What are the characteristics of a modern city? One of the most outstanding characteristics of a 21st century metropolis is the never ending bustle, the city that never sleeps. Though this may make the city an exciting and convenient place to be, there are its drawbacks, not the least of which is the pure exhaustion it may bring upon the human body.

Nevertheless the people in the community may appreciate being able to buy a carton of milk 24 hours a day, but when the products being sold are live animals - - -.

Yes, one of the issues in pet businesses that is increasingly gaining public attention is the emergence of pet shops with extraordinarily long business hours. Currently there are approximately 12000 pet shops in Japan that sell live animals.

Of these 23%, according to a government survey, keep their business open (puppies and all) after 7:00PM. Over 80% of these Shops operate at least 9 hours a day, and since a little under half open their businesses between 10:00 and 11:00 AM according to the same survey, it is pretty obvious that the puppies and kittens" stay up quite late ".

Though the Animal Welfare Law states that such businesses must keep animal suffering to a minimum by maintaining "reasonable" standards in terms of the length of display time and the levels of noise and lighting within the display facility, there is very little in terms of concrete restrictions which in turn can make enforcement a difficult thing to do. 16% of the shops stay open beyond 9:00 PM and some of these stay open till the wee hours of the morning.

In recent years there has been an alarming increase in these late-night businesses. Inspectors from private animal welfare charities have reported puppies and kittens kept under bright store lights and blaring back ground music, not to mention the unwanted attention the late night shoppers bestow on the poor exhausted creatures.

Needless to say many of these shops are located in downtown areas where people gather at night to wine and dine, which in turn means excited, slightly tipsy, noisy people frequenting the storefronts.

This may be a phenomenon unique to Japan where big cities are indeed "up all night". An animal welfare issue, most certainly yes. But on the other hand the slightly tipsy shoppers are more emotional, less likely to worry about their bank accounts, and thus much easier to persuade as a customer.

A crafty way of doing business- - - of course (and as usual) at the expense of the poor animal.

According to the oriental zodiac, 2006 is the year of the dog.

This is both a curse and a blessing for all dogs and dog lovers in Japan. Just like with Christmas, this is a great business opportunity for many people. Already stores, shopping centers, and other businesses are advertising "special doggy events" to celebrate the new year. One such advertisement was a "new year lucky dog sale". A department store located in Tochigi prefecture had planned a special sale of dogs, one each from several popular breeds, each one to be sold at the "remarkably reasonable price" of 50 thousand yen.

Since only about 5 "lucky dogs" were available the store had planned a new year lottery to choose the handful of lucky buyers (prospective owners) from all those wanting to purchase the pooches. Needless to say numerous animal welfare charities voiced their doubts about the ethics of such a sales event and as a result the department store ended up canceling the event. But this is merely the tip of the iceberg. There have been flyers around town tempting people to "come see rare breeds", "come play with cute puppies", etc. etc. Moreover numerous TV programs will be aired centering on the doggy theme and one can expect not a few of them to be disrespectful if not outright abusive towards man's best friend.

However, on the other hand, many stores are selling interesting products around the same theme and Japan in 2006 can be a real shopper's paradise for dog lovers. Dishes and household goods in "doggy print", cute stationary, home d_cor, lacquer ware, and even incense burners all with our favorite motif! If you are looking for new and unique additions to your collection of canine goodies Japan is truly the place to be in 2006.

In addition to the shopping, society will certainly be forced to focus on dog issues. That could be a real blessing. Because of the large exposure, the dogs and their lives will attract more public attention.

This will hopefully serve to boost the dog's place in Japanese society. It should at least bring more awareness to the people about some of the problems that dogs and dog owners may be facing in our society today.

A blessing and a curse - - - good luck to all our canine friends. May the year of the dog bring much happiness to man's best friend!

The "Law concerning Service Dogs for Persons with Disabilities" enacted in the year 2002 is up for its third year review. The law, the first of its kind, gives public access to guide dogs, hearing dogs, and mobility service dogs, provided they are officially certified.

The law obligates all public buildings, public transportation, and public housing to accept these service dogs. In the private sector, all institutions accessible to the general public, such as restaurants and hotels must also accept service dogs.

The area where there is no firm legal obligation to allow these dogs is private institutions catering to a specified population. In other words, private company offices, private schools, and privately owned housing are "encouraged " to allow service dog users free access, but the law does not obligate them to do so.

There have been absurd circumstances where schools for visually impaired students would not allow guide dogs belonging to faculty members free access to the school grounds.

Furthermore if an employee of a private firm were to acquire a service dog and if that company were to refuse to allow this employee to come into the office with his dog, the situation could become very tricky under the current law.

A coalition formed by service dog users is currently petitioning for an expansion of the types of institutions where service dog access would become mandatory, The ministry of Health ,Welfare, and Labor is currently in the process of gathering expert opinion concerning this issue. The ministry will call on all related parties to voice their concerns about the law.

Currently in Japan there are 964 guide dogs, 29 mobility service dogs, and some 10 hearing dogs, though the number of service dogs and hearing dogs that have been officially certified maybe somewhat lower.

In any event the review will most likely take place during the next ordinary session of the Diet. Let us hope that more doors will be opened in the hear future.

