– credit Kyushu Animal Academy
An inspiring story of solidarity between pet owners comes from Japan, recently rattled by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake.
In the wake of the disaster that destroyed homes and claimed over 3 dozen lives, an organization that acts as a digital hub for lost pet notices has amplified the signal of these notices, and worked to help reunite owners with their animals.
Maigo Ken no Keijiban or the Lost Dog Bulletin Board, has 150,000 members on social media, and is a registered equivalent to an American 501(c)3.
On Tuesday, a lost Chihuahua named Leo was successfully identified, located, and returned to his owner a mile away from where he was found, all through social media—a testament to how effective methods like this can be.
Japan Times, reporting on the aid movement, added that another dog—a Shiba Innu named Go—has been sighted by members of Bulletin Board’s Kyushu island chapter. His owner, Yosuke Matsuda, is waiting eagerly for more news.
“We adopted him less than a year ago. We think he was abused before, so he’s very easily frightened,” Matsuda told the Times, adding that the earthquake likely terrified him into running away.
As organizations like Maigo Ken no Keijiban and the local government work to disseminate notices of lost animals, others like the Kyushu Animal Academy, a vocational school specializing in animal care in the city closest to the epicenter of the earthquake, has transformed several of its classrooms into makeshift pet shelters where animals can safely stay while displaced owners address the state of their houses.
MORE DISASTER RESPONSE: Thousands Donate to Help Nebraska Ranchers Who Couldn’t Feed Their Herds After Wildfires Burn Every Acre
About 20 pets and evacuees are currently housed at the school, which during an earthquake in the same city in 2016, managed to take in 1,500 people.
“Most public evacuation centers aren’t set up to house animals indoors… I think having animals with us helps keep spirits up,” said headmaster of the school, Ryunosuke Tokuda. “Pets are family, and having them close makes a huge difference.”
PET OWNERS UNITED: Community Spares No Effort to Reunite Lost Dog with Owner After Their Car Was Rolled in a Crash
“We can’t use the school as an evacuation center forever, so we’ll see how things go over the next few days until the local government takes over,” he added. “We welcome foreigners, too. Even if you don’t speak Japanese, if you and your pet need help, please feel free to reach out.”
SHARE This Solidarity Between Pet Owners With Your Friends…
