Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support news
We are Japan Cat Network, HEART-Tokushima, and Animal Friends Niigata, a Coalition of No-Kill rescue organizations and shelters in Japan, working together to help the animals displaced by the recent earthquake and tsunami. 
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the hardest hit areas are around Sendai.

The Animal Friends shelter, our rescue base of operations, is located in Niigata.

March 15, first day searching for animals in the effected areas
Notes from the team
(From Ashley) "Hi everyone – just wanted to update you on what happened yesterday. We made it to Sendai yesterday morning, and visited the two most badly hit areas in Sendai. Before we reached the devastation, we saw a lady on the street walking a dog, so we stopped to offer her dog food in case the shops were selling out (there were huge lineups outside everything). She told us that some evacuation centers in the area were not allowing pets inside so she stayed inside her shaky house for three days rather than leave her dog. She’s now with family friends in another area of Sendai.
 
In both areas that were the hardest hit, 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. The death tolls in those areas was easily a couple hundred and we saw them pull bodies out of the rubble. The damage was absolutely horrific.
 
We visited the second area in search of two dogs who appeared in a very highly-publicized Youtube video (one is obviously sick/weak and his friend is protecting him) from a reporter. Someone gave us a lead of where they might be, but we could not find the dogs. I don’t think the dogs could have survived in the area we were in, so when we do make it back, we will try other areas. We also gave dog food to one family in a devastated area who didn’t have a way to get supplies.
 
We visited the city office, the prefecture office, and the volunteer relief center to leave Isabella’s contact info. Everyone was super grateful we were there to help, and the prefecture office said they were setting up a temporary shelter for animals in the north of the city. It’s the next item on the agenda after they get the water problem solved (there is none).
 
Our biggest obstacle is gas. We walked as much as we could yesterday, as line-ups in Sendai were 16 hours long. Most stations are operating for emergency vehicles only. We were able to get gas once we got back to Niigata prefecture, but we were limited to 10 litres.
 
I will keep everyone posted on the situation. At this time it seems that most animals did not survive the storm, and there probably is not a large number of animals needing rescue, at least in Sendai. The biggest need will likely be sheltering animals who are displaced (who people have to give up) while they rebuild their lives.
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First rescue team leaves from Animal Friends Niigata with supplies, on March 14...Currently on the ground in Yamagata ken.
Notes from on the road...
"....at Animal Friends Niigata prepping the car our team of three, consisting also of Isabella founder, and Ashley Fruno from PETA and myself - a Tokyo-based reporter and associate editor at The Diplomat who are the first known animal rescue team who are heading out to Sendai, where the tsunami has caused mass damage, to assess the situation for animals there. What we are packing are kennels, leashes, food and catching equipment. Since there is said to be food and water shortages we've stocked up on that stuff for us as well, as we will likely be sleeping on the road.

The other photo is of a stop in the mountains of Niigata, as we head toward the affected area of Sendai on our first day on the road. We saw some emergency vehicles parked next to us, which were heading in the opposite direction so took it as a good sign that we were on the right route, headed in the right direction.

Again, we are the only team that is out this far with the primary goal of getting a better idea of what's going on."
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JCN Kansai shelter, helping to find safe places for pet relocation, to assist families who need to evacuate their homes.
Notes from shelter
(Susan says) "A pet owner (and rescuer) from northern Tokyo needed to evacuate and could not keep her dogs with her. The kitties didn't know what to make of these dogs that were just their size...Most had a quick sniff and are now just keeping their distance. Gina came out to help with cleaning, and to help with our doggie visitors. She brought lunch (of the human variety), and even helped me to prepare for my classes! Having gotten little sleep from answering so many emails and calls related to the earthquake rescue and support, this was absolutely heaven sent!"