A few years ago the Pet Food Institute of Japan published some statistics about pet keeping in the country, one aspect of which was very disturbing. The percentage of purebred dogs in Japan is steadily increasing.

It is increasing so rapidly that the number (percentage) has doubled during a 5 year period to reach 57% in 2003. This means, of course, that at least one out of every two dogs you meet out in the street will be a purebred. This is incredibly high, but one becomes quite aware of the truth behind the numbers when walking through the streets of a large city like Tokyo. Dachshunds, Chihuahuas, Corgis, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, the native Shiba inu are amongst the most numerous of the dogs one encounters. Is it only fashion? Are these dogs status symbols? What lies behind such a large demand for purebred dogs? What is the Japanese mentality here? Several things can be said in answer to these questions.

One is the strange Japanese mentality about consumer products. Although pets are not "goods", we can get a glimpse of the Japanese mind at work if we look into how things are chosen and bought by the Japanese consumer. Pricing is a decisive factor here, not cheap, but rather, expensive. Though people in many countries will share the view that high prices reflect good quality, this fact has always had a very strong effect on the Japanese consumer. While being appreciative of low priced, affordable goods, the Japanese consumer has always been obsessed with the idea that high prices will always bring quality, satisfaction, and prestige.

For example the extremely high prices of cosmetics in Japan is partly due to the fact that there is "consumer suspicion" of cheap products.

Going back to dogs, an expensive purebred dog (and they are expensive!) appeals to the Japanese consumer mentality.

One thousand U.S. dollars for a puppy mill dog is an ordinary, "average" price that one would see in any pet shop. Of course the prices can go much higher. "An expensive dog is a good dog" ......... Supposedly.

Another myth generally prevalent in the Japanese mind is that purebred dogs are smarter than "mutts". Though there are many owners who have mix breed dogs, and many people who like and understand them, the general public seem to think that purebreds are highly intelligent and trainable and mixbreeds are not. An obedience class instructor will oftentimes encounter owners who will say "Won't come, no use ......... mine's a mutt".

Unfortunately the media, at times, will play up on this by showing programs where mix breed dogs (pets) are compared to purebred dogs (oftentimes working dogs) simply to amplify their "stupidity". They will also through their shows praise Labradors, German Shepherds and others working as guide, police, and service dogs with an emphasis on pedigrees and "pureness".

Where this idea stems from is uncertain, but perhaps the longtime Japanese belief in their mono-cultural, mono-racial society (though this in itself is not absolutely true) has something to do with it.

Breed preference, both pure and mixed is a personal thing and certainly should not be criticized in any way.

But higher the demand for purebred dogs and the more lucrative the market, the more profitable puppy milling and backyard breeding become. And that in itself is a vice.

Living with crows can be a big problem, especially in large cities. Tokyo has for a long time, been plagued with the issue of large populations of inner city crows. Needless to say, the main problem here is garbage. A large city generates tons of delicious garbage for crows and other creatures to feast on.

The crows being intelligent birds, know exactly where and how to get their favorite food.
And hence, every morning before the garbage trucks arrive the crows are able to pick out the choice portions from the piles of waste that human beings have thrown out. This would not be such a problem if the crows were able to do it without creating an ungodly mess. But unfortunately the crows go about their business of enjoying the feast by tearing through the contents in the streets.

The garbage collection systems in most Japanese cities do not call for the use of garbage pails or cans. The people take out their garbage to designated collection points in the neighborhood in bags designated by their local government. The garbage collectors then make the rounds of these collection points to pick up the bags. Some places have solved their crow issue by switching the garbage collection hours. Instead of early morning some localities ask that their residents take out their garbage for collection at night. This has prevented the crows from invading the piles but the difficulty of keeping a large workforce on the night shift has prevented many local governments from taking this step.

The Tokyo metropolitan government attempted some years ago to set crow traps in parks to try and cull the population. However these traps were highly unpopular both for practical and humane reasons. Pragmatists pointed out that it would be virtually impossible and highly impractical, if not costly, to do any " effective culling " of the crow population. And animal welfare charities cried out about the cruelty of such measures.

As a result the authorities were forced to consider other ways in which to tackle the issue.
Very recently a new and innovative technique has been developed to help the situation.

Researchers have developed a special film that creates on effective visual barrier so that the crows are unable to see what is inside a bag. This new yellow colored garbage bag has been astoundingly successful in preventing crows from tearing through them to get at the edible wastes. Since crows rely heavily on sight to locate their food the new invention has been very effective.

Some communities have reduced their " damage " by 90 percent by asking their residents to use only these bags to throw out the garbage. This is indeed a step in the right direction, a non-invasive method that enables the humans to live with other members of the animal kingdom without creating unnecessary conflict. Poking around in the garbage has made the city crow into a target of annoyance and sometimes hatred.

But perhaps now, if things work out, the people will cease to regard this fellow creature as a nuisance and learn to accept their existence.

Animal businesses will certainly have a tougher time under the newly revised Animal welfare Law. But the registration of such businesses is not the only important aspect of the revision.

First of all the maximum fine for animal abusers has been raised from 300 thousand yen to 500 thousand yen. This is about five thousand U.S. dollars, an amount that gives some depth and meaning to the criminality of abusing animals. When the law was first made, the fine was a mere 30 thousand yen so we have certainly come a long way.

