Update 22nd April 2011

Really a blow to all animals still remaining in the 20k zone. The Government sealed off the area officially from midnight yesterday, meaning those who break the order and return will be faced with $1000 fine and possibly 30 days imprisonment. Many evacuees, fearing they might not see their homes again for months, raced into the deserted town before the deadline. 80,000 people in all were evacuated. Some stayed however, about 40 people, many of them dairy farmers who refuse to leave their cattle. The officials are trying to force them to leave.

According to government figures about 3,400 cows, 31,000 pigs and 630,000 chickens were left in the zone, assumed to have died by now. This figure is probably an estimate of commercial farms and does not include horses, or pets.

The authorities will allow one person per household into the area for a maximum of two hours to collect personal belongings but since they are being taken there by mini bus , it is unlikely they can carry out their pets with them. No visits whatever are allowed within 3k of the plant.

Since we are unable to go into the 20k zone from now on, our main work will be in helping pets already in evacuation centres or other places. People can either board pets at ARK for free or if they decide to give them up, we can take them in and offer them up for adoption. We worry that with the weather getting warmer, pets kept in cars without shade will die of heat stroke. Already by posting photos and details of rescued animals on our homepage and on other sites, quite a lot of owners have contacted us. FAIRWAYS owner is one , GUESS, another, and a black dog now at Tokyo ARK. All these owners are actively look for homes so hopefully they can soon have their pets back with them. We are offering employment here at ARK for people with pets plus accommodation since many people in Tohoku have lost their homes and their jobs.

Many people had all their savings destroyed by the tsunami and so much money was swept out to sea and yet when people find a bag of cash they hand it in to the nearest police station. That would not happen in any other country.

We have also had a group in Miyage Prefecture wanting us to take in 30 rescued dogs since their facility is over-flowing and they lack foster homes. This situation will get worse as small organisations get over-whelmed. We have really only concentrated on Fukushima but there are still all the other prefectures to include. But in addition to this we have to take in dogs from the breeder in Ibaragi whose house was damaged and is without power or water. Around 120 dogs including; Shar Pei, Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniel, Italian Greyhounds, Chinese Cresteds, Toy Poodles, Mini Pinchers, French bulldogs, Chihuahua, Shih Tsu, Pug and mixed. Aim to go next Monday/Tuesday and start with rescue of females and puppies first.

A great dog lover in Fukuoka, Kyushu, who has adopted old dogs from ARK in the past , has offered her spacious garden to set up a rescue facility. She has offered space for ten dogs but we'll perhaps start with five. The dogs will be flown from Osaka to Fukuoka and I may go down there myself to see them settled in.

Attached photos - dogs found inside the exclusion zone, all are now at ARK in Osaka

Elizabeth Oliver ARK
Animal Refuge Kansai - ARK
Web Site: http://arkbark.net

How to donate: We have two ways to donate, the first being Paypal, if you follow the link
from the English http://arkbark.net site it will take you to Paypal in English. Another
option would be International Postal Money Order sent to:

595 Noma Ohara, Nose-cho
Toyono-gun, Osaka-fu 563-0131
Japan