www.animalwalktokyo.com

So, today was the animal walk! The sun came out, as did many, many people, animals too, all to support JEARS! Thank you!!

I got to meet the organiser, Brandy and also another JEARS helper, Kumi!




So many animals were there with their owners. I wish I could have brought Elbi, but the journey would have been too long for him. And, I had no transport for Susie, so it was just me and my human friends.

Registration was ¥2000, all of which of course went to support the animals. The turnout was great! The facebook event had 25 confirmed, but there were most certainly more people than that!


We were each handed a map and a JEARS information leaflet and we were ready to go, after the fashion show, that was!



Given the heat, even at that early hour, it was difficult to dress the dogs in much more than the fur they already had, but there were a few clad especially for the occasion.




I think Brandy's dog was a favourite of mine, given the fact that he looked like a potential best friend for Elbi!

There was even some colour co ordination. This dog on the right, called Spike, had a gorgeous turquoise scarf on to represent the animal walk group's colour!


The dogs in the prams were adorable too, in a monster-y kind of way! Lol



One lady had designed her own T-shirt for her and her dachshund.





It just goes to show that people do care. She was also handing out flyers to help try and raise awareness amongst the Japanese people about animal shelters. So many animals are dying in Hokenjos, yet people still shop for pets like they do accessories.

Someone even brought their cat along!



All in all, the walk was a great success. We also got to meet a lady, who can help us with some more publicity. I will post the finished article here too once it is done!

It wasn't a long walk, but for some animals, it was hard work in the sun of early June.











Thanks to all those who took part! Thank you to Brandy for organising the event! I can't wait to do it again! We need more of these fun fundraising events, things that many people can enjoy, but that also give them the chance to support those in need!

Otsukaredesama to the animal walk group!

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Location:代々木公園、東京、日本。

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!








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Location:Kasukabe,Japan

One dog...

In Japan, if you do something a little different, even if there is a difference that you can barely notice, it shocks a fair few.

Here, rules are rules, and people like to stick by them. Whether it is a recipe for takoyaki (octopus dumplings), or the way you sit and behave in school, to the number and types of animals you may keep.

Some cultures teach people to be different, to express themselves in many ways and not be shy. Other cultures are not like this. This is all fine, but one must respect the other, or at least pretend to...

Today's rant refers to pets.

We are noticing a change in attitude from the people around us. Whether idle gossip has actually sparked a change, or we are just being paranoid after recent events, something in the air is different.

'Ah, you have TWO dogs', they say as we walk together in the fields. Everyone around here has one, at least one big one. There were three shitzus walking without leads yesterday, but they are small dogs, so I am guessing that is ok.

So, once again, we, the quirky ones, are changing the way things roll.

All we are trying to do is help, but, it seems that concept is lost. The words 'volunteer' and 'NGO/NPO' are understood, but the actions and work behind them are not.

Keeping two dogs here is not easy. Elbi is, in his own right, enough work. Susie cannot stop barking when left alone. Today being the worst day so far! I tried to walk Elbi three times and then resigned myself to bringing Susie out once more so she wouldn't bark.

We don't need anyone else making things more difficult.

That said, one of the guys and his dog did stop to say hello for the first time today. Maybe the vibe is not as bad as I think...


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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...!





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Help from afar...

An English vet came to join JEARS in its rescue mission!!

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/9009045.Vet_returns_from_earthquake_pet_rescue_mission_in_Japan/



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May Day

When the door opened to the JEARS apartment, I was greeted by so many faces, it was hard to keep track! There must have been about 9 people there at that time, plus Omori San, who lives upstairs.

It was a crazy encounter; I dumped my bags, got some donations from Yumi, and quickly got changed into some trousers. I packed my rain boots, my waterproofs and was good to go.

Today, I was going with Yumi's gang. I wanted to help them a little, like they helped me and also, Shichigahama is an area I am fond of as we used to go there often for so many beach BBQs.

Shichigahama still doesn't have water, local shops have limited supplies and you cannot even pee in a local convenience store, now that is saying something as usually, a convenience store sorts you out for everything.