Another point that should be mentioned pertains to the worldwide issue of people keeping exotic and sometimes dangerous species of animals as pets. The revised law stipulates that for designated species there will be a national regulation regarding its ownership and keeping. This means that for certain animals if a person wishes to keep it he/she must receive a permit from the authorities to do so. The new regulation is mainly aimed at keeping the public safe from dangerous animals.

One more point that should be mentioned is the fact that in the revised law specific mention has been made of "animals used for scientific purposes".

Needless to say, this points to animal experimentation. Whereas before there was no mention of anything pertaining to this particular area of concern, the revision has brought forth a whole new area to be covered within the Animal Welfare Law.

The section pertaining to lab animals mentions the governing concept of the scientific use of animals to be replacement, reduction, and refinement. As we all know the 3R's of animal experimentation is a universal concept endorsed by scientists throughout the world. It is thus with great enthusiasm that the members of Japanese society concerned about the welfare of animals welcomes the appearance of these words in the revision. Though this part of the law is neither regulatory nor specific, the fact that lab animals appeared thus in the revised law is indeed a greet leap forward for the welfare of animals in Japan.

The law has not been revised to perfection but significant steps have been taken and a" fifth year review clause" is included once more giving all of us a chance to move forward once again in the not-too-distant future.

Wish us luck!

Summer in Japan is the season for insect lovers. Believe it or not insects have been loved as pets for a long time in Japan. Needless to say the "attachment" or "bonding" factor here is quite different from what we see with dogs and cats, but insects have, in Japanese culture, been something more than mere scientific specimens or collector's items. One of the reasons insects were kept in the old days was for their "singing".

The companionship they offered through the chirping sounds they made was a comfort to the people of old on many a summer's eve. Of course these companion insects were those that had the "ability to sing", like crickets, but the most popular by far were the "bell ringing insects" or Suzumushi (homoeogryllus japonicus). Many people still keep these suzumushi to enjoy their songs that sound like tinkling bells. In fact there are suzumushi lovers that breed them as a hobby. These people keep their insects oftentimes in a glass terrarium and allow them to lay eggs within. They will then take the utmost care not to destroy these eggs and by early summer the following year, long after the parents have died off the new generation of suzumushi will appear to continue "the song". There are people who have thus continued to keep generations of suzumushi going in their own home.

Other than those insects that sing for us, Japanese children have traditionally kept large beetles, like the kabutomushi a smaller version of the Atlas beetle or the Goliath beetle. Children would typically catch these beetles in the wild and keep them as "summer pets". During the summer months most super markets and department stores will have special corners where beetle-houses, beetle food (a jellied, syrup-like substance) and other necessary supplies to keep your pet beetle happy are sold.

One of the major issues pertaining to the keeping of these insects is the large businesses that have sprung up to cater to those who prefer to take the quicker route, i.e. those who would like to buy these live bugs off the counter. Animal welfare organizations find it extremely frustrating when during the summer months, stores start stacking boxes and boxes of insect houses with their inhabitants (both the chirpers and the large beetles) on their counters in the toy department. Toy department..?! Yes, toy department. Are we trying to teach our children that these living beings are actually nothing more than little plastic models to be bought, broken, and thrown out as we please? Something that started out as a way of feeling a oneness with nature has turned into a commercial endeavor that emphasizes just the opposite, that people can and will exploit other living beings in whatever way they please.

Sad...but true in many more ways than we realize.

On June 15, 2005 the proposed revision to the Japanese animal welfare law was approved by the National Diet. The newly revised law will come into force sometime between now and June 15, 2006. It will most likely come into force sometime next spring. One of the major points in the revision is the new registration rule for pet shops and other "animal businesses". According to the revised law all such businesses will be required by law to "register" with the authorities.

Upon registration these businesses will each be given a registration number that must be displayed. If any animal business is seen to be engaged in questionable enterprises or are evaluated as being markedly sub-standard, their registration may be cancelled and they would then no longer be able to operate. This is indeed a big step forward in the right direction. Pet shops and other animal businesses have been more or less allowed to operate as they please for too long. It is high time that they be required to follow certain rules. Another point that must be mentioned concerning the regulation of "animal businesses" is the fact that "cyber shops", i.e. the internet sales of live animals, will also be included under those businesses to be regulated. This is also an immense step forward as there has been much trouble in Japan lately concerning pets sold via the net.

Private petting zoos will also be included in "animal businesses". This should serve to raise the awareness of the owners of such enterprises that they are just as responsible as those owners of businesses that actually sell the live animals.

The new law also states that for every establishment, the businesses must appoint an "animal handling supervisor" who must attend training courses given by the local government bodies.

The effects of this new law in changing the current conditions are yet to be seen. The Japanese animal welfare organizations are eagerly awaiting the day of enforcement.

According to recent statistics released by an industrial organization, there are currently a little over 1.1 million cats being kept as pets in Japan. Furthermore, surveys have shown that approximately 70% of these pets are kept as "indoor cats", meaning they spend all their time inside the confines of their owner's home. This is good news for animal control officers, public health officials, and animal welfare organization that have been campaigning continuously for the indoor keeping of pet cats.

