“My heart trembled. They looked just like my dog. I started searching for them right away.”-Ogino, a 56-year-old volunteer

While some Japanese label evacuees ‘hibakusha’ and publicly bully them, other Japanese are risking contamination to save the animals left behind.

Many members of dog clubs around Japan, were so moved by pictures of abandoned dogs, that they demanded the media tell them how to get to them.

The first rescue team found a pack of dogs waiting at the train station: “They were waiting for their owner.”-Tamiko Nakamura, volunteer

The team was only able to get 20 dogs out, many ran away.  They left dry food for them, in the ghost town of Minami-Soma.  Volunteers say they will continue their efforts.