OK, we've joined the hoards... got a dog today.
Anyone have a recommendation on a "pet supply emporium" with huge selection of the vast array of supplies needed to keep such animal happy?
Also, anyone know an English speaking vet?
Scott

Very nice English speaking vet and wife/assistant:

Masayo and Tadahiko Nakayama
03-5395-0303
She speaks English but says her husband speaks much better than her.

3-34-9-102 Otsuka
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112

Down the hill from Myogadani Station on the Marunouchi line.
Office Hours: 9 to 12:30 and 16:00 to 19:30
House calls from 13:30 to 16:00
Closed Wednesdays.

Does anyone know of an English speaking vet in the Shinagawa area? Thanks!

I don't know of an English speaking vet in Shinagawa but there is a good one in Roppongi. He also has a hospital in Chiba. His place in Roppongi is much smaller.

Dr. Nakazawa
Professional Veterinary Clinic

Roppongi: 03-3479-1009
Surgery, Medicine, Emergency Call
Mon - Fri 13:30 - 16:00
Room 101, Rosemansion, 7-21-24 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106

Funabashi: 0474-34-4588
Hospital, Boarding Shipping
Mon - Sat 9:00 -12:00
3-7-6 Minato-cho, Funabashi-Shi, Chiba-Ken 273

Does anyone know where we can purchase bulk supplies of Hills Science Diet and cat litter? Thanks

Ruth-
Check out Foreign Buyers Club http://www.fbcusa.com

I asked Foreign Buyers Club about importing the new hairball formula (we have persian cats) of Hills Science Diet a year or so ago, and they said they could not. Have not checked recently, though.

Science Diet is available at Tokyu Hands, Tokyu Store supermarkets (both of which will deliver if you purchase in bulk), and major pet shops. (We buy it at a place called Bluebird here in Yokohama.)

Litter is available at Foreign Buyers as well as the above sources. The last time I looked, they did not have the clumping, flushable type we prefer, though.

ruth mccreery

note from Admin: Tokyu Hands website (in Japanese)
http://www.tokyu-hands.co.jp/

Really wonderful English speaking vet found in Yokohama!

I was really impressed with her level of communication with me and her caring for my cats (2 of them). One cat required an operation for removal of three stones in her bladder. The doctor sent me email in English explaining everything and a digital picture of the removed stones. The cost for the initial examination for two cats, operation for the one cat plus post-operation stay Sunday night to Thursday and tests was 90,000 yen. I went all the way down there from Hiro on a recommendation and felt it was definitely worth it.

Also, she has three kittens right now that need a home. (She was asked to put them down by the owner which she refused to do.)
Here is her info:

Dr. Akane Miura
045-316-8686 tel
045-316-8684 fax
One stop from Yokohama station, I forgot the station name.
zip code is 221-0851

Can also get bulk pet foods at Costco.

We just got bequeathed a 3 month old beagle puppy. What do we do now? Does it have to be registered? Are there mandatory vaccinations? Any other paperwork I have to do/get?

Rabies once a year after it's a puppy. I think you do one right away or at some time within the first year. Registration is at your ward office. The vet gives you a certificate of immunization for that.

I've been here 11 years and only just today found out that my ward office will pay part of the neutering charge for cats! (I did know about the free rat poison they give out...)

Anyway, I think that anyone can check at their local ward office. Something like "neko ga kyosei supporto aremasuka?" might be understood. The operative word is "kyosei" which means more or less "to neuter".

Also, it is only for cats.
For a list of ward office phone numbers: http://www.tokyowithkids.com/fyi/wardoffices.html

This homepage (Japanese only) lists veterinary clinics in Tokyo, according to ward. It also has links for non-Tokyo areas.

