08/08/2020
I am just going to go ahead and put out a heartfelt plea to donate to this amazing non-profit animal rescue group that we are helping by fostering cats/kittens. The main website is in Japanese and Portuguese and has a Paypal link for donation
Rough English translation of this heart-breaking article
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"Brazilians struggle to save cats from filthy pet shop in Hamamatsu"
The Pet Shop Kageyama in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, has kept cats, dogs and birds in poor condition for 50 years.
The animals are kept in filthy cages, without space, with little or no feed. Pets are bred on the spot and sold to other stores, but many lose their commercial value and end up abandoned in cages until they die.
This Friday (7), the Brazilian NPO TNR Felinos Japan, based in the neighboring city of Iwata, visited the site to try to rescue another animal, but ended up taking two cats.
The report on the "Japan Tarjas" page accompanied the rescue and saw the precariousness of the site up close.
"Is very sad. All the cats are rubbing themselves in cages, wanting to get out of there. We have to choose those who are in the worst state of health, because unfortunately we cannot take them all, ”laments Elen Tanaka, who represents the institution with her husband Cássio Silva.
Elen and Cássio entered the place at around 4:30 pm and came across a dirty and stuffy corridor of precarious cages, a strong odor of animals, adult cats and puppies meowing in chorus.
Promptly, the two divided up for a careful inspection. "This cat has been suffering here since last year," Elen said, pointing to the cage closest to the exit.
“This one he doesn't let us take. Look at these two in the corner, ”Cássio replied, down the hall. Although they only managed two cash donations for castration and a temporary home, they ended up rescuing two.
The owner of the place, an elderly Japanese man (who did not identify himself), appeared minutes later to confirm that he would let the institution take two cats. He arrived smiling, opened a cage, took the chosen cat and put it in the NPO's shipping box anyway.
Asked about his time in business, he stated bluntly: “I have kept this store for 50 years”. He seemed proud of his business. So far, he has never had problems with the police or the authorities, although there is a law against animal abuse in Japan.
ENDLESS FIGHT
Unable to attract the attention of the Japanese media, the authorities or even the police, Elen and Cássio have been going back and forth for a year, rescuing cats from their cages whenever they can.
“Last year we rescued 40 cats with the help of a Neko Café (a café that displays cats for adoption) in the city of Nishio (Aichi). This year we only managed to take three, counting the two of today. Unfortunately, we have no space or financial conditions, ”laments Elen.
The struggle to save these animals is thankless and the situation is disheartening.
“It's like wiping off ice. We empty the cages and when we go to see, they are full again. He continues to force cats to breed. He has no conscience, he thinks that animals are nothing more than a product ”, adds Cássio.
CRISIS
With the coronavirus pandemic, the institution suffered from a drop in donations, mostly maintained by Brazilians in the community.
The couple faces high debts with ration and difficulties to maintain voluntary work. The rescue of animals in addition to the pet shop has been suspended and castrations are expected to resume next month.
“We had five godmothers and now there are three. Some people send things we need through Amazon, but we have almost no financial aid. An NPO needs donations to keep working, ”warns Elen, who fears that the institution will not survive in this situation for much longer.
The Brazilian couple takes care of 60 cats at the shelter in Iwata and has an average expenditure of ¥ 80,000 per month on feed alone. Because of the pandemic, he ended up being unable to hold events to raise funds and get adoptions.
They also sold flavorings, but had to stop because of the scarcity of alcohol they needed to manufacture, another consequence of the pandemic. "We have a stranded raffle and the hope is to be able to resume activities," says Elen.
HOPE
Taking down or forcing improvements in a pet shop that has been operating for 50 years despite the precarious conditions seems like an impossible mission, but Cassio and Elen are betting on a petition to pressure the authorities.
Created last year, the couple is waiting to obtain 5,000 signatures to act and is already very close to the goal.
“This is our hope. We will send it to the Animal Protection Center and two other government institutions in Shizuoka. As we have collaborated with the Center, I believe that they will pay more attention to this cause ”, reports Elen.
Until they reach the goal, the NPO tries to raise funds for the rescues and counts on the help of temporary homes.
“When we rescue, cats are usually sick and malnourished. They spend two days eating feed without stopping and many have difficulty walking, their feet atrophied because there is no space in the cages. It hurts the heart to see, ”explains Cássio.
YOU CAN HELP
It is possible to help NPO Felinos Japan through donations or a temporary home for rescued cats.
You can help fight the pet shop by signing the petition here.https://www.change.org/p/hamamatsu-prefecture-pet-abuse-in-…
Follow the NPO Felinos Japan page to follow the redemptions and follow the "Japan Tarjas" page to follow new publications.
Felinos Japan is also on Youtube, follow the channel here.
https://www.youtube.com/c/TNRFelinos/videos
And check out the official website.
https://www.npotnr.com/sobrenos
O Pet Shop Kageyama em Hamamatsu, na província de Shizuoka, mantém gatos, cães e pássaros em condições precárias há 50 anos.
O Pet Shop Kageyama em Hamamatsu, na província de Shizuoka, mantém gatos, cães e pássaros em condições precárias há 50 anos.
Missionary family in Japan : 13 children are older (only 4 at home), and Mom is home since 2016 (ch