Needless to say, indoor cats are more healthy and safe and of course cause fewer problems in the neighborhood. Private surveys have shown that one of the largest complaints that cat owners seem to receive from their neighbors is their cat intruding into private property. This coupled with the issue of toileting is one of the main reasons that cats and their owners become the target for public criticism. In addition, such surveys have shown that cats have been the cause of other community complaints such as destruction of property, i.e. digging in gardens, walking on and scratching the surface of parked automobiles etc. Needless to say, these problems would never occur if the cats were not given free run of the outdoors. The fact that a majority of the cats are now indeed being kept in such a way is most encouraging to note for those who have for a long time been concerned with issues of cat abuse related to problems their behaviors have caused in the community.

On the other hand, surveys have shown major cat owner concerns to be illness, obesity, and stress. One can assume that the latter two, obesity and stress, may be connected to the fact that many cats are how kept inside the house not getting as much exercise and "adventure" as their free-roaming counterparts. However, many owners now state that they "play more with their pet cats" in order to relieve them of their stress. Which, of course, means that the owners pay more attention to their cats. Gone are the days when the cat, as an independent creature, came and went as he/she pleased.

Perhaps we are now in an age (at least in this country) where cats are becoming more and more an active, integral part of the family like their fellow companion animal, the dog. There are those cat lovers who lament over the fact that this infringement on the freedom of cats is indeed a growing trend. But if the cats are safer, live longer, and are given more attention by their owners who is to lose?

Once again Japan is entering the season when bears will appear in human communities to forage for food. These bears go into hibernation without being able to partake of adequate nourishment and as a result come out of their dens early and very hungry. With the continual destruction of forests as well as replantation with "non-bear feeding" trees, the indigenous bears of Japan can no longer find enough acorns to satisfy their needs. Many people state that without the replenishment of natural foods, the bears will continue to return to human communities even if they are caught and released back into the mountains.

There are organizations that are calling for donations of acorns throughout the country to sprinkle in the forest around bear habitats. Though these efforts do indeed have some impact on the movement of bears it is not enough to keep them happy in the woods. The bears still appear around human communities breaking into garbage, bins, pig and poultry farms, and storage areas for farm products, especially fruits.

In the 3 prefectures located on the western end of the mainland, Hiroshima, Shimane, and Yamaguchi, 259 bears were caught in 2004 of which only 27 were successfully returned to the mountains, 232 bears were, therefore, killed. The estimated number of bears inhabiting the 3 prefectures is 480 individuals plus or minus some 200. Obviously if the bears continue to be killed at the current rate they will very soon become extinct. Japan is the only country in the world where bears can be found within the boundaries of cities with a population of over 1 million and the country should make an effort to ensure that this remains so.

The mating season, May through early July, and the end of July when bears become undernourished are the two most dangerous times of the year when people may encounter and be attacked by bears.

Since ancient times the Japanese people have believed that "bears are the forest". Let us hope that this belief will keep promoting viable programs to preserve these animals.

Animal health technicians, veterinary nurses, veterinary technicians...whatever you call the profession, these people are very active in animal clinics in Japan today. These veterinary nurses originally were trained on the job. A veterinarian's wife or a clinic clerk would help the veterinarian care for animals and would support him/her as needed in medical procedures as well. But gradually the need arose to educate and train people specifically for the particular job they were doing in a more systematic manner. This resulted in the founding of vocational schools to train veterinary technicians.

These schools typically offered a 2-year curriculum during which students would learn the basics of animal healthcare and handling to enable them to work as assistants in veterinary clinics. There are many such vocational schools in Japan today catering mainly to high school graduates looking for a career in the animal business. Though not typical and few in number veterinary nursing is offered at the junior college and college level as well.

However probably over 90% of the veterinary nurses are still being educated in vocational schools throughout the country. Many of these vocational schools offer courses not only in nursing but also in dog training and grooming.

One thing that has been an issue for many years is the certification of these assistants. There is no national or prefectual (state) certification of veterinary technicians. This means that anyone may still be employed at a clinic and trained on the job. This also means that quality control is very hard to undertake. Individual associations such as the Japan Small Animal Veterinary Association and the Japan Animal Hospital Association have set up their own certification programs. These asssociations conduct their own testing to ensure that the nurses certified in their name meet certain standards. But over and beyond that there is no national standard.

At the same time, if one were to call for and formulate a plan for creating single, government sanctioned certification system for veterinary nurses, what would become of all those nurses out there in the field already assisting the veterinarians. Would there be a grandfather clause to accommodate them? Would they have to sit for the examinations to be "re-certified"? Or, would there be something else? And, what about the certification standards? Would those organizations already doing their own certifying be willing to compromise with other groups in order to make a national standard? These questions become harder and harder to answer as more and more vocational schools for veterinary nurses come into being, and more and more "animal-related" private/voluntary certification programs are set up.

The more schools and certification programs are set up, the higher the probability becomes of running into a "sub-standard" one. And thus at the end of the day the student seeking to enroll in a veterinary nursing curriculum may find him/herself paying for courses that may not be worth the money, and end up being victimized.

It is hard to find a way to tackle the problem of whether or not an official certification system should be set for veterinary technicians simply because the field has been left to grow as it pleases for too long. With multiple programs and certification procedures, with large numbers of veterinary nurses already out in the field it seems as though it may be too late to even attempt to put one in place. But the need is there, both for quality control and for the purpose of instilling professional pride in those people who choose to support the veterinary profession.

