《主催者および座長メッセージ

ORGANIZER & CHAIR MESSAGE》

公益社団法人 日本動物福祉協会 獣医師調査員・山口 千津子

Chizuko YAMAGUCHI, Veterinary Inspector, Japan Animal Welfare Society (JAWS)

Hello everybody. I’m Chizuko Yamaguchi, from the

And lastly today, Mr. Naoya Kawakami, Director of theJapan Animal Welfare Society (JAWS), and I am acting

Shibata Meat Inspection Center in Niigata Prefecture,as the moderator and chair presiding over Workshop 3

will talk about animal rescue activities following thethis afternoon.

Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake of 2004. When
this earthquake struck, Mr. Kawakami was in charge

As was just explained this afternoon, three of us will beof animal rescue on the front lines, and he will talk toreporting to you on our activities up until now. Afterus about what went on in Niigata at that time. As forthat, there will be a panel discussion in which we will

the present situation following the recent Great East

talk about issues we have uncovered and how we are

Japan Earthquake disaster, the keeping of animals isgoing to try to deal with them. In addition, the Act on

not allowed in some temporary housing facilities, while

Welfare and Management of Animals will be revised

it is permitted at others. However, in the case of thethis year. I have also been a member of a Ministry of

Mid-Niigata Earthquake, it was tentatively decided that

the Environment subcommittee and I requested thepeople could keep animals at all temporary housing

Ministry that we press for the inclusion of animal-

units. I’m sure Mr. Kawakami experienced a great deal

accompanied evacuation into the law during the currentof hardship at that time. I believe he carried out hisrevision. The goal is that, as far as possible, animals

activities during the disaster with a focus on people on

are not left behind in times of disaster but evacuatedanimals living together and on preserving ties between

together with their owners. Whether or not this will be

people and animals. So I expect he well tell us about

included in the law has not yet been decided because

these things as well.

discussions are only now beginning. With this in mind,
after the panel discussion, I hope we can also have a

But before that, let me speak about the Great East Japandiscussion that takes in opinions and questions from

Earthquake disaster, a disaster that is not yet over. Our

the audience while looking towards the future. When it

memories of the initial events may be fading little bycomes to disasters in Japan, we never know what will

little, especially if we live far away from the disaster

happen or when.

area, but we cannot yet say that the disaster is over. I
will be speaking a little more about that later. But for

To begin with, I would like to talk to you about small

now, let us look at the first slide.

animal rescue operations and shelter work following
the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster. After that,

Both the scale of the earthquake and overviews about

Mr. Kazutoshi Arai, the Vice Chair of the Japanesethe extent of damage were given overwhelming TV and

Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) and thenewspaper coverage. As for the tsunami, it reportedly

Director of Kamogawa Sea World, will talk about

reached a height of more than 8 meters in Ofunato

the holding facilities belonging to members of theand more than 9.3m in Soma. I also heard that in many

Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums that wereplaces the surge was higher still.

damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster.

132

りぶ・らぶ・あにまるず 神戸アニマルケア国際会議 2012

These pictures show parts of the coast in Iwate andsigns have abated completely.

Miyagi Prefectures. As you can see, there is still a great
deal of rubble left all over the place. In some places, theFukushima Prefecture was shaken hard by thelandscape looks like a huge vacant plot, with literally

earthquake and then hit hard by the tsunami. But

nothing left standing. People here had a truly hellish

on top of that, Fukushima suffered damage due totime when the earthquake and tsunami struck. In many

radiation. Initially this threat forced many people tocases, they had no time to evacuate together withremain inside their homes and they were not allowed totheir pets. So, while I was initially focused squarely on

go outside. Now, conversely, they have been forced toanimal-accompanied evacuation, I was forced to change

evacuate. Everyone living with in 20km of the nuclear

my stance to one of pursuing animal-accompanied

power plant has been forced to leave and members ofevacuation “in principle”. This was because, subsequent

the public are not allowed to enter the 20km exclusion

to my arrival in the disaster area (which was azone. In the past, people sometimes left their homes oncomparably short time after the quake and tsunami), I

one-day evacuations. For a one-day evacuation people

visited Miyako City where I heard the following story.

