JCN was founded by Susan Roberts and David Wybenga, who have been living in Japan, teaching English, and helping cats since 1993. They started the group after having had success helping the cats in their own community through TNR, a method of population control in which stray cats are trapped for neutering and returned to the location. When they first arrived in town there were very sad cases of sick and dying cats, all over the community, and they found this completely intolerable. After researching, and deciding on TNR as the best plan, they got started. TNR has worked wonders in their community. The remaining cats are healthier, look better, are less annoying to neighbors, and are no longer reproducing. They realized that this could work all over Japan, and also thought how much easier it would have been to get started, if there had been a group to turn to for support. JCN is that group, and we’d like to help others who want to start TNR programs in their communities.
I am a volunteer for BAR (Base Animal Rescue) which is centered around the Naval Base community here Sasebo Japan. I would be very interested in any kind of collaboration / networking between our two organizations. I love the good work you do here in Japan.
Sincerely Joy M. Kirch-Kelling
Hi Susan and David,
I’m a producer with the National Public Radio station in Washington, D.C. I work on a relatively new show called The Animal House, which covers a range of topics related to wildlife conservation, pet behavior, etc. We’re very interested in doing a segment on the work being done to help abandoned animals in the earthquake/tsunami zone. Please contact me at the above email address if you would be interested in doing an interview. Thanks in advance for your time!
Best,
Tara Boyle