The issue of social unrest and economic woes has hit many countries throughout the world. Though Japan is considered to be one of the luckier nations, problems are certainly not "non-existant". Pet-keeping by the homeless population has increased dramatically in many countries over the last decade and Japan is no exception to this trend. The keeping of pets by homeless people without the proper care and sanitation can become a serious public health issue not to mention the huge implications it has in terms of animal welfare and the humane care of animals.

One of the main problems seen in the homeless population that live with animals is that of spay and neutering, or the lack thereof. In Japan there have been many cases in which a homeless owner will take in stray cats as pets and then allow them to breed unlimitedly. This increases the street cat population that remain essentially unvaccinated and thus a risk to infection control in the entire cat population.

Recently the problem took on a new dimension when a homeless man living in a riverside area of Tokyo was found to be the owner of over 30 rabbits. The rabbits came to the attention of the authorities when maintenance discovered the large group to be running around free along the bank digging large nest holes in the embankment. The authorities realized that a further increase in the rabbit population in this limited area could seriously jeopardize the structure of the dike/embankment making the section vulnerable should a natural disaster strike. The authorities then discovered that the rabbits "belonged" to a single man who had been living on the riverbank for the past 2 years, He was given 7 rabbits from a friend sometime ago but soon realized that the 7 had created a large family numbering over 30 individuals. The man is quoted as having referred to his rabbits as "family" and will not give them up easily. But at the same time he was "surprised" and also "did not know" that they would breed so rapidly. The public works sector of the local authorities is not equipped to deal with such issues and the only emergency measure they were able to take was to fence off an area around the man's shack and demand that he keep his rabbits inside the fence, not allowing them to roam freely along the riverbank. Obviously this is merely the first step towards a long-term solution to the issue.

As can be seen from this recent incident as well as from others in the past the most effective step that must be taken as soon as is possible is to spay/neuter the pets that are being kept by the homeless population. The ignorance of the owners about proper care and population control must be addressed immediately. Only them can the pertinent authorities as well as welfare groups move on to solve the more difficult issue of whether or not these animals should remain with their homeless owners. The human rights and animal welfare implications of this problem call for much discussion before proper solutions can be suggested.

For the spay/neuter programs needed immediately as well a for the more long term issue of proper care including veterinary medical interventions the question that must be answered is "who will pay for the services?"

Animal welfare charities in other countries have been giving help in this area. Though the efforts have yet been on a smaller scale, Japanese animal welfare groups are also trying to lend a helping hand in this area. Should the welfare of the pet animal be included when welfare authorities aid homeless people? Or, are animals an added expense that public funds should not be allocated for? Is keeping a companion animal a basic human right that should not be violated even when the human being is having difficulties taking care of him/herself? Can animal welfare groups take on another new and growing area of concern without jeopardizing their current rescue rehoming efforts? Are these animals truly happy to be living with their owners? These are but a few of the questions that must be answered in order to tackle this daunting problem.

Veterinary education in Japan has been a topic of this column in the past. This month we will take a look at some of the facts and figures surrounding the system of veterinary education in this country.

Currently there are a little over 30 thousands licensed veterinarians in Japan, almost 90% of them involved in some form of veterinary medical work. The current trend shows an ever increasing number of small animal practitioners, whereas in the early 1980's there were only about 4,000 veterinarians throughout the country involved in small animal practice the number in recent years has approached the 10,000 mark.

There are 16 veterinary schools in Japan distributed amongst the islands of Hokkaido, Kyushu, and the mainland, Honshu. These veterinary schools graduate approximately 1000 students every year, a little less than 50% of which are women. Of the approximately 1,000 graduates, about one half move on to small animal practice either in the form of becoming employed at an existing practice or establishing a new practice on their own. It may seem strange to those coming from other systems, but a new graduate from a 6-year curriculum may open up an independent practice on his or her own after having passed the national license examinations. Needles to say the 6-year curriculum starts from the freshman year in a veterinary school that are open to admission for new high school graduates. This means that an 18-year-old high school graduate may sit for the entrance examinations of a veterinary college and upon entrance will start immediately on the 6-year curriculum. If things go smoothly this student will graduate 6 years later at 24 years of age and sit for the national examination to obtain a veterinary license. And...if successful this person may go ahead and open his/her very own clinic!

Of course most of the new graduates will opt to go into an internship at one of the universities or at an independent clinic before trying to stand up on their own, but the possibility is always there. Throughout Japan there are currently a little over 9,000 facilities involved in small animal practice. However the facilities are not evenly distributed.

There are large concentrations of facilities in and around the Tokyo metropolitan area, Kanagawa prefecture where the city of Yokohama is located, and in the Osaka area the business center for western Japan. Tokyo has more than 1,000 facilities whereas there are prefectures with only 30~40 practices. The discrepancy in the number of facilities has a large impact on "competition" which in turn is a large factor in boosting quality. This may be an issue that veterinary associations may need to address in the very near future.

According to the oriental calendar, the sign of the zodiac for this year is the Rooster. Stores throughout the country are filled with bird motifs. Birds appear on everything from decorations to household goods. Of course we can expect special exhibitions of "live birds" to pop up in zoos and parks everywhere, but hopefully there will not be too much abuse and over-exploitation of our feathered friends.