had been able to leave behind lots of food and water,
leave for a day, and later return home. It had never

There was a dog-owner who kept a small dog in the

been a problem so, this time also, people left home

house and another medium-sized dog tied up outside.

leaving behind plentiful food and water. But this time,

The tsunami arrived just as the owner was preparing

they were not allowed to go back home. Also, although

to evacuate carrying the small dog and letting thethey had brought along their pets, they were told

medium-sized dog off its lead. Fearing the tsunami,that no pets were allowed on the buses. So they tiedthe owner fled in a great hurry without releasing thethem up in front of the City Hall and then evacuated.

medium-sized dog. This dog was caught and killed by

Although owners tried to evacuate together with their

the wave, which the owner later regretted very much. I

pets, they were told they could not do so, either directly

said that the owner should not be blamed because if hewhen they attempted to board evacuation buses or else

had not fled so quickly he would have died with both ofby the local authorities.

his dogs. There were many similar cases in which otherowners didn’t have time to evacuate with their pets.

Also, we are still at a stage where it is not possible

Also, many animal owners did die together with their

to predict how and when the nuclear power incident

pets on that day.

will be resolved. Even today, approximately 3,000
households evacuated from Fukushima are living in

In some places, the city or town office buildings wereTokyo. These people evacuated at the beginning of thetotally washed away by the tsunami and numerous

disaster, along with others who have since returned

account books and other records were lost. In Miyako,

home. Yet still today over 3,000 households are living

there are two private veterinarians who told me they

as evacuees in the capital. We are currently looking

estimate that about a quarter of the pet animals inafter pets for many of them. In many cases, these

the city died in the disaster based on their experience

people’s homes collapsed due to the earthquake or werewith their own animal patients. When the tsunami

washed away by the tsunami, or else they can’t go backarrived, there was an owner who evacuated in a great

home because their home is inside the 20km exclusion

hurry, leaving his cat behind. The owner went straightzone. But when they do return they will be able to keepback home after the second wave of the tsunami had

their pets again so that is why we are taking care of

subsided. But as he was attempting to pick up the cat,their pets until then. However, the government has yeta third wave arrived, struck the house, and killed bothto announce any policy about their return home, so I

the owner and the cat. This impressed upon me just

am wondering how the situation will play out in future.

how dangerous a tsunami can be and how we should
not return to the scene of a tsunami unless the warningThis was a scene on March 26, when a large number

2nd Live Love Animals International Conference on Animal Care in Kobe 2012133

of dogs, separated from their owners, were walking

felt sorry for animals kept in that way and that it wasin the falling snow. Of course, many owners brought

better for their pets to stay in a car, where they could

their dogs along with them when they went to stay athave more contact with their owners and enjoy more

the evacuation centers. In those places where it was

freedom of movement.

a school building being used as an evacuation center,the classrooms and other areas were divided into small

I have just mentioned about living inside a car. By

compartments. In some cases, these rooms were divided

the time May comes around car interiors can become

into those where pets were allowed and those where

hot. So at the Emergency Disaster Animal Relief

they were not. This happened in Miyagi Prefecture as

Headquarters, we produced a heat stroke warning

well as in Iwate Prefecture.

that can be downloaded in order to alert people to thedangers.

Even so, quite a few evacuation sites did not allow
people to be accompanied by their pets. Even in cases

This is the Big Pallet, which I introduced just now. We

where pets were allowed in principle, there were only

requested the operators to make the bicycle parking

a few facilities that allowed pets to be kept in sleeping

area into a place for keeping animals. However, whenareas. In such cases, some owners kept their pets in

it was used for this purpose, the area began to smell

their cars. At one evacuation center in Shibata City,bad due to the large number of animals. There were

Niigata Prefecture, a prefab was constructed in front ofpeople who cleaned their own pet area properly but

the building and filled with cages for housing evacuee

others were less attentive. So we put up a new tent, andpets. Each owner took care of their own pets there.

requested owners to clean the place properly.

