Animal Friends supports ARK
Tuesday, 15 March 2011 12:04
I’m sure that by now, with all the news coverage and 24 hour press that the recent disaster in Japan is on everyone’s mind. The images and videos being shown are depicting a tragic loss of homes and a way of life, completely unexpected and terrible to watch. The news teams are doing their best to report on how many people are missing or dead, and providing up to date knowledge on the various issues still being resolved, but Animal Friends is worried about the lack of coverage for the poor animals that have no doubt been affected as well.
Not only will the wildlife have been affected tremendously by the tsunami, but any animals in captivity such as zoos, or even pets left in homes or tied up will have been left to survive by themselves and, in the face of such a devastating force of nature, we are saddened to think of how many may have lost their lives.
Whilst the media has stayed with reporting the damage and human loss, we are gladdened to see that already some charities are stepping up and taking care of the animals. The Search Dog Foundation is one such charity, which trains abandoned and rescued dogs to become actual rescue dogs, helping others in times of crisis. They have sent six canine search teams to Ofunatio City in the north east of Japan, which will help with the search and rescue of survivors, both human and animal, throughout the ruined city. This is a fantastic show of the support we can give to Japan in their time of need.
A local charity in Japan that has stepped up to tackle the effects of the disaster is Animal Refuge Kansai, which has centres in Kansai, Osaka and Tokyo which are perfectly situated to provide relief aid, care and shelter, as well as a foster family to those animals who are now stray or unable to return to their families. ARK has released a statement on their website regarding the recent state of affairs in Japan:
‘ARK will accept as many animals as possible, those made homeless from the TOHOKU-PACIFIC earthquake and tsunami which occurred on 11th March. Any donations will be used for the animals made homeless in this terrible disaster. Thank you all for your concern and help. We will do our best for these animals.’
This is a fantastic charity with a history of going above and beyond to help those animals in need during times of hardship. Animal Friends Pet Insurance is proud to support ARK, donating £2,500 to give ARK the resources it needs to find and care for those affected; Animal Friends donates to those charities we feel will be most helped by the donations, and we truly believe that ARK is a prime example of the charities we donate to. We understand, however, that the effects of this disaster may continue long after the initial clear up, and we hope you will consider donating to this cause as well to help ARK with their goal of rescue and rehoming those in need.
For more information regarding the clear up after the earthquake and supporting the potential influx of thousands of homeless animals you can read the official Appeal for Help on the Animal Refuge Kansai website.
Author - Josh Nevill, Animal Friends Blogger