Some of the places listed are not actually vets-- for instance, I found one which happens to be named similarly to what a vet would be named, but is actually just a pet store.

http://www.mlf-aid.com/hos/map.html

The vet showed me a pamphlet for pet health insurance. Here is the gist of the contents:
ALP (Appealing Life for Pets)
http://www.clubalp.net
Liberty Building 5F, 1-17-11 Nishi Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003
tel: 03-3580-2622
toll free: 0120-307-217

For Cats
under 4 years old, Y3200
over 4 years old, Y3500

"Love" Plan (for dogs over 10kg)
under 4 years old, Y3000 - 4200 monthly depending on coverage
over 4 years old, Y3300 - 4500 monthly depending on coverage

"Idol" Plan (for dogs under 10kg)
under 4 years old, Y2900 - 4000 monthly depending on coverage
over 4 years old, Y3200 - 4300 monthly depending on coverage

They pay 70% of the bills so you are still stuck with 30%.
There is also some kind of Pet Owner's Club ?? with an entrance registration fee of Y1500, and then 3 plans, the lowest of which is Y380/month. The next one is Y1500/month and includes some sort of coverage. And then the next one is Y2900/month which also includes some sort of coverage. This is appears to be separate from the plans described above. If anyone is interested, maybe the web site has more details.

Animal rescue anyone? I found the following info posted by "Cleo" on Japan Today.
----This page gives the numbers of cats impounded/killed in Japan 1996 to 1999.
http://www.kamisama-tasukete.com/sourifu.htm
In 1999 the number impounded was 275,791 and the number killed was 274,670. Too many animals abandoned, too few rescued.

Numbers for dogs here:
http://www2.tky.3web.ne.jp/~meme/suii.htm
124,041 in 2001. Less than for cats, but still way too high.
Interesting graph at: http://www.alive-net.net/companion-animal/inuneko.html
It shows that the number of dogs put down in about the last 30 years has dropped a lot. There are rumors that some local authorities sell their 'surplus' animals to research labs.

Help! I was quoted Y55,000 for getting a female dog under 10 kilos spayed. Can anyone tell me how much they paid and who the vet was (telephone number and address would be nice also).

PS. I was also quoted Y25,000-Y30,000 for teeth cleaning. And I'm wondering about that too.

Cornelia

� 55,000 is far too expensive. We had our 20 kg dog spayed and the cost was � 30,000. The actual procedure we opted for is called a Ovariohysterectomy. We took our dog to Ann Vet Clinic in Yokohama. Dr. Akane Miura speaks fluent English, and will communicate by e-mail as well. We were very pleased with the care our dog received. There was no overnight stay required following the surgery, and the following week the stitches were removed (cost of � 1,500). The only other cost was for an Elizabethan collar to make sure our dog could not touch the stitches. She needed a 4L size which was � 2,500. We did not want to take a chance and not buy the collar, or have to run to a pet store to get one later. Website for Dr. Miura
http://www.clc.net/puppy/an_vet/indexe.html

Dorasena Vet hospital
03-3860-4981
Takenozuka 5-chomem, Adachi-ku, Tokyo
Y12000 for cat spaying
Y5000 for shots for dog
drop off first thing in the morning & pick up between 4-6 at night OK

In answer to a couple of private emails:
Our dog is a rescue dog which we acquired about 5.5 weeks ago. She is estimated to be about 7 years old. Her teeth in the front were first pronounced "OK" and the back ones rather dirty. A dog normally has 42 teeth. Our dog came to us with only 35 teeth. After the cleaning under anaesthesia she is down to 32 teeth, two of which came from closer to the front, so it turned out that the front held a couple of surprises in spite of initial appearances. I'm not sure if I understood correctly because communication is not perfect between me and the vet I am using, but although she did not have any abcess, she does have a problem with her gums. The initial reason for looking into her dental health more closely was pretty awful bad breath, even after a week of a steady healthy dry diet and yeast/garlic wafers twice a day.

Anyway now that she is in my hands, she'll be getting pretty good care. She came with a very forceful begging habit, and she's already learned that it doesn't really work with me. She's still trying sometimes though, particularly with my daughter ;-) She is not getting any sweets anymore!