Having started out with birds, we now move on to look at the recent trends seen in our canine companions in Japan. Currently there are several breeds that are extremely popular and virtually seen on every street corner. Chihuahuas, dachshunds, and corgis are found in many households and their popularity does not seem to be declining.

Though sometime ago, Chihuahuas were popularized by a T.V. commercial character called "Ku-chan", the other two breeds have no direct connection to a particular T.V. character nor to any special event or story pertaining to them. However on any given day, in the park or elsewhere, one is bound to run into these dogs.......and not just one or two! And quite naturally, as a result of their popularity, the health and quality of individual dogs of these breeds is becoming seriously jeopardized.

In dachshunds, for example, there have been individuals who are seriously overshot to the extent that some of the teeth in the upper jaw have dug into the gums of the lower jaw due to malocclusion causing lacerations and of course, pain. Problems of this sort, however, cannot be detected easily in a small puppy, which means that the person who buys the dog is usually totally unaware that he or she is buying a dog that may need serious medical attention in the future. Needless to say it is up to the selling party to control the quality of the animals they handle. But since more than half of the sellers, about 70%, buy their "ware" at auctions where puppy millers bring their products, this may be impossible. So, do the new owners complain? They certainly do, but when they do the sellers will point to the "fine print " in the sales contract that says some unbelievable things.

Though not all such contracts are the same, typically they would contain clauses that specify a certain time frame within which a complaint must be filed, usually shorter than a year, which means that certain genetic disorders may not become apparent "soon enough" to file such a complaint. Another typical clause would be one which states that "compensation" for damages (medial problems etc.) will not be awarded in money, i.e. veterinary expenses will not be paid, but rather in the form of exchanging a "faulty product" (the animal) with another one of the same type (breed).

What this means is that if you get a dog that is ill, disabled, or otherwise "unsatisfactory" you may return the dog to the shop and they will exchange it for, hopefully, a healthier individual. So, if a new owner happens to get a puppy that has health problems and is doing poorly, the contract says the best thing (actually the only thing) to do is to drop the poor puppy off at the pet shop and pick up another one and, of course, in the process forget all about the poor suffering creature who spent time in your home perhaps cuddling up to you and following you around for sometime. The only other choice is to take on all the problems the dog has or may have at your own expense. Most pet shops will have a sales contract of some sort that the new owner must sign in order to buy the dog and for want of the cute cuddly thing in front of their eyes most will do so without giving much thought to the "fine print".

The lawyers say that depending on the wording some of these contracts can be successfully contested in court because legally they may infringe upon the basic rights a consumer must be offered in any commercial deal. But as Japanese society as a whole is still unaccustomed to law suits and the legal system in this country is still considered time and money consuming it will be some time yet before many pet owners begin to assert their rights.

The 10 International conference of the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations, IAHAIO, was held this October in Glasgow. As many of you may already know this association brings together many different national and international organizations that are involved in some form in promoting or researching the human animal connection. Animal assisted therapy, humane education, animals in society and public policy issues, service animals, animal welfare, the social psychological, and philosophical aspects of human animal relations, are but some of the topics discussed in various sessions throughout the conference.

The international conference of IAHAIO is held every 3 years in various parts of the world, the last one before Glasgow being held in Rio de Janeiro in 2001. The next conference in 2007 will come to Asia for the first time in the history of IAHAIO. The 11th International Conference of IAHAIO will be held in Tokyo, Japan, in October, 2007. Though the conditions surrounding animals vary considerably between the different countries of Asia, in the eyes of the rest of the world Asia tends to be lumped together as one entity. 2007 would be a wonderful opportunity for the various nations throughout Asia to gather to present their respective issues concerning human animal interrelations. Tokyo is a convenient site readily accessible to most Asian-Pacific countries, much more so than the previous conference locations. Thus we can expect a large turnout from areas that up till now have not been represented at the IAHAIO meetings.

The conference venue will be the KEIO PLAZA HOTEL located in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, very close to the seat of the Tokyo metropolitan Government. The hotel was chosen for its outstanding record in providing access and top quality service to service dog users since the days before the enactment of the service dog access law.

The actual conference will be organized locally by 5 different organizations that hold membership in the IAHAIO Board, The 2 national members, the Japan Animal Hospital Association and the Society for the Study of Human Animal Relations, and the 3 affiliate members the Japanese Service Dog Resource Academy, the Companion Animal Information and Research Center, and Hill's Colgate, Japan. These 5 organizations have joined forces to form a local organizing committee. Because all 5 organizations cater to different populations, the joint committee should prove instrumental in bringing out a large body of local attendees.

For many people outside of Asia, the region still remains somewhat mysterious. Are there shelters in Asia? What kinds of pets are popular? What are the social issues surrounding animals in Asia?
Do the people of Asia, have a different outlook on human animal interrelations? There is, of course, more than one answer to all of these questions. 2007 should be a wonderful opportunity for those curious about animals in Asia to come out and take a look for themselves, not to mention the fact that IAHAIO conferences always invite renowned speakers from around the globe to give the most interesting presentation on multivarious topics. So mark your calendars and start saving! We hope to see you all in 2007.

