- Mar
- 18
PETA Asia-Pacific's Rescue Efforts in Japan
Posted by Paul Phillips at 7:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
The first member of an international animal rights group to reach the disaster area, PETA Asia-Pacific senior campaigner Ashley Fruno has been in Japan with Isabella Gallaon-Aoki of Animal Friends Niigata since taking the first flight to Tokyo after the airport opened on Saturday night.
There are few signs of life in the hardest-hit areas, but Ashley and Isabella have encountered many citizens who have stayed in their badly damaged homes for days because many evacuation centers are not allowing companion animals inside. With countless people being forced to evacuate because of radiation fears and with animals being barred from many emergency shelters and flights out of the country, animal shelters like the one run by Isabella's group are being inundated with animals.
In all their media interviews, Ashley and Isabella have been urging people never to leave their animals behind—if conditions aren't safe for humans, they aren't safe for animals either.
In addition to pitching in at the badly overtaxed Niigata shelter, Ashley has been providing food to animals left behind by evacuees as well as to animals whose guardians are having a hard time getting supplies because of long lines of hundreds of people waiting to get into stores. She is also working with local veterinarians to rescue and care for the few surviving animals they are able to find.
Here's what Ashley has to say about her rescue efforts near the epicenter of the earthquake:
The tsunami ripped through the region with such force that cars were smashed into houses, debris was swept for miles through rice fields, and entire families drowned in their homes. In the hardest hit areas, we saw no animal life whatsoever. We did see some paw prints in the mud at one point, but they didn't lead anywhere, and we could not find any animals nearby.
When we first arrived in Sendai, gasoline lines stretched for miles and hundreds of people were lined up outside supermarkets to gather whatever supplies they could from the nearly bare shelves. We came upon a woman carrying her dog, a young sheltie who was terrified and stressed by the earthquake and aftershocks and the chaos that ensued. Tears came to the woman's eyes as she told us that she had risked her life for three days while staying in her still-shaking house because the evacuation center would not allow her to take her dog with her. She had finally been able to take her dog to a family member's home in an area of the city that had not been hit by the tsunami.
We spent several hours searching for the two dogs who appeared in a highly publicized You Tube video. One of the dogs appeared to be sick or injured, and his friend was protecting him. Someone gave us a tip as to where they might be, but it appeared to be inaccurate, as it seemed unlikely that anyone could have survived in the named area. We were relieved to learn later that both dogs had been rescued-the healthier dog is now in a shelter, and the sick dog is in a veterinary clinic.
Ashley and Isabella continue to visit the worst-affected areas in search of animals who need help, and they remain in touch with the volunteer relief center, city office, and prefecture office, which plans to set up a temporary shelter for animals in the northern part of the city. Ashley reports that the most pressing issue now is finding temporary housing for animals whose families are homeless or who have been forced to evacuate.
You can help by sending a polite e-mail or fax to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and asking the U.S. Department of State to allow U. S. nationals to take their animal companions with them when they evacuate Japan. You can also help fund Ashley's work and other rescue work by donating to PETA U.S.' Animal Emergency Fund, which provides grants to organizations that do rescue work, including our affiliate PETA Asia-Pacific.
This post originally appeared on The PETA Files.
Posted to Uncategorized | Posted to Tags: Animal Emergency Fund, earthquake, Japan, rescue, tsunami
- Post this story to:
- Digg
- del.icio.us
- Newsvine
More:
Adair says...
March 18th, 2011, 11:23 pm
Please allow U.S. Nationals to take their animals companions with them when they evacuate Japan. Companion animals are like members of the family, and it is heartwrenching to leave them behind.
Bachellerie says...
March 19th, 2011, 11:05 am
Yes , I agree with Adair , all these poor animals must be saved .
Tucker says...
March 19th, 2011, 11:36 am
GOD BLESS THESE 2 DOGS, I SURE HOPE and PRAY that They WILL OR ARE REUNITED!!!!!!
THESE 2 SWEET DOGS SHOULD BE ADOPTED TOGETHER!!!!!!
THINGS NEED TO CHANGE ABOUT NOT LETTING PETS/ANIMALS GO WITH THERE FAMILYS!!!!!! THAT IS TERRABLE!!!!!!
THEY ARE PART OF A FAMILY, OF SOMEONES LIVES!!!!!!