So, why are we here? The whole of Tohoku has suffered from the events of March 11th, and so many people have suffered in so many ways. We see on the news endless tales of destruction and loss and it is to these areas only where the majority of money, food and volunteers go.

Shichigahama is a set of bays and the shape of these bays meant that some of the destruction was lessened. Small islands out to sea or inlets held of the tsunami just a little and this meant that the damage was not as severe as in some other coastal towns.

So, in Shichigahama, there are still many houses missing, flattened or ruined by the wave, but there are still many standing. And, it is for this reason the people are put aside by the Japanese Government. I suppose the logic is that they have a house, so they are OK.

This is far from true. Water is still limited if any at all, food supplies are lacking as shops cannot get deliveries still. Those with cars can access shops further away, but they must still be careful, as gas is limited too.

Yumi had heard the story of people in Shichigahama and knew she had to do something to help.

First stop was Fumiko's house.

Fumiko used to live down below by the water a long time ago. She sold her house and moved uphill. Of her former house, all that remains is the second floor. The house itself, or what is left, has been thrown over towards other buildings. Fumiko must be feeling glad for her decision to move, but, rather than dwell upon selfish mullings, she, has taken to helping all her local neighbours. She is a very jovial lady, full of energy, spirit and a lot of laughter!

We started to set down the donations (yumi had to takkyubin some of the boxes of clothes up as there simply was not enough room in the van!).

Meanwhile, Fumiko San was the first ( of many! ) to get her hair cut.

The donations were sorted out both inside and outside the house. The van was also reloaded for a wee journey down below. Some neighbours came and collected some goodies.

We drove down to the coast and saw Fumiko's old house, along with more destruction.

The harbour had bad damage and one area

was being used as a central

dumping ground for garbage. Amongst the wood and the dirt, there was a small children's toy, a stark reminder of who may be among the victims.

Along the coast, some houses were fine, some houses missing, and some marked with signs that read, 'limited entry' or 'unsafe'.

You would not expect people to be living in such buildings, but they were, somehow, and getting on with it as best they could.

Donations were accepted graciously although in a fiercely proud nation, it can be hard to offer things, even at times like this.

We even delivered to a small gas station that was open, but surrounded by destruction.

Impressive, but sad, but life goes on and the clean up must continue.

Back at the house, we sorted through more donations and reloaded the van.

Haircuts were still going on in full swing, mostly obachans, older ladies whose mobility is limited. Everyone was grateful for the support and had a little chat with us. We even got an invite for coffee at a neighbour's house, but we had to keep going.

Next stop was Yougai, down by another bay. The fishing bay had a couple of boats overturned and on top of each other.

We went right to the end of the bay to a house at the end. From the drive, you can see the beginning of Matsushima Bay,

a bay famed for it's beautiful islands and ranked one of the top three sits in Japan. Apparently, the islands broke the tsunami wave a little and were not destroyed at all. Yokatta!

I could see the tourist boats going to and from the islands, business as usual, it seems. it is Golden Week after all.

We delivered more food donations and divided them up so each neighbour could receive a bag. I walked with Rena to one house nearby. She was an old lady, very cute. Her house was not in good shape and had the 'limited entry' sticker on it. She showed us a massive crack in the driveway as she laid down her bags by her kotatsu.

I suddenly felt very empty inside. How could this lady be alone? And living in a house that was not safe? She smiled and invited us for coffee, but we had to get back to help at the main house.

We loaded the van with garbage to take to the tip. The tip was a big open space with a massive collection of frisbee, televisions, computers, not to mention rubble, all collected since March 11. There was a bad smell too.

Over by the fridges, there was a collection of toys with the Japanese flag blowing in the wind next to them. Yet another horrid reminder of the young and helpless victims.

We made a couple of trips here, offloading many things that had been damaged in the outhouse, television, shelving unit, many toys, electrical goods etc.

The hut itself had been thrown to another area of the garden completely. It was now back where it belonged but it was still wet inside. Tomorrow's was to clean and dry out everything in the outhouse and the shed.