The rabies outbreak on the European continent has emphasized for us once again, the importance of preventive measures. Japan has a Rabies Prevention Law under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor. The law came into effect in 1950. Under this law owners must register their pet dogs and also must vaccinate their dogs yearly against rabies. Official tags or certification of vaccination are then given to the owner for the dog to wear at all times. The Rabies Prevention Law also places the responsibility on local health/animal control authorities to catch and impound any stray dogs and then to euthanize them after a certain holding period. There was a serious outbreak of rabies in Japan in the immediate post war period and the law was designed to enable the public health authorities to control such an epidemic.

Because there is an official registration system for dogs in Japan under this law it is relatively easy for the government to assess the number of pet dogs kept in the country. As of the spring of 2003 the official count according to this registry was 6,084,731 dogs. Unfortunately not all dog owners are law abiding. There are those that feel that it is too much trouble to register their pets, those that disagree with the idea of vaccinating their dogs every year, and there are those that have simply forgotten their legal obligations. In any event, though the official count is 6 million, it is said that there are perhaps a little over 10 million dogs in the country at the present. Despite the fact that there is a penalty for non-registration and non-vaccination, law evaders are seldom caught and punished. This is simply due to the fact that it is very difficult to effectively "police" the situation. It would take too much time and effort to check up on each dog owned in every community throughout the country to see whether or not they have been officially registered, not to mention the manpower and costs that would be incurred.

However because of the extreme mobility of animals in our current world the risk of a rabies infested individual making its way into Japan is indeed very real. Experts say that domestic cats as well as dogs should be vaccinated to minimize the dangers of a wide spread epidemic should this happen. Japan is a country about the size of the state of California in the United States. But within this small land space the country carries a total population of about 127 million. The country is divided into 47 prefectures within which are over 3,000 cities and townships, each of which is equipped with the facilities to accept the registration of dogs. The population density is a risk in itself when thinking about diseases, but the widespread network of government offices makes registration of dogs a fairly simple task for the dog owning citizen. Putting two and two together we should be able to find some solution to the issue of boosting the number of registered dogs.

The subject of pet shops and animal businesses in Japan has been brought up over and again. Though the issues faced by the country in this area are not unique and may be seen in other places that certainly is no excuse to let them remain unresolved. Of the several serious problems, one that is increasingly becoming the focus of public concern are the auctions, especially for puppy mill dogs that are the major source of animals for most pet shops in Japan.

There are several auction sites throughout the country where the puppy millers will take their newborn purebred dogs to sell to the highest bidders. It is literally a "wholesale market" where pet shop staff come to buy "their ware" much like a grocer would at a wholesale market for farm products. Since the puppies must be "cute and appealing" to the end customer when lined up at the pet shops, it is essential that they not be too advanced in age at the point of sales. This means that the puppies must leave their mother far earlier than the minimum of 50 ~ 60 days that any sensible dog person would recommend, in order for there to be enough time for them to be transported to the auction site, sold and then once again be transported to their respective point of sales. Early separation from mother and litter, being transported multiple times, being displayed and handled at the auction site, then finally being displayed at the pet shop, sometimes, believe it or not, in shops that stay open way past mid-night, are all serious stress factors that can add up to make a puppy very, very sick.

But unfortunately, latest statistics have revealed that close to 70% of pet shops that sell puppies, purchase these puppies through this notorious auction route. Why? Because they are looking for quantity and low prices, and not for quality. And how can they afford to do that as entrepreneurs? The answer is simple. They can do so because there are consumers who will choose their companion dogs for outward looks and affordable (or rather "cheap!") prices. In other words without a viable consumer education program pet shops will continue to sell whatever puppies they can lay their hands on, auctions will thrive, and puppy mills will carry on with their businesses.

Fortunately, however, the national animal welfare law will come up for review during the next session of the Diet and some sort of restriction on pet businesses, be it a certification or registration procedure for legitimacy, is one of the main points most likely to be considered as a part of the revisions that may take place. If this does indeed happen, then the "sellers", at least, will have to meet certain criteria or conditions in order to stay in businesses. How strict these conditions will be is, of course, an entirely different matter. At the same time it is imperative that consumer education take place in some form, preferably a form that is far more aggressive than what has been done in the past. Needless to say, aggressive here does not necessarily mean "militant", it means rather a "louder" and wider out reach program to the end consumers about what to look for when seeking a quality companion animal. Without this education a change in the law would not be as effective. Though the analogy may be bad, "illegitimate organizations make fortunes out of contraband because the demand is there" ...... future owners are the only ones that can truly put a stop to puppy milling.

Cats in Japan symbolized many things. But perhaps the most famous myth about cats in Japan is that of the "maneki-neko". "Neko" is cat in the Japanese language and "maneki" literally means to invite in. The maneki-neko is a good luck cat that is supposed to call prosperity into the household. It is usually depicted as a bi-colored (black and white) cat with a red collar sitting on its haunches with one paw lifted inviting in good luck. It may be holding a "koban", an elliptically shaped gold coin used in feudal Japan, or it may be depicted with a wooden box, the "senryo-bako" a box containing one thousand "ryo's" worth of the gold coins. Maneki-neko figures can be found all over, in shops, offices, and private households. Needless to say the maneki-neko is one of the most famous and popular good luck charms in Japan. Despite the fact that the cat was never given a place in the oriental animal horoscope, where other companion animals like the dog, the rabbit, and the bird can be found, it has still managed to "rise to stardom" as a well-known good luck charm.