After the Niigata Prefecture earthquake, there was one

I am sure most of you are not used to keeping yourwell-publicized case of a dog owner who had evacuatedpet dogs in cages. Some people who have big gardens

in his car and then died of “economy class syndrome”.

let them run around freely outside, and almost nobody

So living and sleeping in a car can be a very dangerous

keeps them in cages. So the animals themselves are notthing. Where dogs were not allowed into evacuation

used to being caged.

centers, there were cases where they were kept outside
the centers, like this.

This is one of the many other evacuation sites inFukushima Prefecture. It’s an evacuation center, andHere, cardboard boxes in corridors were used as houses

here too, a bicycle parking area was modified to turnfor pets, and in this case tents were set up in a corner

it into a place for animals. Inside this area, cats areof the evacuation center and cages were placed inside

kept in cages lined up in a prefab. Here too, basicallythe tents to accommodate pets.

individual owners take care of their own pets and theyclean the entire room on a rotating basis.

This slide shows volunteers shampooing animals at an

134

evacuation center. So many animals were brought toEven if they are living in separate buildings (at least

the evacuation centers that this many volunteers had to

if the pets and their owners are at the same site andbe sent out just for shampooing. This evacuation center

each owner can care for their own pet), ties between

in Fukushima Prefecture, which took in a large number

the owners and animals can be maintained becauseof evacuees, was nicknamed the Big Pallet. As you canthey continue to meet daily. Owners can take theirsee, some people stayed in their cars. I asked some ofdogs for walks together, they can feed their pets, checkthe pet owners why they were keeping their animals intheir health condition, and hug and stroke them too.

their cars, and they answered that other people were

For this reason we wanted to increase the number ofkeeping pets in cages (in the bicycle park or in tents),

evacuation centers where people could stay with their

but they didn’t want their pets to be kept in cages. They

pets. ‘Shonen Shizen no Ie’ in Ichikawa City became one

りぶ・らぶ・あにまるず 神戸アニマルケア国際会議 2012

such facility. Here too, with resident support, a tent was

I heard many stories from owners who had madeset up for the pets of residents, and the people kept

temporary return visits home only to find that their

their animals in this tent. When animals were broughtcats, while able to come and go freely, had returnedto this facility, they were first given a radiation dosage

home and died there. This cat was rescued because

check, followed by a health examination from the local

ample cat food had been opened and left for it. That isveterinarian, after which their owners took care ofprobably why it survived.

them. Fortunately, none of the animals arriving hererequired decontamination.

The temporary visits home began after Japan’s Golden
Week holiday period in May. There was talk of starting

In this slide you can see four evacuation centers opened

the visits before the May holidays but the idea provedin Tokyo. Here is the Ajinomoto Stadium, this is theimpossible to arrange due to intergovernmental

Nippon Budokan, and here is the Akasaka Prince Hotel.

procedures taking too long. So the visits began after theThis former luxury hotel was due for demolition but

holidays. We were also unable to wait for permission,

following the earthquake it was put into service as an

and in April we planned to enter the zone and rescue asevacuation center.

many animals as we could. We assembled a number ofveterinarians and other staff, and also prepared a bus,

Tokyo Prefecture decided from the start to allow

setting off at 10pm in order to reach the zone by the

animal-accompanied evacuation, so proper animal

following morning. But officials turned us back tellingrooms were prepared separately at each evacuation

us we were not allowed to enter.

center. In the Ajinomoto Stadium a dedicated animalroom was set up in an underground location. At the

When the temporary home visits did occur, whenAkasaka Prince Hotel the larger animals were kept in athe owners returned by bus or in their own cars, we

semi-basement with natural lighting. It was originallyprepared a reception and called on them. We asked if

a restaurant. Owners also kept smaller animals suchthere were any pet owners who were looking for theiras cats, rabbits and guinea pigs in their rooms on theown dogs or cats, or who had left dogs and cats at

upper floors.

home, and we assured them that we would help themshelter their dogs and cats. After the ordinary reception