I went ahead with the scheduled surgery and the teeth cleaning on Monday. I just want to get the little fluff ball all squared away before she starts losing any more teeth or gets pregnant! My daughter and I were allowed to look at the removed organs from the ovariohysterectomy, which was fascinating. My daughter also took a close look at a few book illustrations provided by the vet. Then she cut the uterus open to see what the inside would look like. She basically had her first biology dissection experience. There were many fatty tissue pockets attached to the ovaries. I haven't finished researching on the internet what the implication of those might be for this dog's health.

The breath problem is pretty much gone! So now we just have to make the effort to provide her teeth with some daily care here at home. The total bill was Y73,000 which included Y30,000 for the ovariohysterectomy, Y20,000 for the anaesthesia, an initial fee, a blood exam, teeth cleaning, two days in the "hospital" (for a variety of reasons to which I agreed), and the teeth cleaning and pulling. I saved a bit of money by doing all this together (so saved on anaesthesia). Then there was 5% tax. On the whole I'm satisfied because it looks like a good job all around. And I'm allowed to string out payment. And it is about 5 blocks from where we live.

Nancy, can you tell us the specifics (phone numbers) of using animal transport service such as Animal Escort Service or Angel Buggy? Amazingly I saw a van this morning that seemed to have something to do with pet care, but I was in a hurry and did not jot down the name. I had never had my antennae up on this type of thing before.

Wonder how much the chip would set us pet owners back? Might have the positive unintended side effect that lost pets get returned to their owners more easily and to everyone's relief and joy!

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=quote&id=1041
"The chip will prevent thoughtless owners from abandoning their pets."
Naoto Kitamura, a Lower House member and licensed veterinarian, on a proposed law to make chip implanting mandatory in pet dogs and cats. (Asahi Shimbun)

Animal transport (for within Japan) companies in the Tokyo area (I am not including some found in other parts of Japan with the search, because my conscripted translator is losing steam):

M.C. Carry 0489-88-1347
http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~mtcsl/pet/
Inside Tokyo 23 wards Y9700 or under 50km same price.
50 - 100km Y9700 + Y210 per km includes highway tolls.
Over 100km Y20,200 plus Y110 per km over 100 km, tolls cost in addition.

Angel Buggy (Main center: Kanagawa-ken, Kawasaki, Nakahara-ku, Kizuki 1514)
Shinjuku location: 4-15-17 Nishi-shinjuku, Tokyo
0120-439-280 (toll free call)
http://www.angel-buggy.com
Cat or dog same prices. It looks like same prices regardless of size as well.
2km or less -- Y640
2km to 3km -- Y960
50km -- Y16,000 one way
100km -- Y23,400
(These look suprisingly like taxi fares to me.)

New Veterinary Clinic opened in Yokohama. BAYSIDE ANIMAL CLINIC
22-9 Sakae-cho (directly across from Kanagawa Park) run by Dr. Takeo Minami, who studied in the US and speaks fluent English. His specialty is orthopaedics.
phone: 045 440-0987
fax: 045 440-0985
This is Dr. Minami's second clinic. His other clinic is Minami Animal Clinic (Mie).

In the course of doing a homework assignment for school, my daughter decided to quote from the following two articles which I though might be of ineterest to other pet owners:

All dogs go to heaven ... in Japan
By Mari Yamaguchi
The Associated Press
Aug. 13, 2004
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5528900/

[snip]

Enthused by hit TV commercials for a loan company featuring a doe-eyed Chihuahua, Japanese last year bought more than 1.5 million dogs by industry count � mostly Chihuahuas, miniature dachshunds and other dogs small enough to fit into Japan�s cramped homes.
[snip]

The dark side of the pet craze is the nearly 380,000 abandoned dogs and cats destroyed last year, according to Environment Ministry statistics.

"The current pet boom is very dangerous," said Chizuko Yamaguchi, a veterinary inspector at Japan Animal Welfare Society. "To many people, their dogs are the same as their designer-brand bags. Dogs are treated as objects, a fashion, rather than living creatures."
___________________________
Puppy love... by the hour
June 28 2004
By Ryan Nakashima

Tokyo - The Beatles sang Money Can't Buy Me Love, but people are flocking to the Puppy The World rental pet shop at Tokyo's Odaiba waterfront park to rent just that by the hour.

