Animal Advocates Watchdog

Risking radiation to rescue animals in Japan *LINK* *PIC*

http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/peacearchnews/news/120239769.html

By Hannah Sutherland - Peace Arch News
Published: April 19, 2011 3:00 PM
Updated: April 20, 2011 8:03 AM

Wandering through Japan’s evacuation zone is like stumbling across a forgotten ghost town.

There is no power or water. Few people.

“It’s a strange feeling,” Chizue Lister, 39, said after returning Sunday from her 10-day quest to rescue abandoned pets in the area surrounding the Fukushima power plant.

But in addition to the truckloads of workers heading to the damaged nuclear facility, there are signs of life.

The White Rock resident saw black cows roaming empty streets in search of food.

“When they see us, they come running to us, to me, like a dog,” Lister said, noting they’d block the road, waiting for water.

She also came across 70 tied-up dairy cows. Lister thought they were merely carcasses, until some spotted her, and began making desperate noises. She realized about 20 were still alive, some struggling to stand and others shaking on the ground, looking up at her.

“When they saw me, they started begging us,” she said. “That was the first day. I was shocked and cried.”

Lister said she would have helped, if not for the farmers who require their livestock to die naturally in order to receive insurance compensation. She hopes awareness is raised of the cattle’s plight after video filmed by a Japanese friend is posted on YouTube.

While farm animals were difficult to aid, Lister said she had more success with dogs.

Upon leaving White Rock for her home country April 7, she was most prepared to deal with pets, having packed leashes, collars and dishes. She didn’t waste any time after arriving at her parents’ house in Niigata at 11 p.m. that first day. She left the following morning at 4 a.m. and drove 3½ hours to Fukushima, where people within a 20-kilometre radius from the power plant have been evacuated due to radiation.

On April 12, Japan raised the severity rating of it nuclear situation to the same level of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Most shelters for evacuated residents don’t allow animals, so many who left pets behind aren’t able to retrieve them, Lister said. Only evacuees with vehicles can drive back to check on their companions.

So, wearing painter’s coveralls, a mask and gloves, Lister set off to feed and relocate deserted pets. She met her friend from Tokyo and three acquaintances in the evacuation zone – about 10 villages.

“The area is so big,” Lister said, noting animals weren’t hard to find. “It’s very easy to find them. Animals are everywhere, dogs are everywhere... It was hard to catch them. Some dogs were very aggressive. Some dogs, we had to chase them.”

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Risking radiation to rescue animals in Japan *LINK* *PIC*
500 caged pigs with no water *PIC*
Lister said she felt 20 earthquakes in 10 days, and a 6.5-magnitude quake *PIC*

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