So, are cats truly good luck symbols in Japan? Well, the truth is that there is another darker side to cats in Japanese legend. Cats are also famous in Japan for transforming themselves into what is known as "bake-neko", ghost-cat or monster-cat. There is an oriental fairly tale in Japan where a cat who drank the blood of its murdered owner transformed itself into a horrible monster to take revenge on the culprit. This famous tale has been instrumental in formulating the image of the cat as a "vengeful soul" in the minds of the Japanese people. It has also given the cat strong spiritual powers making it into a very special animal, more complex in nature than the dog.

This very interesting dichotomy in the role of the cat in Japanese culture may or may not be unique to this country. But it probably stems from the fact that the cat, indeed, is somewhat more difficult for humans to understand because of the difference in their social structure and hence in their awareness of "relationships" as compared to the more gregarious dog whose social structure is perhaps more "human" in nature. In any event, the cat in Japan is a very unique character, both lucky and unlucky, or rather "frightening". It would be interesting to see if other cultures view their cats in a similar manner.

Japan is a rabies-free country, the last case having been reported in 1957. As a result it is of paramount interest to quarantine officials, as well as to the Japanese public, that all animals entering the country be "clean".

Unfortunately for Japan there is a growing demand for purebred puppies in the pet market and many businesses are now resorting to imported puppies in order to meet the needs. This of course means that more and more dogs are now being shipped into Japan directly from rabies-infected areas. Mainland China is an area of great concern as more than a thousand deaths occur each year from rabies.

In order to keep the risk of bringing rabies into the country at a minimum, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries is planning to install a new vaccination requirement, a system where a double vaccination will be required for cats and dogs being brought in from non-rabies free areas. This two tier system will require the first rabies vaccine to be given to the animal at the earliest 3 months of age, no earlier, and the second vaccination to be done at least one month after the first. After the double vaccination these animals will be required to be kept in the country of origin for 6 months before actually being shipped into Japan. Obviously, including this final incubation period, the entire process of exporting an animal to Japan would require at least 10 months when this new system comes into place, which then bring us to another hidden and perhaps larger benefit of the measure.

It will no longer be possible to bring in very young puppies and kittens into Japan. The sales of very young animals in pet shops has been a serious issue for all animal welfare groups in the country and should this new vaccination regime come into effect at least one source of young animals will no longer be operative, though this will not put a stop on the sales practices of local puppy mills. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries will also require the animals (dogs and cats) to be microchipped when imported, the information there in including the individual animal's age and birthplace, as well as its vaccination records. The new system and its requirements should be a welcome improvement to the current one and would most certainly change parts of the pet business for the better.

However as mentioned earlier, the transport and sales of very young animals will still continue if domestic laws regulating such practices are not written to address the issue. Furthermore, as the new system will not apply to regions that are free of rabies, its effect will not be as wide reaching as could be hoped for. For example, one of the largest exporters of purebred dogs to Japan is the neighboring island of Taiwan, which obviously will be exempt from the double vaccination scheme. Young purebred puppies will continue to flow into the profitable Japanese market from Taiwan regardless of whether or not the new system is implemented. Though the government is taking a step in the right direction, the media and society as a whole should not be fooled into thinking that this new system is capable of making a major contribution to the various issues surrounding the import of pets into the Japanese market.

With the rapid spread of internet use in various areas of our lives we are seeing an increase in Japan of animal (pet) sales via the net. Though the sale of pet animals in pet shops has always been a problem in this country, there has been an alarming rise in the use of internet sites for the sale of dogs and cats. Photographs of cute puppies and kittens attract the would-be buyers who visit the sites. These prospective buyers are oftentimes, fooled into believing that the animals appearing on the display are indeed those that will be delivered, when in fact the displays are truly merely "displays". There are several issues that stand out in the sales of animals over the net in this country.

One problem concerns the age of the animals being sold. Though this problem pertains to pet shops as well, it looks as though it is more pronounced among internet sales. The dogs and cats, or more precisely puppies and kittens are sold too young. Often the information given is false placing the animals in a higher age bracket when in reality they are too young to be taken away from their mothers.
As a result of this the second problem arises, that of the puppies and kittens becoming ill due to the stress of being transported. This issue is also more pronounced in the case of internet sales. The puppies and kittens arrive in terribly weakened conditions simply because of the fact that they were unable to bear the stresses associated with being transported. Another problem related to internet sales of pet animals is the lack of any responsible explanations by the seller to the buyer on the "product" being sold. In other words the seller who should be responsible for giving the proper, necessary information on these animals often does not live up to this responsibility. Hence the buyer, or the new owner is often unable to receive the information necessary to understand and care for his new pet.

Though many people are finally beginning to see the glitches in such a sales system for live animals, there are still many others who are charmed by the cute, cuddly creatures staring back at them from the screen. Putting aside all the aforementioned problems in internet sales, perhaps the largest and the most frustrating problem is the fact that the sale of pets over the net will work rapidly in increasing the number of impulsive, thoughtless, uninformed, superficial pet ownership. We certainly have enough of this already and can really do without the "helpful" booster effect of the net!