Animal Rescue

What happened to the Animals

Thoughts are starting to turn to the animal victims of the quake and the tsunami. There was another live rescue out on the ocean, way out to sea. Again the Japanese Self-Defense Force ships found a dog alive on a roof top miles out to sea yesterday. They saved him and fed him. He seemed fairly well. It was thought that he had somehow gotten drinking water from the rain, while out at sea.

But, at a large 'sea world' type aquarium, 750 species, or 200,000 individual fish had died because the water in their huge tank had gotten too cold. The larger animals, like seals, were being sent to other aquariums.  

Zoos are running out of food, but they are now being supplied by other zoos around Japan.Their keepers are living at the zoos trying to care for them as best they can.

Dolphins were found dead 6 k inland in some areas. They must have been carried in by the tsunami. Many other deaths must have occurred out at sea. Little is known at this time about the effect of the tsunami on the fishing in the area, one of the richest in the world and Japan.

Pets are usually not allowed into the refugee centers. Some don't like them or are allergic to them. So people who were able to save their pets or who went back for them later have a hard road to go down. Some stay with their pet in their car - and suffer from "economy syndrome" (something you can suffer from if you sit in a tight space, like an airplane, for too long). Some go every day, back home, where their pet is waiting to feed them there. Many pet hotels and pet hospitals are full and can not offer much more help to those in need.

One expert in the field said that a new way of thinking is needed to handle pet care and pet emergencies in the future.