As for the dogs and cats left inside the 20km exclusion

was finished, we asked them to gather, and collectedzone (from which everybody was ordered to evacuate)

information such as each owner’s address, the owner’s

we were told we could not enter the zone. As I

name, the pet’s characteristics, name and gender, which

mentioned earlier, a lot of people left without taking

we marked on a big map. If the pet was a cat or a small

their pets with them. Here are some animals walking

dog we handed over a carry case to the owner withalong a road that has been deserted by people. Our

water and food in it. We told them that, if they weregroup rescued this animal from its home at the request

able to catch their pet, to place it in the carry case, thenof its owner. Had we come a day or two late, it may wellplace the case where it would be visible from outside

have been too late. This animal was lucky in that wewhile not exposed to the direct sun or rain. If the petknew that the owner had been evacuated to Yamagata

was a medium or large-sized dog, we told the owners to

Prefecture so we were able to reunite them. And

tie the animal where it was visible from outside and not

fortunately after receiving proper veterinary care theexposed to direct sun or rain. We explained that, soon

animal regained its health.

after the temporary visits period, a Prefectural Office’s vehicle would visit each home in turn and take any

Sadly, as in the case of this dog, there were animals thatanimals found to a shelter.

waited and waited for their owners to retrieve them but
eventually died.

Here the owners are going to board the bus. This
person has put a lead here and is holding onto it. This

2nd Live Love Animals International Conference on Animal Care in Kobe 2012135

person has a cage. This scene took place within theCats were kept in 3-tier cages, (or else an extra tier was

20km exclusion zone. This is a Fukushima Prefectural

added to the dog cages and they were placed in these

Government vehicle, and this is a Tokyo Prefectural

upper cages). When the No.1 Shelter reached maximum

Government vehicle. Through the Ministry of thecapacity, dogs like these were placed in the No.2 Shelter

Environment, we asked local authorities nationwide

near Koriyama and the No.3 Shelter at Miharu. Hereto help us with manpower and vehicles for rescuingthey are going for walks. This place is the car park of aand sheltering animals, as a result of which many

former pachinko parlor. This space was large enoughpeople came along to help us. Tokyo Prefecture began

on its own to serve as a walking ground for the dogs.

providing help from an earlier time. Hyogo Prefecture
periodically sent us teams of around four people toThis is a cathouse. Because cats love to climb to higher

help out. All in all, we received a lot of help from local

places this facility was designed to allow cats to be kept

authorities all over Japan.

on three levels, so the animals could be as high up as
possible. But this facility alone was not enough, and soThis is a rescued animal. Although we have in factlines of three-tier cages were also installed.

rescued it, the animal has a look of sheer terror as
though it has just been captured. It must have alreadyI have been talking about Fukushima but during the

been extremely tense due to the dreadful experiences

disaster enormous damage was also sustained in Iwateof the earthquake and being separated from its owner,and Miyagi. So animal rescue centers were set up in

etc.

each of these prefectures. This is the animal rescue
center in the Ishinomaki district of Miyagi. A great

In cases when the owners could take back their animal

many email messages about the center were circulated

we checked the animal’s radiation dose in this way on

between veterinarians and many vets went to help out.

the same day, and carried out decontamination where
necessary. If no decontamination was needed, we sent

I at last visited the center when a trailer was

the animal back to its owner directly. In cases wheretransported to the site, which was located on land

the owner could not take their animal back immediately

belonging to the Sewage Bureau. After that, each time

(because they had evacuated to a place that did not

I visited, I noticed that the number of tents at the siteallow an animal to accompany them), the animal was

had increased. More prefabs had been constructed andkept at a shelter in Fukushima Prefecture until suchthe center had expanded the scale of its work more andtime as the owner was able to take it back.

more. In every disaster area in Iwate and Miyagi local
vets, despite the fact that they themselves had beenThis is the shelter in question. It was set up in a hurry

impacted by the disaster, took care of many animals

in a big warehouse-like facility, with lines of cages forat their own hospitals. Dr. Abe’s hospital in Ishinomaki

keeping the animals. Still now, there are two shelters

also sheltered a lot of animals. Dr. Abe will be talking

operating for dogs and cats, and more than 300 animals

about that tomorrow, I believe.