THAT IS LIKE LEAVING A BAY BEHIND AND SAVING YOUR SELF, THAT IS SOOOO WRONG!!!!!!
PLLLEEEAASSE CHANGE THAT, IT IS NOT RIGHT, ANIMALS ARE LIVING,BREATHING BEINGS WHO CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEM SELVES AT TIMES LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!! THEY NEED TO BE WITH THERE FAMILYS AND FRIENDS!!!!!!! (HUMANS)!!!!!!!!!
Lauren says...
March 19th, 2011, 11:43 am
Ashley, you are amazing!!! Please be careful. God bless you for doing what you are doing. You are a real Guardian Angel to these animals you rescue. I am very proud of what you do. Thank you too Isabella for all that you do to save our pets.
Dove says...
March 19th, 2011, 1:49 pm
For many, animal companions "are" family. I, therefore, compassionately, request that the State Department allow Americans, without exception, to evacuate all their family members from Japan and from every future disaster area.
I am in agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public health veterinarians and others that "… a lack of plans and resources to evacuate 'incidental' pets with their owners has been known for decades to be a primary reason why citizens will refuse to evacuate in the face of imminent life-threatening danger." Unfortunately, when it comes to disasters, people who love their animals often pay with their own lives.
All companion animals, regardless of size, must be allowed safe transport out of Japan and any future disaster zone.
Regarding the situation, in Japan:
1. People evacuating Japan be must be allowed to take their companion animals, regardless of size, with them.
2. The State Department permanently must change its official policy to allow pets to be evacuated, simultaneously with their families, from disaster areas.
As one who holds her animal companions close to her heart, I know I could not leave my animals, behind, as I would, in a similar circumstance, not leave my children or any family member.
The citizens of Japan have enough emotional devestation to face, let alone making a life and death decision based on animal family members.
Dove Shientag-Betts
Phoenix, AZ
Marsha says...
March 19th, 2011, 2:35 pm
Please allow people to take their animal companions when they leave Japan. The bond between pets and their family is unbreakable. To remain together is comforting and healing for both the human and the animal.
It is the right and humane thing to do !
Samara says...
March 19th, 2011, 2:56 pm
I sent an e-mail to The State Department earlier today! My question about the video is – why is the person who is filming these dogs not helping these dogs?
Justin says...
March 19th, 2011, 6:00 pm
I am so glad to read this. In a terrible disater like this, sometimes we tend to not keep in mind the defensiless so it pleases me that this well written article is on the web.
Brande says...
March 21st, 2011, 8:34 am
thank God there are people who can do this, i admire them, and i pray for more good people to out weigh the bad people…. thank you
God for all the good angels, God places us where he wants us to be…..
thank you Ashley and Isabella, my prayers are with you all. and thank you Peta
Pat says...
March 22nd, 2011, 2:21 am
Oh, this terrible, terrible situation has me in a state. My heart goes out to Japan, but the poor animals and what I have seen is eating me up inside.
Thank you to those wonderful people who have taken it on themselves to save the animals. I wish I could be part of this. Ashley and Isabella you are just the greatest and I wish you all the success. Thank you to Peta also for the wonderful work that you do!!!
Laura F says...
March 23rd, 2011, 12:49 pm
Ashley and Isabella you are angels to the animals! Thanks for all you are doing to help them in this horrible situation. I am dismayed about the video of the two dogs – why would someone video them and then just leave them there to suffer?
Anne says...
March 24th, 2011, 1:19 pm
Mrs. Clinton, it is with the greatest respect and admiration for your hard work all over the world, that I ask if it is possible that the people who are able to leave Japan be allowed to bring their dogs and other pets with them.
I know you understand the heartbreak in having to leave a beloved pet behind and will do what is possible to help these people. With thanks and the greatest respect, I am,
Sincerely Yours,
Anne Simpkins
Ana Marie says...
April 8th, 2011, 2:04 pm
beautiful animal rescue and love for them.
Daria says...
April 13th, 2011, 7:36 pm
I was unable to watch the footage of the dogs left behind starving. I could not hold back the tears. I wish that a food drop could be done or that a group was officially allowed in to bring these animals to shelters in other regions of Japan. I am sure many people would support your efforts with money for this specific cause. I will donate money and am grateful for your humanitarian efforts.