Preventing the birth of lives that would be culled. Sakura Neko Free Spay/Neuter to End Tragedy 【Doubutsu Kikin】

Hello, this is Kuriyama from Poponeko.

Have you ever heard of a "Sakura cat"? A Sakura cat is a cat whose ear tip has been surgically removed, which serves as a mark that it has been spayed or neutered. Indeed, it looks like a cherry blossom petal.

By spaying or neutering "homeless cats" that live outdoors, we can prevent them from breeding. This means preventing the birth of lives that would otherwise be euthanized. Such an initiative is called TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return).

The "Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Doubutsu Kikin (Animal Fund)" is conducting initiatives to perform TNR free of charge. We interviewed Mr. Kunihisa Sagami, the chairman, about the current state of community cat activities and his passion for achieving zero euthanasia.

TNR cannot be stopped even during the COVID-19 pandemic

Kuriyama:

The number of cats euthanized is on a downward trend. It seems that continuous TNR activities are bearing fruit.

Mr. Sagami:

The Animal Fund has provided free spay/neuter surgeries to over 140,000 cats to date. Thanks to this, the number of cats euthanized has decreased from 230,000 in 2006 to approximately 30,000.

Kuriyama:

I've heard that community cat activities and adoptions haven't been going as planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Has it impacted your activities?

Mr. Sagami:

Even after the state of emergency was declared, the activities of the Animal Fund have not changed. We conducted on-site surgeries on remote islands while taking thorough infection prevention measures. We are also carrying out mass TNR for homeless cats in collaboration with local governments.

▲On-site spay/neuter surgery in Nakanoshima, Toshima Village, Kagoshima Prefecture (Image courtesy of Doubutsu Kikin)

▲Mass TNR for homeless cats conducted in collaboration with Hashimoto City, Wakayama Prefecture (Image courtesy of Doubutsu Kikin)

During the state of emergency, we received reports from volunteers across the country saying that "TNR couldn't be done as expected," but the number of Sakura cat free spay/neuter tickets issued has continued to increase even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kuriyama:

Even amidst the pandemic, support cannot be halted, right?

Mr. Sagami:

That's right. Since the pandemic, we have been receiving daily SOS calls from local governments across the country, requesting rescue from cases of animal hoarding.

While we have provided rescue in numerous animal hoarding cases so far, we are seeing a continuous stream of requests for assistance, including 164 dogs and 80 cats, as well as 30 cats, that we recently supported. I feel that the situation this year is abnormal.

Rescue from animal hoarding

Image courtesy of Doubutsu Kikin

Kuriyama:

TNR during the pandemic, finding foster homes, rescuing from hoarding—it must have been a challenging year.

Mr. Sagami:

It was a year that made me strongly reflect on the fate of dogs and cats, whose lives are swayed by human circumstances, while simultaneously resolving various issues.

Kuriyama:

I saw the news, and the animal hoarding in Izumo City was shocking.

Mr. Sagami:

I was also very surprised. The Animal Fund received a request for rescue from animal hoarding from Shimane Prefecture, and when we inspected the site, we found 182 dogs crammed into two 8-tatami mat rooms, being abused.

▲Dogs crammed into unsanitary conditions (Image courtesy of Doubutsu Kikin)

▲There were also emaciated and injured dogs (Image courtesy of Doubutsu Kikin)

All the dogs were temporarily sheltered at the public health center, and the Animal Fund provided free veterinary care, including spay/neuter surgery, treatment for injuries and illnesses, deworming, vaccination, and flea treatment. The owners were responsible for paying only 1,000 yen per dog for rabies vaccination.

Kuriyama:

I'm so glad they were rescued!

Mr. Sagami:

Thanks to extensive news coverage, fortunately, all dogs were adopted by December 1st.

Kuriyama:

I hope the dogs who have endured such difficult experiences can now live peacefully. This incident made me realize that animal hoarding is a serious problem that requires not only rescuing the animals but also supporting their owners.

I want people to know more about rescued cats

Image courtesy of Doubutsu Kikin

Kuriyama:

All of the "Doubutsu Kikin" activities are funded by donations. Has the self-restraint mood during the COVID-19 pandemic had any impact?

Mr. Sagami:

With no end in sight for the pandemic, we've seen a surge in requests to stop recurring donations, and unfortunately, the lack of funds to achieve zero euthanasia is becoming critical.

On the other hand, perhaps because more people are spending time at home, I feel that more people have become newly interested in the Animal Fund's activities. We've received questions about our activities and words of encouragement.