are being kept there. Because there were so many
animals, the keeping conditions were overcrowded, andSince the supply of cages was limited, it was impossible

we cannot say that conditions were good. It was far

to shelter all these animals in hospitals alone. So thefrom ideal because the animals were always crowded

people had no choice but to establish such facilities.

into such a narrow place. But a wide area was also
prepared so sometimes the volunteers could walk theThis slide shows Ishinomaki’s animal rescue center afterdogs. However, as there were so many animals, there

its relocation. The center was forced to move from thewere never enough human resources to walk all the

Sewage Bureau’s land and was relocated to an elevatedanimals every morning and evening.

area nearby where prefabs were constructed. Animals
were sheltered here continuously until the center was136

りぶ・らぶ・あにまるず 神戸アニマルケア国際会議 2012closed down in September when the operation wasanimals in their keeping could not locate the owners

merged with Miyagi Prefecture’s animal rescue center.

after two or three months, they took steps to seek new

This slide shows how the cats were sheltered.

owners to adopt the animals. It was reasoned that thebest solution was for the dogs and cats to be taken

When I visited this center during the Golden Week

care of in an ordinary home setting. When an animal

holiday in May, there was a huge army of volunteers

was transferred to a new owner, the new owner signed- as many as 50 people coming each day. There werea written pledge with a long list of conditions. One

also a lot of animals, around 125 total, so a lot ofof the conditions was that if the original owner was

volunteers were required. This kind of facility needs

later found and wished to take back the animal, thevarious kinds of help, not only people to take thenew owner agreed to return the animal to the original

animals for walks or clean their living areas, but people

owner.

to carry out work that is indirect to the animals, suchas cleaning and tidying the facility, washing, and otherAt this time, many people stepped forward to adopt

things that support all the volunteers in performing

animals. Some people even came from Tokyo with thistheir work efficiently. So it is a big help if there are aintention in mind. Thanks to these people, on the day in

lot of volunteers. On the other hand it is a tough job toquestion, all the animals scheduled for transfer to newcoordinate their work and take leadership as a chief.

owners were adopted. In addition, another two animals
that were not earthquake victims were also transferred.

Although many volunteers visited the center during
Golden Week, immediately after the holidays the

In Iwate Prefecture, the Prefectural Government and thenumber of volunteers declined and the center

Iwate Veterinary Medical Association joined forces withexperienced a shortage of manpower.

ten animal welfare associations to set up an emergency
headquarters. The animal welfare organizations andThis slide shows volunteers walking dogs. Miyagi

the Veterinary Medical Association did not want toPrefecture’s animal shelter center was built on theconstruct a new facility specifically to house rescued

same site as the prefecture’s animal welfare counselinganimals. So instead, each animal welfare organization

center. I visited it in the summer and I noticed that thecarried out its own protection efforts.

dogs were outside, albeit tied, in the daytime and theplace was well ventilated.

People were also given permission to keep animals
in temporary housing. In Rikuzentakata City, theAlthough it is part of the same prefecture, Sendai

Mayor initially said that animals could not be kept inCity has its own administration. So in Sendai, rescued

temporary housing. However, this led to such an uproar

animals were sheltered in several places such as thethat on the following day he reversed his position andSendai City Animal Control Center, Sendai Veterinary

gave the OK. Iwate Prefecture permitted people to

Medical Association’s member hospitals, private homes,

take their pets into temporary housing and instructed

and animal welfare organization facilities.

owners to follow certain rules when keeping theirpets there. Also, the Veterinary Medical Association

In Sendai, the animals sheltered at Sendai City Animal

considered that it was natural for people to be allowed

Control Center were all listed in documents on public

to keep pets in temporary housing, but the final

display. Also on display was a long list of names ofdecision was left to each city, town and village.

owners who had reported their pets as disappeared.
This was done so that people visiting the facility could

The Iwate Prefectural Government judged it was

obtain as much information as possible.

acceptable for people to keep pets in temporary
housing. So no sooner had the Mayor of Rikuzentakata