On a recent Sunday dozens of lonely hearts gazed at photos of adorable doggies and then shelled out �1 575 (about R90) to take the chihuahua, toy poodle or miniature dachshund of their choice for an hour's walk.

Upon their return, many give their short-term companions a quick hug and a wave in a misty-eyed farewell.

For Japanese with a fondness for animals but who are unable to raise pets because of their cramped homes or strict apartment rules, shops like these are a godsend.

"Three of us in our family love dogs, but my grandfather hates them," said a 12-year-old girl who lives with her parents and grandparents in a Tokyo condominium and who rents a dog every week.

A 25-year-old woman who called herself Akaike said, "I want to raise a dog in the future, so this is like practising up."

She and her boyfriend drove for an hour to reach Puppy The World.

"Where I live, there's no place that offers this service," she said.

Each person who rents a dog by the hour is given a leash, some tissues and a plastic bag - in case the pooch has to answer the call of nature. They are also get strict instructions not to let the dogs run free, to keep them in the shade on hot summer days and refrain from giving them snacks.

Many customers head off to the seaside park across the street to trot out their part-time pets among beach-side cafegoers and windsurfers.

For the steeper price of �10 500, renters can take their chosen dog home for an overnight stay and are provided with a day's pet food, a water dish and a cage for the animals to sleep in.

The rental business is no oddity in dog-crazy Japan, a country with 11,1 million pet dogs and where doggie hotsprings and pet aromatherapy abound alongside products like canine perfume and miniature sofas for pets.

In Tokyo alone the number of shops registered to rent out pets grew to 115 as of March, up from 17 just three years earlier.

While the boom in puppy love is raising awareness about animal welfare, concerned veterinarians say the animals who are up for rent live difficult lives.

"For shy animals, getting taken on walks by people they are not familiar with is a major source of anxiety," said Chizuko Yamaguchi, veterinary inspector with the Japan Animal Welfare Society.

Puppies and kittens that are petted by strangers can suffer from diarrhoea because of the stress. "The stress is terrible if they are touched all over. I think there are some that even die of it," she said.

Puppy The World manager Hiromi Maeda said her rental crew of 35 dogs - all adults over one year old - are checked daily by staff to see whether they are up to going out.

Staff even try to match the personalities of the dogs with those of the customers.

"If there is a child who cries a lot, we make sure to give them a dog with a strong heart," Maeda said. "We ask customers whether they want one that can be cuddled or one that will walk a long way."

The shop's intention is not to profit from the rental business, but to give newcomers some experience at being responsible pet owners, she said. The store's main business is selling puppies, which are hands-off for renters.

Tokyo veterinarian Toshi Motegi said he was wary of having animals treated like objects and used for a moment's pleasure.

He said Japan should adopt a system in which people who could no longer raise their pets found them new owners by "match-making" humans with animals that like them.

And in the case of the rental business, the dogs should be allowed to choose who could have the privilege of taking them out, he said. - Sapa-AFP

Dogs welcome cafe: The latest in Tokyo innovation
In my local neighborhood we have a new place where we can bring our canine pets along when we go out for some social life.
"Hana Mama" dogs and owners' cafe.
3-34-19 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0012 tel/fax 03-3941-6000 Hours: 10:00-19:00 every day
The owner, Keiko Hakuzaki, says don't come if you don't like dogs! The decor is imitation garden, with a green rubber carpet, tables akin to the wooden park picnic and rattan styles complete with one umbrella. There are many potted flowers adding to the color scheme. Any sized dog is welcome. The menu includes hot and cold drinks, draft beer and a selection of wine (half bottles of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Chili and red/white Bordeaux as well as a mini sparkling Italian). There are snacks, deserts and hot dishes (Grilled Ham & Cheese sandwich Y350, Hayashi rice and salad Y680, Yaki Onigiri with sweet miso Y300, etc.). Finally the menu for dogs

• Raw chicken with Cabbage Y300
• Handmade dog biscuits, nuts flavor Y50, coconuts flavor Y50, Cheese Parsley flavor Y25
• Dry food 1 cup Y200

