Angels With Fur Japan

Dog for Adoption: Rikinosuke

tokyoark — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:00:34 +0000

Rikinosuke is an 18-month-old Australian cattle dog and Norwegian elkhound mix, young, full of potential and full of energy. He absolutely loves people (doesn’t much see the point of playing with other dogs though) and is very clever. He has passed basic training with flying colors, knows ‘‘sit,’’ ‘‘down,’’ ‘‘spin’’ and ‘‘high-five!’’ With a ball, he knows ‘‘fetch’’ and ‘‘drop.’’ Rikinosuke, whose previous owners were forced to give him up following a death in the family, would make a great companion for an active person or someone interested in training. ARK is looking for a strong, yet kind, leader who can give this eager whiz kid a loving home.

Originally published in the Japan Times on Saturday, July 12, 2008. Photo by Nanako Kosunami.

Interested in Adopting Matey?

Please email ARK at tokyoark[at]arkbark.net or call 080-6146-3889 (English) or 080-6517-8913 (Japanese). Tokyo ARK is a nonprofit organization founded by Brit Elizabeth Oliver. It is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. All animals are vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped. Prospective new owners undergo a screening process.

The Japan Times supports stray and abandoned animals by publishing this photo box every Saturday in the Weekend/People section of the paper. The information is then archived here on the Angels with Fur site one week later, on the following Saturday.

JCN Needs Air Conditioner

Shaney — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:51:30 +0000

Japan Cat Network (JCN, http://www.japancatnet.com/), a group based in Kansai, works to rescue cats and teach people about the benefits of having their pets spayed or neutered (which is not as common in Japan as it should be). JCN recently rescued a huge number of kittens from a park and they are all staying in one room of the group’s founders’ house. As you know, it has been getting VERY hot recently, and the kittens are suffering from the heat. The group’s leaders, David and Susan Wybenga have sent out a plea for someone to donate an air conditioner so that the kittens can be made more comfortable.

See:
http://japancatnet.com/blog/2008/07/desperately-seeking-air-conditioner/

If you can help, please contact Japan Cat Network. Many kittens will thank you!

Dog Days of Summer (in Tokyo)

Shaney — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:34:41 +0000

The Tokyo Families magazine has an excellent article about things to do with your dog in the Tokyo summer. The article mentions Angels with Fur by name (thank you!), so I thought I would reciprocate with a link from our site to theirs.

Success Story: Tetta and Neeta

tokyoark — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:00:41 +0000

The Japan Times and Tokyo ARK have given Angels with Fur kind permission to reprint notices regarding pet adoptions (see: potential pets who have been featured on the Angels with Fur site). In addition to requests for adoption, they also publish success stories about pets who find new homes. Here is the latest success story.

Wataru and Tomomi Okamoto pose with Domino (left) and Neeta. The animal-loving Okamotos, of Kanagawa Prefecture, initially adopted Domino (originally named Tetta), and later decided to take on his sister, Neeta, as well. Julie Okamoto, originally from Australia, says, “We never envisaged taking on a fifth cat.” (They have a dog too.) The plan was to foster Neeta until she found a new home. Julie was confident “someone would fall under her spell.” That someone, it seems, had already fallen. Upon being reunited, the two cats recognized each other and today, once again spend their entire days playing and sleeping together. Domino, Julie says, “glows when he is around Neeta. She is just the same.” Daughter, Tomomi, commented that “it was really horrible of us to have separated them even for a short time.” Julie agrees. “I must admit I regret that too.” No regrets, the two are back together, wholly thanks to the Okamoto family. ARK and The Japan Times extend a doubly heartfelt thanks to the Okamotos for taking in not only one special-needs kitten, but two.

Originally published in the Japan Times on Saturday, July 12, 2008. Photo by Julie Okamoto.

Interested in Adopting a Pet?

Dog for Adoption: Matey

tokyoark — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:00:02 +0000

Matey, a 1-year-old male, is a beautiful creamy white with a touch of tan on his back and a very elegant long tail. Found abandoned in an elevator six months ago, he is now out of the puppy stage and into the engage-brain-before-moving stage. Slight at 12 kgs, Matey is good with other dogs, loves people, especially children, and is calm and intelligent. He is now being fostered by a professional
dog trainer in Tokyo. The kind person who adopts Matey is assured of not only a very handsome dog, but a well-trained one as well.

Originally published in the Japan Times on Saturday, June 28, 2008. Photo by Kyoko Harada.

Interested in Adopting Matey?

Cats for Adoption: Sissy and Hummer

tokyoark — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:00:31 +0000

Sissy, a tabby female, and her brother, Hummer, were abandoned in a park when they were only a few days old. Rescued, they were bottle-fed round the clock and now, at the age of 6 weeks, are in need of a permanent home. The two are inseparable and the shelter is hoping to keep them together. ARK urges people to neuter their animals. Figures illustrate the sad facts of how the “miracle of birth” usually ends. In 2007, the Nara hokenjo alone took in 2,705 kittens. In 2007, the Nara pound killed 2,705 kittens. Life is too precious to be snuffed out. ARK is also issuing a special plea for people interested in providing summer foster homes for kittens still too young for adoption. Please help.

Originally published in the Japan Times on Saturday, June 21, 2008. Photo by Yvonne Padgett.

Interested in Adopting Sissy and Hummer?

Success Story: Linus

tokyoark — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:00:23 +0000

Linus, featured in the Japan Times in February, had been abandoned in the mountains behind the ARK shelter. Luckily, he was found. Linus has now been adopted by the Carpenter family of Tokyo. The Carpenters, in the spirit of fun, submitted two letters to ARK, one “written” by the cat, the other by his new family.