At the end of the day, we were welcomed into Fumiko's house for snacks and juice. We all chatted and shared stories. One lady had family in Ishinomaki and her father was living in a shelter there. He wants to kill himself because life is so slow to progress. He has nothing and just lives day by day in the centre with nothing to do. She, is plagued with worry, especially as he won't leave the area as it is hometown.

Yumi gave out some remedies for the ladies of the neighbourhood (she is a herbalist by trade) and hopefully, they will feel less stress very soon.

I was also introduced to a lady whose dog had been very sick since the earthquake. She has a pomeranian and he is hardly eating and also vomiting. All the vets in the area that she knows have had their clinics destroyed or lost in the tsunami. I had to act now to help her.I promised I could return either the next day or the one after with a solution, a vet or some meds, something, anything to help.

A few calls later and I knew who to contact. I would mail the vet later, a Sasaki Sensei who has been helping immensely since the disasters. We would get this dog better quickly!

We quickly popped into the neighbour for coffee, where her hospitality was just wonderful. One coffee and two green teas later (it would have been rude to refuse) along with a chocolate bar ( the generosity is astounding - remember, we are there to give them food!), my gamman and stretch was slowly fading. I would need the toilet very soon! We were all the same.

It had been almost eight hours of running around and work and not going to the loo. We had a portable toilet, kind or and if we really wanted to we could have used this...!!!

We drove off, leaving Maria still cutting hair, ( I think she helped almost thirty people by the end of the day!!). I had to get back to my base to see what was happening.

We eventually found a conbeeny with a toilet (!)

and treated ourselves to a post-pee coffee!

Much needed and well deserved!!

Back at the JEARS house, the teams were still out. One was in Iwate collecting cats and dogs at the city hall.

The others were in Fukushima.

I was alone for a while, so Fumiko (it's her mother's apartment we renting) popped over. Omori San upstairs had made curry for the volunteers, but they hadn't returned, so I could get double helpings!

I sent mails to the vet and spoke with Fumiko about an Aigo centre nearby. Usually an Aigo centre is a friendly place for the animals. It is the hokenjos where the animals have one week to live if no one collects them, sometimes these animals come form the aigo centre, so we though we would make a plan to go there's tomorrow morning. I also wanted to sort out the sick dog, so I had a plan, i just didn't have transport.

Thank goodness for friends and good people! Fumiko was coming to get me at 9am, from there, the rest would fall into place, I was sure of it.

Yumi has a page on facebook - Follow her and her team's work here -

https://www.facebook.com/pages/DIRECT-HELP-for-victims-and-animals-REJECTED-from-shelters-in-JAPAN/185436641502603

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Location:Shichigahama & Sendai, Miyagi

Golden Week - travelling up north

So, I had never even met my travelling partners before, but Yumi chan and I had sent a few volunteer related emails and somehow I didn't feel out of place asking to hitch a lift with them to Miyagi during the busy Golden Week holiday.

Yumi had her own little group going to help an area of the Miyagi prefecture that seem to have been cast aside by the Japanese Government. Her mission is to deliver food and essentials to these areas in Shichigahama, as no one is providing for them.

They had a van packed full to the brim with so many things, boxes of clothes, croissants, fruits, washing products, you name it, it was there, all the things we take for granted in our weekly shop.

Miraculously, these kind hearted people found the space for my lard arse in the back of the car along with my over packed bags with things for my own organisation.

We were all volunteers. These days, half of Japan are volunteers. It is the new boom. Everyone wants to help in so many ways.

The expressway was busy but we were not held up.

At the stop offs, I was amazed by the volume of cars, buses and people. I have travelled to and from Sendai by road so many times and have never seen it like this. Apparently, there were 300 000 volunteers heading to Tohoku this holiday!!! That is a lot of people!!!

The road, as usual now, was bumpy in Fukushima. The roads have been fixed but some of the damage shall never go away.

Yet, this being Japan, none of this affected us at all. We got to the Izumi Inter turn off at around 4am, so we were able to sleep for a few hours before heading to the JEARS apartment.

