Japan Cat Network

Your heart here!

Japan Cat Network — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:58:49 +0000

This is Natalie, rescued from an evacuated farm in Fukushima. When she was found, there was no food anywhere in sight. Another cat there desperately knocked dog food out of our hands and tore into that. Natalie stayed hidden, but eventually came out for help, too. She is a sweet young calico, who is a bit fearful of strangers at first, but purrs loudly and loves to be held by people she knows. Natalie is in need of a foster home now, and will potentially be available for adoption in the future.

There are many more kitties as well as dogs available in shelter and many more out there waiting for rescue…Please consider opening your home and heart so that we can bring another in from the cold lonely streets! Contact us today about fostering or adoption, in order to find a friend and save a life.

Liveblogging the 20 km

Japan Cat Network — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:41:58 +0000

Hello JCN friends and followers! I am skyping with Susan Roberts and Selena Hoy as they enter the 20 km zone with two other volunteers and 3 cars and will be liveblogging as the day progresses. Please visit this page for updates on what is going on!!!

9:41 am JST: JCN received permission to enter the 20 km zone on a one day pass for today, December 27th. They are only allowed 5 hours inside the zone (10 am - 3 pm). They have three addresses of natives who have been desperately hoping for months for their animals to be saved. In addition to visiting these locations, the JCN volunteers will be stopping to attempt to catch any animals that they see within the zone.

9:44 am JST: Right now 3 cars with 4 JCN volunteers are on their way to the check-in station. They will be arriving shortly before 10 am so that they can maximize their time within the zone. The cars are filled with food, traps, carriers, geiger counters, Tyvek suits and gumption! Please wish them luck here or at the Japan Cat Network facebook page

9:52 am JST: As the rescuers make their way to the entrance point please feel free to comment with words of encouragement on this post or at the Japan Cat Network facebook page. These will be passed on to them.

10:06 am JST: Follower Jim asks what the conditions of the roads are into the 20 km zone. Susan reports there is no ice or snow on the roads where they are but there is some snow on the sides of the road.

10:16 am JST: We are now also tweeting the events in the 20 km. Please check out our twitter here.

10:24 am JST: JCN team is now inside the 20 km zone!!!

10:38 am JST:

10:43 am JST:

11:11 am JST: They have been asked to report any ostrich sightings.

11:27 am JST: Awaiting updates from in the field, but as we wait I would like to pay a tribute to Selena. She is a radiation veteran having volunteered full time in Fukushima with Japan Cat Network since April of this year.

12:05 pm JST: One house has been checked in an unscheduled stop at the request of one of the JCN volunteers who had previously visited the house. The animals seem to have been removed by the owners!

12:29 pm JST: Currently the mission is stalled. Authorities have forced all JCN vehicles to return to the entrance at which they entered. Will post when we know more.

12:38 pm JST: They are now being forced to go all the way to hokenjo outside of the 20km. As always, our angel, Yuuko, the owner of Club LOHAS is working on getting this fixed. Not sure exactly what they want from JCN.

1:22 pm JST: News is that JCN was supposed to register with hokenjo before going into the 20km. However, were never told this by Namie town office even though JCN asked several times if there was anything further they needed to know. Seems there is little possibility of getting in again. They will focus on the animals that they see on the border. Have so far seen a corgie and a pack of dogs.

1:39 pm JST: Yuuko managed to convince the prefecture to let them in, but hokenjo still won’t give the go ahead. Not sure why animal control gets to dictate who goes into the 20 km, but we are feeling quite sick about the whole situation. Dozens of hours have been spent preparing for this mission. And now the time wasted sitting around trying to get them to listen to reason.

1:54 pm JST: Here’s the last word, they are heading back. From Susan “I had no idea that they [hokenjo] were in charge. Again…we went over the detailed plan at Namie, not at the prefecture, since we picked up the pass from Namie. We had to talk with them about what time we would leave Inawashiro, when we would arrive at the gate, when we would leave through the gate. This is when we asked if we had to go to Hokenjo first. They said no, only after. We said are you sure. They said yes. only after.”

The Japanese government has made it incredibly difficult for rescue groups to enter the 20 km. Our best hope is that they may reconsider and allow groups to enter at a later date. Hopefully other groups were able to rescue as many animals as possible.

