​日頃より、HEARTを応援して下さっている皆様、いつも本当にありがとうございます。
　
さて、前回皆様に医療費のご協力をお願いしておりました水無月ちゃんですが、タイトル通り無事退院いたしました。足の方は、まだ少し振ら付くことが有りますが、健康で時折走ったり元気にハシャイで、遊び回っています。性格も本当に人なつこくて、甘えん坊で喉を鳴らしながらすり寄って来ます。医療費ご協力下さいました皆様、本当にありがとうございました。里親を募集するのは、もう少し先になりますが、募集をした際にはどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

 

​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.
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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)