14 August 2012, the Japanese government is now trying to find owners of hundreds of abandoned pets in the 11 March 2011 disaster areas. Last year the Environment Ministry was able to pick up 750 dogs and cats and place in shelters, 300 are still unclaimed.
Government officials believe there are still hundreds of abandoned pets still living in the radiation zones.
The prefectural government of Fukushima is asking people who are known to have lost their pets if they want them back, or not. Fukushima officials say they have contacted at least 1,000 people so far. Officials say they will try to find homes for pets that are no longer wanted, and they will continue to try and capture those pets still loose.
Some owners fear their pets are radioactive, others say they can not afford to take in their pets as they are living in temporary housing, and many owners are still unemployed.
NHK (nippon housou kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation) recently ran a sad documentary about pets who are being kept in private shelters, until the owners can take them back. The owners are paying for the shelters. However, in one sad example, the owners of one old dog were finally able to take their dog back only to learn that their dog died just days before they arrived at the shelter.
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