The Animals of Fukushima
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The Anim als of Fukushima: One Year Later Animals of Fukushima Two Years Later: American Humane Association Impact Report “What brings me hope and peace in the year since that site visit is that American Humane Association continues to bring needed aid to the animals of Japan. ” On the one year anniversary of the stunning devastation in Fukushima, American Humane Association produced a report on our site visit to the disaster scene that included photos, facts and reflections on Japan’s Ground Zero. Thoughts of the companion animals impacted by the disaster living in temporary shelters until their families could bring them home still haunt me today. And as we have since learned, many more animals are still being rescued from the restricted area at Fukushima even today. What brings me hope and peace in the year since that site visit is that American Humane Association continues to bring needed aid to the animals of Japan. Following our site visit last year, American Humane Association committed to $130,000 in grants to the animal shelters on the ground in Fukushima. The grants were over and above the Red Star™ humane relief provisions provided directly following the disaster, demonstrating our “... many more long-term commitment to the lives of the impacted animals. animals are still Not only do we continue funding the vital work of the Fukushima shelters today, we are also working to advance community disaster preparation being rescued throughout Japan. Our Red Star™ Rescue disaster preparation tips were translated in Japanese and sent to the government prefectures throughout from the Japan. Our famed Red Star™ Rescue disaster preparation training courses are now being translated so that we can provide on the ground shelter and restricted area rescue training to our overseas partners. The status report today – two years after the disasters struck – is that dogs at Fukushima and cats continue to be rescued from the restricted area. As of January 31, the area shelter at Fukushima was housing 994 animals from the disaster even today.” scene, including 453 dogs and 541 cats. At the Miharu shelter, volunteers are continuing to care for 62 dogs and 263 cats, for a total of 325 animals. I have been assured that the animals are receiving lots of tender loving care while in the shelters awaiting for their owners to take them to their new homes. Recent photos of the animals and the sheltering facilities are included in this impact report, as well as the full site visit report from 2012. Thanks to your generous donations and support of American Humane Association, you are making a real difference in the lives of our most vulnerable, in America and in Japan. On behalf of the animals of Japan – and the children who are waiting to be reunited with their beloved best friends – we thank you for your kind support. With best wishes, Robin R. Ganzert, Ph.D. President and Chief Executive Officer, American Humane Association March 2013 “On behalf of the animals of Japan – and the children who are waiting to be reunited with their beloved best friends – we thank you for your kind support.” 2012 Site Visit Report “The animals of Fukushima need a voice; they need their stories told ...” American Humane Association The Animals of Fukushima: One Year Later Robin R. Ganzert, Ph.D. President and CEO, American Humane Association Nearly a year ago, the world watched in horror as one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded happened off the coast of Japan, causing devastating tsunamis and triggering nuclear meltdowns at the power plant in Fukushima. The result of the disaster was catastrophic: more than 15,000 deaths, hundreds of billions of dollars in damage, “Offering hope and hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes, many still unable to return. This also had a dramatic impact on the and compassion pets of these families and other animals living in the area. Many were exposed to radiation, relinquished to a shelter, or perished in the is exactly the actual disaster. reason that 3/11: The date invokes tremendous emotions for the people of Japan as memories of loss and multiple tragedies come to mind. One year after American the devastating earthquake, tsunami, fire, and nuclear disaster, the air of uncertainty lingers, tinged with despair and anger. The resiliency of the Humane Japanese people has never been called into question, and their ability to coalesce and persevere is ever present in the remarkable recovery efforts Association witnessed to date. But as the rest of the world moves on to other news and America focuses on political and economic matters, the people and came to Japan animals of Japan have been forgotten – many families still homeless, many children without their four-legged family members, and all with a year later.” ongoing questions about their future. What is the real status of the nuclear power plant and the no entry zone? What happened to the companion and the farm animals living in the zone? What are the health and wellbeing implications for humans and animals post- disaster? Why weren’t they better prepared? When can they go home? How do they go on from here? The answers are never easy, particularly given the savage series of disasters that impacted this island nation on 3/11. Offering hope and compassion is exactly the reason that American Humane Association came to Japan a year later. The animals of Fukushima need a voice; they need their stories told; and the power of the human-animal bond needs to be emphasized in times of tragedy and recovery as part of the healing process. Humanity knows no boundaries. My journey to Ground Zero occurred during the week of Valentine’s Day as a special mission to Japan representing American Humane Association, the nation’s oldest humanitarian organization founded in 1877 and the only one that serves as a voice for children and animals. Immediately following this disaster on March 11, 2011, American Humane Association sent a shipment of supplies and donations to relief agencies on the ground as they worked to shelter and save the lives of animals in jeopardy. Now, nearly a year to the date since the tragedy that gripped the world, Japan still needs our help. My trip here had two major goals: First, to conduct site visits and to arrange a schedule of financial support to those groups that are caring for and trying to help animals left homeless by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. And second, to extend an offer to share the organization’s more than 100 years of experience in disaster relief to help Japan’s communities prepare for and protect children and animals against future disasters . Our own famous Red Star™ program is now known as Red Star™ Rescue for Children and Animals , building on our century old institutional expertise to protect our communities’ most vulnerable in times of disasters. Since 1916, American Humane Association has operated the interna - tionally renowned Red Star™ Animal Emergency Services program. Red Star™ rescue services have been involved not only in nearly every major relief in the United States over the past century, but major international relief efforts including rescuing horses on the battle - fields of Europe during World War I and the efforts to save and shelter animals following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. American Humane Association’s Red Star™ program is an acknowledged leader in disaster preparedness and has also compiled a series of prevention tips to protect children, animals, families, and communities from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and other disasters. My first stop was the Tokyo Prefecture temporary animal shelter which handles overflow for animals from Fukushima. Thoughts from a Tokyo Shelter Today, countless animals have been helped – some even rehabilitated – and reunited with their families, but 300 cats and dogs are still being sheltered from the Fukushima area, Ground Zero for the disaster. Many more animals are still being fostered by rescue groups, and getting an accurate count for the animals impacted by Fukushima is difficult. While the majority of the 30 animals in the Tokyo temporary overflow shelter currently are owned by families in hopes of being reunited soon, others are waiting for a new home. Several of the human shelters allowed pet owners to bring their animals with them, while many other shelters did not. Further still, there are a number of “wild” dogs in the Fukushima area still unaccounted for due to the terrain; given the scope of the situation, recordkeeping remains a significant challenge. We’ll probably never know the numbers of ani mals impacted by the series of disasters. The excellent state of the temporary shelter I visited in Tokyo cannot be understated: the facility is absolutely spotless, well-maintained, and has a very dedicated staff committed to making the dogs’ and cats’ lives as perfect as possible under the circumstances. Each dog has its own volunteer with them for playtime, receiving lots of attention and love. Their owners were allowed to bring in special blankets or dog houses, while the shelter provided each dog with its own room. With all of the toys, love, and comfort received by the dogs each and every day, they feel like they’ve won the puppy lottery! And after surviving the devastation in Fukushima, they really are the lucky ones. Similarly, the cats are living a good life at this shelter given the circumstances. The cats were well cared for, in what are by far the cleanest cat rooms I have ever seen at a shelter. The volunteers lovingly clean the cat rooms several times a day. Recordkeeping of health indicators is a priority, as the staff take daily measure - ments of weight to monitor stress and eating habits.