We urgently need your help

Japan Cat Network — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:54:45 +0000

Watch me…

Japan Cat Network has placed hundreds of cats in happy forever homes. We have helped hundreds of people with trap/neuter/return projects or rescue and re-homing efforts, over the years. We have rushed out to assist in emergency situations, and we have done all of this on a minimal budget.

If you’ve ever received help from JCN, adopted a kitty that you love, or are just glad that we are around for those who need us, please take a moment to let us know! And if you are able, please help us to continue our efforts to rescue and feed the many left behind pets in the restricted areas of Fukushima. Our volunteers have continued to work tirelessly, both in Shiga and in Tohoku. We believe that there is no way to really address the many animal welfare needs in the region, given the enormity of the animal welfare crisis, without actually being here. We will work day and night to maintain the positive presence that we have achieved here, and we hope you feel that it is important, too. We hope that the many people who know, love, and trust us, will help us to carry on this effort.

On Tuesday, December 27th, Japan Cat Network will enter the 20 kilometer exclusion zone, with the Fukushima Prefectural government’s approval. We have been entering restricted areas to feed, check on, and rescue animals, for around 7 months now, all with help from local evacuees and the approval of local governments. Our goal has always been to assist evacuees with pet needs and to rescue or help animals in distress. This time, we will be searching for pets on behalf of several families, who are heart-sick with worry about their pets. The actual mission is not so different from many that we have gone out on, since first responding to the earthquake and tsunami event, on March 22nd. In this case, however, we may be the only chance these animals have.

Our teams have rescued, picked up, housed and/or placed nearly 400 documented animals in the Tohoku area, and our teams are still here. If you feel that continued rescue efforts are needed, and that a base in Fukushima is necessary, please take part. contact us about volunteering or donating today. Check in, to see some of the stories on facebook, on the website, and help us via ChipIn.

JCN current NPO certificate

Japan Cat Network — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:09:05 +0000

click to view JCN current NPO certificate

To help other people at all times

Japan Cat Network — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:47:28 +0000

The Boy Scout Troop 34 from Camp Zama arrived in Inawashiro for a long day of building, cleaning, dog walking and a generous donation of supplies and cat and dog food.

In uniform at dinner in the excellent Club Lohas cafe.

These young men managed to gather more than 600 pounds of pet food from supporters; two vans full! And, they put all of the pet food away themselves. George was the organizer of the entire trip. He collected the donations and then used them to buy the supplies for winterizing the kennels, as well as insulating the floors. Some other goodies that we needed too!

These guys worked tirelessly, cleaning the kennels, and preparing them for the floor tiles and putting up the plastic sheeting on the outer walls. The kennels nearly sparkled, when the guys were finished!

In front of the result of their hard work–our newly reinforced kennels!

The Japan Cat Network Inawashiro Center in Tohoku; The Work Goes On;
http://japancatnet.com/tohoku/inawashiro.html

JCN 2012 Calendars Now on Sale!

Japan Cat Network — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:58:00 +0000

The Japan Cat Network 2012 Magnet Calendars are now in stock.
They are $8 for one, and $5 for each additional, shipping included.

Buy one for home, the office, for friends and for family, to help us fund the work we do every day.
http://japancatnet.com/support/2012calendars.html

Over 300 animals rescued in Fukushima

Japan Cat Network — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:42:45 +0000

The Japan Cat Network Inawashiro Center needs YOU. We are in Fukushima addressing the needs of the animals and their guardians coping with the after effects of the disaster. Work includes, dog walking and care; cat area cleaning and care; animal health monitoring and treatment; repair/building projects, and general area cleanup; food drop/rescue trips into the evacuated/restricted areas (we have a pass, but please bring proper personal identification); transporting animals to spay/neuter or new homes in the Kanto area; and various organizational duties.

Whenever it seems like there might be a moment’s rest, the phone rings with requests for help, and off we go.

Our tenacious team has been in the disaster area since March 22nd with amazing support from many volunteers over time, including invaluable support from folks on Camp Zama (US Army), Yoksuka Naval Base and Yokota Air Force Base, as well as local support from evacuated residents.

Now counting more than 300 animals rescued with funding given to JCN from JEARS. The work goes on even though the news of it wanes.