If you are a "law abiding" dog owner, then you know that April is the season for rabies vaccination in Japan. The ward office sent me a reminder for the rabies vaccination (you only get this postcard if your dog is registered). It is also the beginning of heartworm prevention, as well as flea prevention. The vet sent us a reminder for the rabies shot too, as well as the other medications, with a price list. Ouch! These products are so expensive here. It is possible to buy these products at the following site http://pets-megastore.com.au/ and save a bundle of money. I usually have the vet administer the rabies shot and the heartworm test. How do I explain not buying the meds?

Nancy, I think the medicines are all optional. Only the rabies shot is mandated (by the governemnt). Well, at least in my ward. Therefore the vet is using the April rabies renewal opportunity to make a few additional sales. Just say you are administering them yourself, or just say you don't want them! My vet is really cool. She never seems upset if I say "maybe later". But she also has an idea about our finances, since I did make partial payments for about 5 months to pay off the operations described above, so maybe that's why she doesn't put up resistance!

I'm happy to hear that you are also using the pets-megastore site. I've had nothing but good experiences with them. I frequently get "specials" via email, like free shipping on orders over $40, or discounted medications, etc.

If my dog's rabies shot isn't due until January of 06 (we just came in from the U.S.) do they expect us to re-vaccinate or are we allowed to remain on the same schedule as we have always been?

Also, is heartworm a problem in Tokyo? We came from an area where the vets didn't recommend it as it wasn't prevalent. And, so far so good, we don't have fleas. Sounds weird to not have fleas but we have a two family members who are highly allergic to fleas so we know if we have them and have managed to eradicate them.
Leese Johnson

Cornelia, only the rabies shot is mandatory, but the other meds are advisable. Today we visited the vet and she was fine with the idea of using products from elsewhere (and saving money!)The most important thing is to use them. Heartworm is a serious and potentially fatal disease. Some tablets, like Cardomec, which is the name it is sold under in Japan, require a test before giving, but I learned today that this is only necessary if you did not give the tablet monthly without interruption. Leese, I don't think you have to revaccinate yet, but check with the vet. The flea medication recommended is Frontline Plus.

A month ago we found a wee 3 week old calico kitten meewing outside our door (ground floor).
Anyway she's now 7 weeks old, eating well and we need to find somewhere to get her neutered so she doesn't add to the local cat population.
I found out that Ichikawa City, Chiba has NO policy for feral cats or subsidies at the vet.
Anyway, its about 40,000yen to get her fixed, WAY out of our budget.
Does anyone know of a cheaper way of getting this done, I was shocked at the price.

From anotheer list I'm on, I got this information. No personal knowlege of the vet, though.

"Dr. Herold with Dobutsutachi no Kai. I know they spay/neuter at a pretty low cost compared to what vets charge. Anyways, here's her e-mail address: herold[at]inv.co.jp

Hi Paula,
I guess I could pretend she belongs to me... and we could do it here. We'd have to hurry though because I'm leaving for the USA on 25 June. But girls cost more than guys to neuter in any case, even when the job is subsidized in part.

Looking for a vet in Yoyogi Uehara area. Also a pet sitting/boarding kennel for short term (3-5 days) for a large dog.
Any experience or suggestions on how to find someone for either?
Leese Johnson

Leese,

Not sure if you wanted boarding near Yoyogi Uehara or just the vet, but for a large dog I would go with AQS near Narita. If you are flying from Narita, they will even keep your car!

I saved a bundle of money ordering heartworm and flea prevention meds from Australia/url http://pets-megastore.com.au/ this link was sent to me by Cornelia.
Here is an example of the savings for a medium size dog. Heartworm prevention tabs in Japan cost � 1,300 each per month. A 6 month supply from Pets Megastore is approx � 2,760. Frontline Plus for fleas is sold in Japan at � 2,100 each per month. From Pets megastore a 6 month supply is � 5,145. Thanks again Cornelia for the great tip. We've just rescued another Basset, so if we can save on the regular meds we are grateful.