In cases where the authorities looking for owners of

spoken than the Prefectural Government and the

2nd Live Love Animals International Conference on Animal Care in Kobe 2012137

Veterinary Medical Association contacted him. He

Headquarters is run by four organizations, namely theconsequently approved this the very next day. Some ofJapan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

the animals were kept inside, while others were kept

(JSPCA), the Japan Animal Welfare Society (JAWS),

outside.

the Japan Veterinary Medical Association (JVMA) andthe Japan Pet Care Association (JPCA). As I mentioned

This is Tokyo. As I mentioned earlier, even now there

earlier, the activities of the Headquarters include

are more than 3,000 households living in the city as

dispatching manpower, providing supplies, providing

evacuees from Fukushima, and many of them brought

funds to help rescue animals affected by disasters,

their pets along with them. While they were living at

maintaining cooperation between the national andan evacuation center, they had a place to board theirprefectural governments and related administrative

animals. But after leaving the evacuation center they

organizations, as well as taking preventive measures for

moved temporarily into apartments, or public housing,

the efficient rescue of animals during times of disaster.

where in most cases keeping animals is not permitted.
In the case of Tokyo Prefecture, rules concerning

In this way, we gathered goods and we planned to

how to deal with animals are included in the regional

send them to the disaster site using a 4-ton truck and adisaster prevention plan, and shelter facilities are made2-ton truck. However, at the time, there was a shortage

based on these rules. At present, I am working as theof gasoline which was the biggest logistical problem.

head of this center which, because it is temporary, isAt the beginning, when we were asked for help byhoused in a line of prefabs.

Ishinomaki’s organization, we first sent the goods toNiigata, and then sent them on to Ishinomaki from there

This is a hallway. Small dogs are sometimes kept insidebecause the Tohoku Expressway was impassable. But

in this way. For larger dogs we need some kind of

the Ban-Etsu Expressway was in a suitable condition for

barrier to stop them from jumping out. So here we havetransporting freight.

made our own from waste materials. We also made thisarea into a paddock where the animals are able to move

The primary task of the Emergency Disaster Animalaround freely.

Relief Headquarters was to provide logistical support.
However, many animals were rescued from within theThis is a cathouse. Close to the entrance is a place for

20km exclusion zone, and the facility for taking care ofstoring the goods needed for taking care of the cats.

them became overcrowded. We rushed to set up thisThis is a room for storage, and this is a playroom. At

tentative facility near Koriyama because we needed

the moment, this playroom is also being used to houseto shelter the animals somewhere. They were kept incages. The cats sleep in the three-tiered cages at night

this way. In Fukushima Prefecture, not many dogs are

and play in the same room during the daytime like this.

spayed or neutered, so quite a lot of second generation
puppies were born there following the earthquake andThis facility in Tokyo is also an Emergency Disastermany puppies with colors and patterns that we don’t

Animal Relief Headquarters set up using donations

see in Tokyo were rescued. Cats were also sheltered inleft over from the time of the Great Hanshin-Awaji

this way.

Earthquake of 1995. In addition to making use of these138

donations, since we never know what may happen or

I acutely felt that, if only these lost animals had been

when, we established a fund to meet disaster relief

implanted with microchips or given identification tags,

needs. This fund is used to finance initial startup

they could have been easily returned to their original

operations and for dispatching people and goods.

owners. There were really so many such cases. I reallyThis time, the Emergency Disaster Animal Relief

hope the original owners of these animals and the

Headquarters was established and is carrying out its

people keeping these animals can meet. Some people

operations with financing from the fund. At present, thetook their pets to school, etc., many owners took proper

りぶ・らぶ・あにまるず 神戸アニマルケア国際会議 2012

care of their own pets, and children took their dogscare, there were cases of animals in need of continued

for walks. On one occasion, seeing this, some animaltreatment that were evacuated with their owners andwelfare organization members took pity on the animals

no longer able to obtain the necessary treatment, after

being kept in such poor conditions and offered towhich their condition deteriorated.

shelter the animals themselves. But for these dogs, it
is best that they remain together with their owners.

Moving onto food, in the past it was generally said that

Since the animal welfare organization was trying tokeeping about three to five days’ worth of supplies

take these animals away, the children produced thesewas adequate. But in disasters like the Great East

posters and hung them up for display.