Kuriyama:

It's great that more people are becoming interested in rescued cats and dogs. With the current restrictions on going out, more people are starting to own pets, but do you feel that the number of adoptions of rescued cats and dogs has increased?

Mr. Sagami:

While the number of people acquiring pets may have increased, I wouldn't say that the number of adoptions for rescued cats and dogs has increased proportionally.

I hear that due to restrictions on adoption events to prevent the spread of infection, some facilities are experiencing a drastic decrease in visitors even when they do hold events. Many animal welfare organizations and individual activists with shelters and protective facilities are devising solutions, such as holding online adoption events, but I feel they are in a difficult situation as adoptions are not progressing as expected.

Also, I've heard that some people who impulsively bought dogs and cats are now giving them up.

Kuriyama:

It's sad that some people acquire pets without much thought. Despite the difficult situation, what is happening to the euthanasia numbers?

Mr. Sagami:

The Ministry of the Environment has not yet released data on the number of euthanized animals, so it's not clear what changes have occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I believe that local governments that are enthusiastic about adoptions are struggling to avoid euthanasia.

Adopt, don't buy

Image courtesy of Doubutsu Kikin

Kuriyama:

The term "rescued cat" has become commonplace, and it seems that more people are adopting rescued cats. What are your thoughts on this?

Mr. Sagami:

That's certainly true. More people are adopting rescued cats.

The Animal Fund has long advocated for "Adopt, don't buy." We will continue to focus on public relations activities so that adopting rescued cats and dogs becomes the norm in society.

Kuriyama:

You are also dedicated to finding foster homes for rescued dogs and cats, aren't you?

Mr. Sagami:

The "Life-Connecting ♥ Dog and Cat Photo and Video Contest" held annually by the Animal Fund also serves as a platform for finding foster homes.

The subjects are dogs and cats adopted from government agencies, animal welfare organizations, or individual volunteers, as well as dogs and cats rescued from the streets. We started this initiative to raise awareness about rescued cats and dogs. We're seeing an increasing number of applications from foster parents who have adopted Sakura cats, community cats, and rescued cats.

Towards zero euthanasia: "Community Cat Version 2.0"

Image courtesy of Doubutsu Kikin

Kuriyama:

You are working to achieve zero euthanasia through TNR. What challenges are you currently facing?

Mr. Sagami:

The importance of Sakura cat TNR is still not widely known. Although community cat activities have been promoted by the Ministry of the Environment for over 10 years, they haven't spread widely.

The reason is clear: the hurdles set by the government for community cats are too high. It might be difficult to use taxpayer money for spaying and neutering homeless cats.

Kuriyama:

The problem cannot be solved without spaying and neutering.

Mr. Sagami:

That's right. That's why we are actively promoting "TNR-first community cat activities" as Community Cat Version 2.0.

Above all, the priority is to spay or neuter stray cats. This prevents kittens from being born, and significantly reduces mating calls and strong-smelling urine spraying during heat cycles. If we spend time discussing, the number of kittens will only increase rapidly.

▲Can reproduce at around 6 months old (Image courtesy of Doubutsu Kikin)

Kuriyama:

If we can't rely on the local government, "Sakura Cat TNR" which provides free spay/neuter surgeries is truly a blessing.

Mr. Sagami:

To succeed with TNR, all three elements must be implemented: "1. Do it immediately," "2. Do all of it," and "3. Continue doing it." I believe that "TNR-first community cat activities" and the efforts of volunteers are what make this possible.

We will continue to support community cat activities next fiscal year to achieve zero euthanasia for cats. 

Kuriyama:

If people understand what Sakura cats are, they'll understand why we feed stray cats in parks. Community cats should be better known, and I want to expand the circle of foster parents and activity support.

Mr. Sagami:

Unfortunately, only a handful of rescued cats find foster homes. The "Sakura Cat Free Spay/Neuter Program" aims to save those cats who don't make it into that handful.

Even if direct support isn't possible, I believe it's important for people to correctly understand what "Sakura cats" are, what TNR is, and the current state of euthanasia.

If you see a Sakura cat in the park, please watch over it gently. 

The unfortunate increase in cats is being addressed by community cat activities through the "Sakura Cat Free Spay/Neuter Program" by the Doubutsu Kikin, and these efforts are bearing fruit.

As Mr. Sagami said, to succeed with TNR, it's crucial to "do it immediately, do all of it, and continue doing it." However, this requires funding. Poponeko also donates a portion of its sales to the Doubutsu Kikin, but much more support is still needed.

Even if you can't own a cat, you can still help them. You can donate from as little as 66 yen a day, so please apply via the page below.

https://www.doubutukikin.or.jp/contribution3/