For those who are interested I've added a page on Dog Grooming at http://www.tokyowithkids.com/fyi/doggroom.html

Cornelia, thanks for the dog grooming information. It's great that your dog was happy to be a "model dog". Pampered Paws also offers this service from time to time. The owner, Izumi Yamada, explained to me that right now they are teaching a preparation class for students who will attend their school in Canada. For this class they only take one dog per day and it is a one on one environment, with the teacher supervising at all times. Here is the link to the website which is in English and Japanese. http://www.pamperedpaws.com/

Note from Admin: Here are the addresses for this franchise:
Tokyo in the Yamada Animal Hospital - 4-12-6 Kyuden, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 157-0064
Tokyo Ogikubo School - Minamiogikubo Suginami-ku Tokyo, Japan 167-005

hi,we like to get a fish tank, but can't find a place that sells them. can anyone recommend a place that sells the tank and the fish? thanks

Where do you live? Tokyo? Have you tried Tokyu Hands? Actually, the Tokyu Department store in Shinjyuku has some nice fishtanks..If you live out in the Tama area: Jmart (hardware /home improvement store)

There's a nice aquarium shop in Azabu Juban, on the main shopping street, near the corner with the toy store and the "Mamegen" sembei shop.
It's in the basement (cooler for the fish), and it's called "Ginsui." They have a nice selection of tanks, fish bowls, tropical fish, eels, snails, turtles, and gorgeous underwater plants, decorative rocks, mosses, etc.

Took our dog to Dakatari (Angell) Animal Hospital for maintenance. Since there had been some interest in cost comparisons, here's what I paid:

Physical exam Y2,400
Rabies vaccination Y1,500
Duramune8 (multi-vaccine) Y2,500
Blood sample Y500
Heartworm antigen test Y1,500
Frontline Plus L x 3 Y5,700

Yes, I'll get the Frontline from pets meagastore in the future.
I also asked about animal shelter and heard that there are a few run by private NGO. One is in the Tama River area. I have the name in Japanese and will research it.

On obtaining a dog from a store, she confirmed that some are better than others and a few are downright terrible. Latter includes some places that rent dogs in Roppongi. She said the ones sold often have diseases, etc. I asked about Kojima and she was lukewarm about it.

SALA Network (SALA = "Save Animals Love Animals")
www.salanetwork.or.jp
tel: 042-362-3400, fax: 042-362-3142
email: info[at]salanetwork.org
Non-profit organization, located in Fuchu, western Tokyo

You cannot apply over the phone or by email; call them and Sala will send you an application form in either English or Japanese.

They are taking care of 600 dogs now & over 1000 cats. They are always eager for donations of cash, but also of Q-tips, "pet sheets" (lined with plastic, for the animals to pee on), sponges/ tawashi, brushes/combs, nail trimmers, office supplies, and tea/coffee/snacks/food supplies for their 24-hour volunteer staff.

On their homepage, click the 8th or the 10th navy blue clickable buttons to see pictures of the animals. They have many more than what appears online, including small dogs (which is unusual-- there is usually a wait list for small dogs).

They charge Y30,000 for adopting a male animal and Y35,000 for a female animal and you must agree to have the animal spayed/neutered within a certain number of weeks or months. You also must agree to donate Y1000 to Sala per year throughout the life of your pet. This goes towards feeding all the animals left behind. They take care of the animals until their natural death-- very poignant story on their web page about a 17-year old dog that recently passed away. They also have several animals with physical abnormalities (several blind animals, etc).

The best thing is that you get a 2-3 week trial period, to make sure that this is an animal you will be able to keep. You can return the animal after that time if it doesn't work out.

Sala also always needs volunteers (walking the dogs, cleaning the cages, etc) and they have a kids' volunteer group as well-- might be nice for kids who would like to interact with a pet but can't have one because of landlord rules, etc.

For the JAWS (Japan Animal Welfare Society) homepage: www.jaws.or.jp/

Click on the third blue link on the left-- that will take you to the "pets looking for homes" page. At the top there are three more buttons you can click-- order is Dogs/Cats/Other
("Other" here means rabbits primarily).

