Dr Miharu Yamaji
April 2010
Miharu Yamaji graduated from National Gifu University in Japan in 1987 as a veterinary surgeon and has been recently working for the Shiga Prefecture as an official working in animal control.
She volunteers for the Japan Cat Network and has come to The Mayhew Animal Home to learn more about how a small animal welfare shelter functions and to learn more advanced methods of companion animal sterilisation.
Japan Cat Network
Japan Cat Network is a registered NGO dedicated to trap, neuter and return (TNR) as a means of helping Japan’s stray and abandoned cat population. JCN was founded by Susan Roberts and David Wybenga, who have been living in Japan, teaching English, and helping cats since 1993. They started the group after having had success helping the cats in their own community through TNR, a method of population control in which stray cats are trapped for neutering and returned to the location. When they first arrived in town there were very sad cases of sick and dying cats, all over the community, and they found this completely intolerable. After researching, and deciding on TNR as the best plan, they got started. TNR has worked wonders in their community. The remaining cats are healthier, look better, cause less problems in the community and are no longer reproducing. They realised that this could work all over Japan, and also thought how much easier it would have been to get started if there had been a group to turn to for support. JCN is that group and try to help others who want to start TNR programs in their communities.
Animal Welfare in Japan
In England, dogs are sold at pet shops or large department stores irregularly. In Japan, they are displayed in show windows on high streets, encouraging shoppers to stop by, and take one home, often just like hand bags or accessories. Such an attitude of retailers, which treats dogs as a commodity, is an underlining cause that leads to people abandoning their dogs.
Many people in Japan purchase dogs, because they instantly fall in love with cute puppies in show windows. People are often lonely, especially in large cities like Tokyo. They purchase dogs to keep them company, to not feel alone when they come back from work. Such people tend to buy dogs, without learning basic needs of their dogs, their personalities, how much exercise they require, their diet and overall how to live with them.
As a result, many dogs grow untrained, naughty, bark a lot, become aggressive etc. That is the time many people realise that they cannot handle their dogs, lose interest and abandon them. In other, rather diverse cases, owners become so attached to their dogs. Some of such owners become scared of seeing their dogs die, when the dogs become unwell and choose to abandon them.
In Japan, many of these abandoned dogs have no choice but to end up in the facilities run by local councils to terminate the dogs. There are growing number of campaigns to save such dogs in recent years but it is not, unfortunately, enough to dramatically improve the situation.
Animal welfare became an issue in Japan after the Second World War (which ended in 1945). There were many stray dogs. The Japanese Society for Protection of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) was founded in 1948.
In 1973 legislation was enacted: the Law for Protection and Management of Animals (this may have been called, "Act on Protection and Management of Animals"). This legislation covered the following areas of animal welfare:
-Standards of Proper Feeding and Custody of Dogs and Cats
-Animals for exhibition
-Laboratory Animals
-Producing Animals
The law was amended in 1999 due to an increase in keeping companion animals and under pressure from veterinarians and animal welfare organisations.
The new Act was called, the "Law for Animal AIGO and Management". The term "AIGO" could not be accurately translated so the name of the Act was called, the "Law for the Humane Treatment and Management of Animals". The word "welfare" was not used to avoid confusion with human welfare.
For the first time in Japan the concept of animals being living creatures was introduced into legislation and the national conscience.
Japanese animal welfare law is modern in its concept, which is very pleasing to see. The legislation recognises the need to promote better relationships between people and animals. This follows the concept of legislation changing peoples' behaviour. The intention of the UK Animal Welfare Act is similar. The purpose of the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals goes beyond protecting animals but aims to create a "spiritually richer society that values life".
During her training programme Miharu learnt many of the procedures she was keen to work upon prior to coming to London. She was particularly happy with learning advanced cat spay techniques and the knowledge of how an efficient veterinary clinic operates. Away from the theatre she also spent time with the kennel and cattery staff we have at The Mayhew Animal Home learning the best methods for being able to approach and handle stressed and unpredictable animals. She commented that the methods used in London are the best she had ever seen and was very impressed with the knowledge and skill of the animal staff.
Dr. Ursula Goetz gave her feedback on Miharu and what she thought she had benefited from the most during her time here:
Miharu was a fantastic candidate for the IVTP because she has a very different background: pretty much no existing animal welfare programs in Japan, no adoptions scheme, very little hands on veterinary experience including handling animals.
I think it was an eye opening experience for Miharu to see how we work here and hopefully we planted some seeds on a different approach to keeping and caring for companion animals.
Apart from Miharu’s positive attitude she was a delight to work with because she listened well, asked many questions and learned very fast.
She had done only a handful of surgical procedures prior to her arrival here and is now competent in performing both male and female neutering procedures in cats.
She was not used to handling dogs and was not afraid to hold a big dog for a vene-puncture towards the end of her stay here.
We wish her all the best and hope that she will update us with the changes she is hopefully putting in place on her return to Japan.