Hachiko Coalition: Animal Rescuers Defy Orders, Enter Exclusion Zone to Rescue Starving Pets

On April 21, the Japanese government decided to begin enforcing a "no-go" policy within the 20km radiation evacuation zone inside Fukushima Prefecture <1>. This decision prevents access inside this zone by private Animal Search and Rescue (SAR) teams who were previously evacuating domesticated animals inside the zone.

Estimates provided by the Fukushima Prefecture government place the number of registered dogs within the nine municipalities under evacuation orders at more than 5800 <2>. This figure does not include the many cats or unregistered dogs. Other local animal welfare groups have placed this estimate closer to 10,000 dogs. Many of these animals were left at home when the evacuation took place.

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but they will likely regret this in the long run.

Bless them and the precious animal companions they are saving.