You can click on the number of the animal to see the animal's picture. Then you call them at 03-5740-8856 and tell them which animal you are interested in; they then confirm that the animal is still available and call you back a few days later with a yes/no (they do not keep animals on the premises; they just introduce pets looking for homes to people looking for pets). You also have to register, explaining how many people are in your family, how long the pet will be left alone per day, etc. I saw a Russian Blue cat and several other purebred animals on their web page.

the biggest and most impressive fish shop in tokyo is http://www.paupau.co.jp/.

Everyfish you could possibly imagine. Its located near Tsukiji fish market. There is a map link on the homepage.

There is also a great one just outside shinjuku that has one guy who speaks good english. there also very helpful and have lots of other pet animals - beetles, spiders, frogs, lizards etc. its located at:
http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=35.40.35.727&el=139.40.44.014&la=1&sc=3&skey=151-0062&CE.x=393&CE.y=214.

Another excellent fishshop is in North west tokyo. Its big and has all sorts of styles.
http://www.penguinvillage.co.jp/

Also there is Aqua Forest, a fishshop in the basement shopping centre (subenade) in shinjuku. Its good and focuses on plant style aquariums. http://www.a-forest.co.jp/

Depending on how much money you want to spend, we just bought a tank and fish at Cainz home store.

Hello,

We will be moving shortly and are looking for information about shipping our snake to the US. The airlines will not take snakes unless they are being shipped by a "known shipper". I guess they mean an exporter. Does anyone have any ideas or experience shipping snakes?

Thanks
Karyn

Wow, shipping snakes is a challenge!
If the airlines have 'known shippers', maybe they would tell you who they are?

I would imagine there is an equal or more difficult challenge finding the broker to receive and clear it into the U.S. Can't be cheap all the way around.

Probably Google for snake people in the U.S. and track back from them to "shippers".

Hope you let us know how you do it.

Scott Hancock on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 07:09 pm:
Just wondering how big of a snake is it? Python? Boa constrictor? The kind that eats rabbits & dogs?

Karyn, some airlines have separate pet transport divisions. You could also try the Independent Pet and Animal Transport Association. Here is the link. If you search by country, you will find a member in Japan. http://www.ipata.com/index.php
The problem is Tomy, the company in Yokohama, doesn't seem to ship exotics (a snake would fall under that category), at least not according to their listing. Perhaps you could try looking in IPATA for a company out of the US that may have an agent here.

By Nancy on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 05:19 am:
Karyn, I just found this link to the American Foreign Service Association with a section on travelling with pets. It is current as of March 2005 so maybe this will be helpful. http://www.afsa.org/articles/pettravel.cfm Good luck!

Scott and Nancy,

Thanks for you help

Our snake is a California Kingsnake named Rex ("Latin for king, mom"). He is about 1.5 meters long. He usually takes 2 mice a week. I don't think he would try a rabbit or cat as they are too big to be prey. However, we usually keep him away from the ferret just so there is no temptation. My daughter has had him for 3 years (got him when she was four). She just loves this snake, so we have to find a way to get him back to the US with us. Unfortunately snakes don't seem to count as pets. They fall under wildlife imports according to the US government and you need special import licenses. The import licenses are set up for breeders and imports for "business purposes". I've had one pet transport company say it would take about $2500 to ship this guy and a subtle threat that not many other companies would go to the trouble to import a snake. I've got to believe that there is a better way. I have sent an email to Tomy and am still waiting to kear back from them. Perhaps some reptile enthusiast will see this note and contact me. Here's hoping!

Karyn

Karyn

I am sure your daughter would be heartbroken if you can't find a solution. Did you buy Rex in Japan? You probably have visited the CITES website. If not, you need to look up whether REX is listed and under which category. http://www.cites.org/index.html
My friend in Yokohama has reptiles. Here is the link to his website. Translation software can be run on it. As you can see, he has snakes. http://www.kentosh.co.jp/noah/index.html Maybe he can offer you some advice. On the left side of the main index page there is a link to send a mail. The owner, Kenji Takahashi, speaks English so it is no problem to write in English. Do let me know (by private e-mail) if he is able to help.