The work is hard but meaningful. If you are able to pitch in and contribute to the morale, that will help the work to continue.

please email for directions or more information; info@japancatnet.com

JCN Inawashiro Center

Japan Cat Network — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:01:26 +0000

This is Temperance, before her rescue from a restricted evacuated area of Fukushima, and after. Just managing to hang in there until help arrived, she is now doing well and getting regular meals at the JCN Kansai shelter. Japan Cat Network continues to manage the ground crew efforts to feed, rescue, shelter, rehabilitate, spay/neuter, rehome, and/or release animals that have been effected by the disaster in the Tohoku area. JCN organized and has been running the intake program at Inawashiro since it started, with helpful funds given from JEARS, and we can verify that there are still hundreds of animals left behind in the small part of the evacuated areas that we have been working in regularly. Thankfully, we have many local supporters among the residents, who have evacuated but are still very invested in helping animals left behind. We are looking for volunteers to help out in Inawashiro on a regular basis, so please contact us if you might be available to come out. We’re also looking for loving foster homes and adoptive homes for rescues. And of course, lots and lots of cat food is needed to manage the 100kg+ per week food drops, so feel free to send us some, if you are able. Our Inawashiro address is:

Club Lohas
2706-1 ueno, iwasato-aza, oo-aza,
Inawashiro-machi, fukushima-Ken, 969-3141

Or, order through our Amazon Wish List.

Please take a look at a video of some of the kitties that we are regularly feeding…they are depending on us to help them get through the winter safely, and we are determined to do so. Look forward to an update on the new winter feeding stations being constructed by volunteers over the coming weeks!
Temperance says “Thank you!”

………………………………………………….

The work goes on

Japan Cat Network — Tue, 03 May 2011 06:15:17 +0000

It is all about lending a helping hand (or two!) to a furry friend in need! The work that we are helping to do in the Tohoku region now has helped so many desperate animals, as well as the people who are trying to care for them. The crisis for animals there continues, as families are facing long term evacuations without proper facilities for pet care. Many people are keeping pets in their cars at evacuation centers, which at least allows pets to remain with families, but this will become even less reasonable accommodation as time stretches on and the weather heats up. Furthermore, the exclusion zone around the damaged nuclear power plant will soon be extended out to include another 10 kilometers, and many of these families are facing evacuation without the option of bringing pets. This is what families from the 20 kilometer zone faced previously, and it is why there are so many pets remaining inside that zone. We are urging people to contact the Japanese national government, and local embassies or consulates, to politely request that evacuation plans for pets be made for any future evacuations, and that animal rescue workers be allowed to tend to animals in the zone. An English contact form for the Japanese cabinet can be found here, and there is a video on Youtube that shows the last day that we were allowed into the area. One of our volunteers created a nice blog entry of the day as well.

Thank you for remaining patient with us, while we put our own needs aside and devote so much time and energy to assisting those in such desperate need in the Tohoku region. We assure you that all of our volunteers are working night and day (literally) to maintain the JCN shelter, while also working on all of the aspects related to Tohoku rescue and support. We are part of the organizational process, the ground crew, and the sheltering effort. Please keep us and the work in your thoughts as we go forward, and keep in touch with the activities on Facebook!

All the thanks we need!

Japan Cat Network — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 03:10:11 +0000

Our JEARS teams have been busily going out, bringing pet supplies to evacuee shelters, picking up animals needing rescue, and accepting animals that need to be taken out of control centers. The devastation in many of the areas has been heartbreaking to see. There are so many people displaced, as well as the animals that they had been caring for. We are steadily getting the word out that we can provide supplies to those who have a place to keep their pets, or we can help care for pets, until their families get into more stable situations. There are still many areas that we need to visit, so we are calling for volunteers interested in joining rescue teams. Anyone from outside the country should contact Kinship Circle, as they are helping to coordinate our international support. Those from inside the country should contact us, giving us the following information:

Do you have a International Driver’s license?
Do you own a car?
Can you speak Japanese?
What dates are you available?
Do you have any special skills?
How long have you lived in Japan?
Are you a team player?
Are you able to rough it?
Are you comfortable around animals?

This is not easy work, and the days are long. The people and animals that you will meet have suffered tremendous loss. But the experience of being part of the big effort to set things right is something you will never forget. Keep up to date on our earthquake rescue and support efforts on the JEARS Facebook page, or the JEARS website and look forward to photo pages soon!