! Thank you! (https://www.facebook.com/AnimalRescueJapan // www.jears.org))

So, I was late to work this morning because...

1. There was a frog in my recycling...

2. I had to talk with the neighbours

3. I had to sort out some starving dogs......

Last night, after going to bed and closing the eyes, the iPad beeped, and these days, it is not something I can ignore.

I got a tweet forwarded to me from one of the JEARS team in America! Two dogs, one starving, found outside an apartment in Sendai, not far from the JEARS apartment, in fact!

Here is the picture...http://p.twipple.jp/yRgRG

In fact, it was a forwarded forward of a tweet, such is the love and care of some people.

Anyway, into the night, fighting off the sleep, I had to pass on messages to people nearby. Who could go? What was the situation? And, most importantly, how can I sleep until this is resolved?

When I showed the picture to Ian, I think he was shocked too. They were outside an apartment. Had someone just run off and left them there??

I think I went to sleep at 1am. We (JEARS peeps ) were up messaging each other for ages, and tweeting here and there to get a precise location from the actual tweeter...

Up for (Ian's) work at 5am and back online.

Kinship could go perhaps a little later in the day. It took a good few messages to get this information, not to mention the facebook updates...

Then Lexi managed to phone me (I couldn't call her american mobile phone for some reason). She hadn't realised the tweet picture she had seen last night from another volunteer's mail in the apartment ( I had sent to Kate) was the same report as the messages I was sending her.

'We will go right away' She stated. Thank god!

This is a fine example of team work, people rallying round to support one another, wherever they may be!

The dogs are now fine and have seen the vet (Sasaki Sensei from the other day).

One is dehydrated beyond belief and not eating so much and the other is eating fine and actually seems fine.

Their story? They are, along with owner (at least there is one?) evacuees from Minami Soma, but , as you can imagine, relocation after earthquakes, a tsunami and radiation , is a lot to handle. The owner was sad to realise she had been doing a bad job at keeping her dogs healthy.

One thing I shall ask here is that we refrain from judgement. We can all so easily say 'Oh, but I would have one this' etc, but I must reiterate the circumstances and the sheer pressure on people, not to mention the false advice given from the government. At least this owner is with her dogs, and we now have many friends of mine, of JEARS, who will look in on her to make sure they are ALL ok!

As for the frog, well, that is just part of the countryside life! All the rice fields are full of water, welcoming endless beauties, along with their heavy 'song'.

Rescue Animals

Back at the apartment on Monday night, we were to have some new arrivals.

Rescued from the City hall in Ofunato, Iwate, there were two Dachshunds, Romeo & Juliet, who pretty much did everything together.

There were lots of cats,

One pregnant mummy with a pregnant daughter!

And another mummy with two very small kittens!!

And then there was the Shiba, who was the most handsome thing I have ever seen. He has no one. The others have family, but they cannot be taken care of by them at this time. This Shiba needs love and a family.

I almost took him with me!!!

Had Elbi not been a male, and well, Elbi...That dog would be coming here in a car on Saturday!!!

Let's find him a home!!! SOON!!!