A place to call home

Mon, 2 May 2011 13:09:01 +0900

We are happy to announce that we have finally found a home for HEART! With a desperate need to expand shelter space to take in JEARS animals, this has come at the perfect time. Our shelter fund was opened less than a year ago and with generous donations received prior to the Earthquake and Tsunami in Tohoku, we were able to cover the cost of the 2000 tsubo of land located in Shibuno cho, Tokushima.
Construction has started and it should only take us a couple of days to prepare prefabricated buildings to house a large number of animals. We are asking for your continued support as construction supplies and costs will continue into the final stages of completing the site.

Please consider donating to our HEART Shelter Fund:
Within Japan: HEART Shelter Fund
Post Office account
Account number: ０１６９０−４−１００４８１

Or through our Mitsubishi account:
HEART
Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ
Branch 546
Account number: 0052370 HEART
SWIFT BOTKJPJT

Donations of creature comforts for the animals (dog/cat beds, cat towers, scratching boards, dog/cat toys) would also be very much appreciated! If you are able to contribute any of these items, please contact us at susan@heart-tokushima.com.

Animals affected by Earthquake and Tsunami devastation in japan

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:42:11 +0900

Over the past two days we have been witnessing the devastation in the northern part of Japan and our prayers go out to all of those whose lives were lost and affected by the horrific events since March 11th.

Thankfully, our area of the country received no damage and now we have to get to work right away to help the animals in need. We are preparing to receive animal here at HEART and we are working closely with Japan Cat Network and Animal Friends Niigata to save as many animals as possible. Niigata is the closest to the affected areas and will be our base of operations. We will be going out tomorrow to distribute food and water and to try and make an initial assessment. Please check our regular reports on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Japan-Earthquake-Animal-Rescue-and-Support/207835229228979 to find out what is needed and how you can help.

You can also contact us at: susan@heart-tokushima.com　

Tokushima Breeder rescue

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:56:26 +0900

Shortly after we got involved in the Nara large-scale rescue, we received a call from a breeder in Tokushima who had given up his business and wanted to donate his facility to HEART. He claimed to have only 12 dogs remaining that he would care for himself. Animal Control had apparently checked his facility in the spring and had given the thumbs up to renew his breeding license. Although we are skeptical of all breeders, with high hopes we arranged a visit to the location. What we encountered was soon to distinguish any hopes we held.

Filthy cages stacked upon cages. Emaciated dogs with matted fur forced to live for years in their tiny prisons. There were actually 18 dogs in all. Seventeen small breeds: Toy Poodles, Pekinese, Miniature Dachshunds, West highland Terriers, one Chihuahua, one Jack Russell, one pomeranian and one Akita ken. The breeder cared so little for these animals, he didn’t know how many dogs he had.

Marlon, upon rescue

All 18 dogs were rescued. Dai, the Akita was transferred to Animal Friends Niigata. He is 8 years old and has advanced stage heartworm. We are very grateful to Isabella and AFN for offering to take him in.

11 of the Tokushima breeder dogs have since found loving homes, 6 are still waiting!

Cider ♂ October　♂

　
Chestnut ♂　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Marlon ♀　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Petunia ♀

If you are interested in adopting one of these lovely animals, please contact us at susan@heart-tokushima.com.

NAra breeder rescue

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:36:12 +0900

HEART was contacted in August regarding a case in Nara prefecture that made national headlines. A breeder had stopped business and relocated from Osaka to her family home in Nara. Feeling overwhelmed with the almost 70 animals in her care she drove to a nearby mountain and abandoned 32 of the dogs. A passerby witnessed the event and contacted the police, the dogs were collected and brought to Animal Control where they were kept as evidence to be later handed back to the owner.

We made the four hour drive to Nara to check on the remaining 35 dogs at the family home and to see what we could do to help. With little space at HEART, it seemed almost impossible to be able to take in any of the dogs but as soon as we arrived, it was decided. They would have to be rescued. Some of the dogs were in make-shift kennels, others, three to four to a cage. All were outside in the scorching sun in far less than ideal conditions. Some with severe eye infections, missing legs, bald patches, etc. etc.

We got to work in Tokushima trying to figure out a way to make space for such a large-scale rescue. One of our supporters offered a small piece of land for us to use and we purchased a prefabricated building on on-line auction. The impossible was possible and in just a few short days, we were prepared to take in the Nara dogs.

Over the next 2 weeks, we made three trips out to Nara. 55 dogs came back to Tokushima and 12 dogs were transferred to Wan Life in Wakayama prefecture. We are very grateful for co-operation from Wan Life and other individuals in the Kansai area, as well as HEART volunteers and supporters for making this large-scale rescue possible.

34 dogs have since been re-homed, like Sento, emaciated and weak upon rescue. Now a gorgeous poodle enjoying life with his new family!

On a sad note, three of the Nara dogs passed away in our care. Hanabi, Sora and Parsley.

18 of the Nara dogs are still waiting for their own family. If you are interested in giving one of these sweeties a home, please see our “dogs for adoption”page and contact us at susan@heart-tokushima.com.

Unsolved crimes in Tokushima!

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 13:13:42 +0900

In the Spring of 2010, HEART was contacted by a woman from Muya-cho in Naruto City who said she had rescued a cat that had its rear legs bound so tightly that both legs had to be amputated in order to save its life! Susan Mercer, the Director of HEART went to check out the situation only to learn that this was not an isolated incident but rather a pattern of torture which included 4 cats all with various horrific injuries to their legs. The woman had done the right thing and immediately taken the suffering cats to a vet but could only afford treatment for the two she would keep so HEART took care of treating the last two at no small expense. Before approaching the police about taking appropriate action, Susan wanted an expert's opinion about the probable causes of such extreme leg injuries. She took the cats to HEART's veterinarian who confirmed that the leg injuries were not the result of a series of unfortunate accidents but were intentionally inflicted. Less than one month later a fifth cat was found with two broken legs, a bone protruding from one and another leg slashed by a sharp instrument, yet no damage to the body or head and HEART took in and paid for the treatment of this one as well. None of these cats are feral and despite the trauma they endured, remain friendly towards people. They are all brown Tabbies and appear to be the same age, indicating they may be brothers and sisters from the same litter.
Whether someone likes cats, dislike cats or is indifferent to them, such violence should be of great concern to everyone in Muya-cho, Tokushima, Shikoku and Japan because studies show that violence against animals is often the early warning sign that violence against people is next. Many of history's most notorious serial killers began by torturing animals before they harmed their first human victim.
Thanks to HEART's work, Local police are now investigating these vicious & alarming crimes with the power granted them under the 1999 animal protection law but they need the community to be vigilant and report any injured animals or suspicious activity to the police. If anyone has information about who this criminal is, reporting them will surely save other innocent animals and maybe even a family member, friend, neighbor or stranger.
Cats and dogs with handicaps, even a missing limb, often make wonderful pets requiring little if any extra work, skills or expense but because the Naruto cats suffered such extreme injuries, they require care beyond what the citizen rescuer could reasonably be expected to deal with long term. The kind cat lady of Naruto did her part for the cats and her community, so now HEART is doing theirs by caring for three of the maimed cats at great expense in both money and manpower and humbly requests that others who are able, join the chain of kindness by donating to help with the long term care of Sakura and consider fostering or adopting Hanami and Asia who are now recovered and ready for their forever homes. Sakura is also adoptable if you have the will and ability to care for a very special needs cat.

WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC PHOTOS!

CLICK HERE FOR ASIA (available for adoption)

CLICK HERE FOR HANAMI (available for adoption)

CLICK HERE FOR SAKURA (available for sponsorship)