The team sleeping in the cramped van
1. YUMI, ring leader and general awesome lady!

2. KENGO, our ever persistent driver and strong helper.
3. RENA, Kengo's wife and another awesome lady!
4. MARIA, a trained hairdresser, coming up to chop, chop, chop
5. LEE, me!

Check out this link for Yumi's work...https://www.facebook.com/pages/DIRECT-HELP-for-victims-and-animals-REJECTED-from-shelters-in-JAPAN/185436641502603

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Location:Tohoku Expressway

JEARS - SENDAI HOUSE (Please read and Share with your friends)

Dear Friends & Supporters of JEARS

I am pleased to say that we have found a base in Sendai, Miyagi for the volunteers and some of the animals we are still rescuing.

Until now, the JEARS team members have been doing very hefty journeys across the whole of Japan on pretty much a daily basis. From Niigata to Fukushima/Miyagi/Iwate in one day, every day is hard work, not to mention with animals in the back as well!

However, we have done all this willingly and without complaint as it is our job. We are here to rescue the animals, and shall continue to do so.

The Sendai base will make this job a whole lot easier.

And this is where you can help too.

I am personally sending a request to you, my friends, to think about helping out. This is direct action and something so small can go such a long way.

You can send a small packet, takkyubin up something large (cage, for example), or even send a care packet for the volunteers, who, will have their travel time eliminated, but not the work load. (Please let me know if you will send a cage or something big.)

Animals are in need of food, wet & dry (cat, dog, rabbit, hamster...), packaged milk for pets, peed pads, toys, spare carriers, if you have them, let me know if you have cages, as we can use these too. We can alwasy use, blankets, small towels, toys...anything animal related is great!!!!!

You can, also keep donating and supporting JEARS through their web page. Your cash donations can be used directly to purchase the above items fom the store just nearby and we can take them directly to the affected areas. (www.jears.org)

Thank you, as always for your love & kindness.

Lee xxx

宮城県　981 3131

仙台市

泉区

七北田

字

大沢

相の沢　２－２８

Miyagiken, 981 3131

Sendai-shi ,

Izumi-ku ,

Nanakita,

Aza,

Osawa,

Ainosawa 2-28

Outside Sendai station, April 2011

Ways you can help - NOW

5/8

the latest petition is HERE - http://freepets.jp/311emergency/52-petition.html

The government needs to change its policies regarding animals.

In Fukushima, so many animals have been left behind to die. They are dying lonely deaths or horrific deaths at the hands of other ravishing animals.

This is not fair and cruel.

Here are some links and petitions that you can sign within minutes, to make the people who can change things, aware of the importance of this movement.

Thank you for helping.

(In your messages , please do not mention groups or people by name as this will hamper their good work)

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing

https://www.contact.maff.go.jp/maff/form/114e.html

Ministry of the environment

MOE are apparently in discussion as to how to act regarding the animals still within the zone (now illegal to enter).

Your message can help persuade them to act.

https://www.env.go.jp/en/moemail/

The Japanese Government's office direct -

http://www.kantei.go.jp/fo

reign/index-e.html

Petitions to sign (takes two minutes!)

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/24/Make-animal-starvation-illegal-in-Japan/

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/26/save-animals-in-Japan-evacuation-zone/

And here is a supporter's letter, with links to graphic images that will give you an idea of just how bad things really are inside the zone...

https://www.facebook.com/notes/kinship-circle/urgent-letter-from-japan-to-our-friends-of-the-world-%E3%83%86%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9Efor-english-speakers-201/10150237167846111

More saddening footage here too -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=512ScNV8mwc&feature=youtu.be

If you spend a few minutes faffing at the computer, you could save so many little lives...Thank you!

Also, please share this with friends or family looking for a missing pet from all the disasters - there is a chance they are still alive and safe!!

http://pets.rouranca.com/animal-finder/

AND - check this entry for some direct ways to donate and where to send. Thank you!!!!

http://leonorasophie-everyday.blogspot.com/2011/04/jears-sendai-house-please-read-and.html