Hi there ARK,
I had some free time on my paws so I thought I would drop you a line about my new home. After that airplane ride up to Tokyo in a cramped cage, I arrived at Richard’s and Hitomi’s new home. I know them as “Richard” and “Obaachan” and they are real nice to me.

At first Obaachan kinda stood to the side but I made friends with Richard real fast as he is my “food guy” so much so that I always
have to wake him up at 5:30 a.m. with loud meows in his ear in order to feed me!!

I know they were told not to feed me too much, but I gained a little weight in these two months. Richard is always measuring out how much to give me; I just wish he would give me more!

The other day, the sakanaya-san brought over some kani kamaboko and I went nuts over that. Obaachan then hid it in the fridge and now every time she opens up the door, I rush over and look up and meow and meow hoping that she will give me some but there is no more.

Life is so much better in Tokyo than it was at ARK — sorry, no offense — but I have the Tokyo house to myself and I have three chairs that I can call my own but I just love sitting and sleeping on the wide windowsill upstairs while Richard is working at his computer.

My life is joyful and peaceful and after breakfast and before Richard goes out to work, he always gives me a morning scratch on my belly and back. I just so love that. I am in heaven. And I often sit on the windowsill swiveling my head watching the small birdies flit by.

Obaachan talks to me constantly — I don’t know what she is saying but her tone is always nice and soothing and I like that too. Sometimes she has to feed me and I always know that she will add a little extra.

So thank you there everybody at ARK for taking care of me while I stayed there but I think I will hang out here in Tokyo for
awhile. Say hello to everybody for me.

Bye and love,
Linus

Dear ARK,
While the above was written by Linus, we thought that you might also want to hear the other side of the story from us.

After his arrival here, it did take a few days for him to settle down and he “glommed” onto me immediately.

It took a little longer for him and Obaachan to form a relationship but now my wife talks to him and treats him as though he were a grandson! Linus is now part of her life as he is part of mine.

I have often read that cats find their owners and not the other way around. Truthfully, we must say that he has been a real joy and a nice addition to our lives. As I guess you can appreciate, bringing a new member into a household requires adjustment on both sides.

Cat hair is now part and parcel of our lives and I am constantly vacuuming, but that is a small inconvenience.

Also, Linus is not used to strangers and he always runs and hides whenever the door bell rings. However, he is a clean cat and house-broken and is always snuggling up to us and rubbing against us.

Keeping constant watch on how much he eats is an ongoing effort, however. If he had his way, he would be eating five times a day and would have gained who knows how many kilograms!

Despite his penchant for eating, Linus is such a lovable cat that I have often wondered why someone could have abandoned him.

I would like to encourage readers of The Japan Times to consider adopting a pet from ARK — they are wonderful, kind and caring people.

With best wishes,
Richard Carpenter

(Photo by Richard Carpenter)

Interested in Adopting a Pet?

Cat for Adoption: Tama

tokyoark — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:00:44 +0000

Tama, a big orange-and-white tabby, has been at the shelter eight long years. Yes, eight. Tama’s mouth is slightly crooked — which is one of his many charm points. Another is his way of asking you for a cuddle — guaranteed to make you laugh. He does his very best to get human attention, loves people and loves to play. Twelve years old, Tama is in a pen with other cats and has two friends, but, admittedly, does tend to bully weaker cats. After all, it’s been eight long years. Still, a one-cat family may fit this one-cat comedian best. Eight years is too long for anyone, comedian or otherwise, to be in a shelter. Tama desperately needs to get this show on the road and preferably into your home.

Originally published in the Japan Times on Saturday, June 7, 2008. Photo by Kaori Kayano.

Interested in Adopting Tama?

Dog for Adoption: Billy

tokyoark — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:00:11 +0000

Billy, a collie-husky cross, is quite a beauty, but nevertheless has had his share of hard times. When his former owners decided to move, they took Billy, tied him to a chain in the backyard and disappeared. Luckily, an observant and caring neighbor eventually realized that he had been abandoned, left to his fate and the likely prospects of death by starvation had someone not seen him. There are some who would say he was not only seen, he was being watched over. Billy, with one blue eye, one brown, and a beautiful long-haired coat, is sure to turn heads. About 6 years old and 20 kg, he is trained in the basics, house-broken, intelligent, calm and patient. Billy will undoubtedly make a dream companion. He is good with children and loves people in general but, being a collie, does not take well to cats. Billy is in Tokyo in a foster home and can easily meet up with any prospective owners interested in giving him a home, one that he can count on.

(Photos by Kyoko Harada)

Interested in Adopting Billy?

Dog for Adoption: Wishful

tokyoark — Fri, 30 May 2008 21:00:56 +0000

This is Wishful, a 5-year-old, 14-kg Shikoku-ken, rescued just one day before she was to be put down by Animal Control. She came right up to the bars of her cage and made a desperate appeal to the staff members: “Please don’t let me be killed!” It worked. Despite her sad past, Wishful loves people, so much that she will rocket around with glee even upon meeting someone for the first time. Young and energetic, she loves to play and go for walks. Still with a tendency to tug on her lead, her training is ongoing. A fast learner, in perfect health, she would likely work best as the sole dog in a household. She does need a bit of time to adjust to new surroundings but does so relatively quickly. Once, at the jaws of death, Wishful’s prayer was heard. Her new plea, though not as desperate, is just as heart-felt: Take me home with you!

(Photo by Kentaro Washi)

Interested in Adopting Wishful?

The Japan Times supports stray and abandoned animals by editing and printing this photo box every Saturday in the Weekend/People section of the paper.