Japan Earthquake, gasoline shortages made it almost
impossible to transport supplies. So I think we should

In times of emergency it is best if pets and their owners

prepare at least a week’s worth of food in advance,

can remain together. If owners and pets are parted

feed our pets on formula foods and special foods, andfrom each other, both sides become anxious. Whenbeyond that, do as much by way of preparation as we

people provide shelter to animal victims of disaster,can.

we ask them to let us know who is sheltering whichanimals, where and when. There are many owners

We appealed for accompanied evacuation to be

who are searching for their pets. So in order to help

permitted, but if there is a tsunami, we have toimprove the situation we set up ‘MSN Pet Research’ asremember that, unless the owner is saved the pet

a resource that people can download and use. In any

will not be saved either. This consideration is morecase, we hope that owners will locate their pets one

important than the idea that owners should evacuate

way or another. But immediately after a major disaster,

together with their pets at any cost. Also, people whomany people may no longer have access to the internet.

shelter animals should try to provide information that

Paper media is needed in some cases. It was for thisallows the animals’ owners to get into contact at any

reason that we produce books like this. It is a list oftime.

all the animals rescued and sheltered at facilities run
by the Prefectural authorities and by animal welfare

In addition, while performing animal rescue activities,

organizations.

we have to give consideration to those people who don’t like animals. If we emphasize only that we are doing

At the time of last year’s disaster, a lot of things

this or that for the sake of animals, those who do nothappened. Of course, there were shortages of waterlike animals will not be very supportive of our actions.

and food, as well as safe evacuation places. Also, due

Especially, when we carry out activities in places whereto differences in the understanding of various local

many people have died, we need do so in a way that

authorities, there were evacuation centers able to takepays due consideration to the feelings of the humanowners accompanied by their pets and others unable tosurvivors who have been deeply hurt.

do so. And regarding the shortage of veterinary medical
I have a subject that I would like to talk about in thediscussion period later. The government is promoting
a clarification of issues related to animal protection
in times of disaster. These include the rescuing of
injured animals and searching for lost animals by
establishing animal rescue headquarters in regional
disaster prevention plans based on the Disaster
Countermeasures Basic Act. It is also promoting theclear identification of owners. In order to realize
these things it is necessary to draw up regional

2nd Live Love Animals International Conference on Animal Care in Kobe 2012139

countermeasure plans and also to establish animal

Now, I’m going to hand the baton over to Mr. Kazutoshi

rescue headquarters and perform training on a routine

Arai of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums

basis with accompanied evacuation as a corner stone(JAZA).

of the policy. Even if this policy is understood at theprefectural level, if it is not understood at the municipal
level then it will not be workable, as was shown by theexample of Rikuzentakata City. Unless understanding
spreads at the municipal level, even if owners take theirpets along to evacuation centers, in some places thepets will be refused entry.
Also, considering the ties between people and animals,
it would be good if teams specialized respectively forpeople and animals were to cooperate with each otherto draft procedures (manuals), register volunteers,and provide them with education and training on aroutine basis. Also it would be good if owners andadministrative institutions could take preparatory
measures under normal conditions. If the process
stops with the making of manuals but doesn’t go on
to embrace training, then the system will not workwhen an emergency actually occurs. Another thing werealized with the recent disaster was the importance ofenlightening the general public. The owners’ attitude
to the health management and keeping of their petsthat we saw in the disaster areas was totally different
from our way of thinking in Tokyo. As for healthmanagement, almost none of the animals in the disasterareas had received preventive vaccinations. So toprevent infections, there were many situations in which
rescued animals had to be vaccinated even before they
could be kept in hospitals.
Later, I would like to talk about this problem again
in the panel discussion. But in Tokyo, already local
resident education and citizen education is being
carried out at the ward level using specially madepamphlets. We have also prepared written information,
evacuation bags for pets and instructions on how to
prepare these items, and given them away to the public.
Anybody can download this information from the JAWS
website, so please make use of it.
That’s all from me. I went on a little longer thanplanned, but thank you for listening to my report.

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りぶ・らぶ・あにまるず 神戸アニマルケア国際会議 2012