Karyn,
I searched the USDA website and they really aren't very helpful! I did find a few items you could try to explore. After searching I did find phone number to the US that might be worth the call. They could probably tell you most of what you'll need. My feeling on it is that the biggest hurdle will be getting the airline to take the animal. If you will be traveling with the snake I think it will be easier than shipping. At least we found that to be true with our dog. Not to mention the cost was dramtically lower if he traveled as "excess baggage" with us.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/faq_animal_importation.htm#reptiles This is from the Center for Disease control regarding Pet snake imports. Use the term PET SNAKE not just snake. There seems to be a slightly different procedure if it is your personal pet. There main concern is of course public health and safety and that the animal is not an endagered species, that sort of thing. The airline is ultimately concerned that it won't escape...
This site has a phone number: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/NCIE/pet-info.html

Hope some of that helps. Let us know how it works. Don't give up. You aren't asking to import a live Bengal tiger or anything! He is your family's pet.

Leese

Where did you buy your dog/puppy? We arrived just 2 months ago and shortly after we arrived we had to put our 12 year old dog to sleep because she had kidney failure. We think we are ready to get a puppy for our family. We are nervous about the quality of the dog and of course as always in Tokyo the prices are outrageous. I spoke to the vet that helped us with our old dog and he suggested going to Kawasaki, Kanagawa, or Yokohama but I am having a hard time finding actual stores. There are Wayn-nana (sp?) all over but aren't those the internet puppy shopping? We went to Kojima yesterday just to get a feel...I can't believe we didn't purchase but we really want to get the right puppy for us. Can anyone give me any suggestions? We can't imagine being in Tokyo for 2-3 years and not have a puppy/dog so waiting to get one is not an option for us. Thanks in advance!

Much like you we just relocated to Tokyo and before we left my rottweiller of 11 years passed away. I have never been without a dog and was finding it very difficult living without a dog. That being said we went on quite and extensive dog search. I was appalled by the price of dogs. We decided to get a small dog because we have a small house and a small yard. We ended up buying our dog from Kojima because we found they had the best selection and best price. It was my first and last experience at buying a dog from a pet store. We can not seem to be able to potty train the dog. I fault us for giving in to buying a dog from a pet store. The dog was quite old for a puppy when we bought her (4 months) and after having lived in those conditions for so long the dog has just learned to relieve herself where ever she sees fit. So, I write to tell you that our search found Kajima to be the best place to find a dog but, "buy beware".

Asking at vet & some Japanese friends who are into dogs, the answer keeps coming back that the best way to buy a dog is from a "reputable" breeder. Per Sloane's story, it seems impossible to sell dogs properly from a big store.

Seems that they are either too old and have the problem above or if taken away from the mother much earlier than that age, they have "emotional" problems. Apparently, the demand for "cute" puppies is so great, there is incentive to sell them before they are properly weaned from mother.

Sloane- do you have a breed in mind? If we accept the breeder as best route, seem to need to know breed first. Other point is that breeder also sounds expensive. Can't be less than Kojima and maybe more?

How does it work in the U.S.?

We bought a red minature pincher from Kojima.

Thanks, Sloane.
I meant to ask Chris, who seems to still be looking.

Having worked with animals for a number of years I would personally get a dog from a couple of sources. I would NOT buy from a pet store as I don't know the dog's background and can't stand the thought of potentially supporting a puppy mill.
I would find breeders for the type of dog I'm interested in and go and see them. See the parents of the dog if possible. No guarantees but parents of ill temperment and poor health often have the same characteristics both physical and tempermentally as their offspring. If one wanted a family pet sometimes it can be purchased from a breeder at discount if it is not "perfect" for the breed, i.e. misplaced coloration or the ears are not long enough, with the promise to spay or neuter.
Sometimes good animals can be found at an animal shelter or from families moving away who can't bring them along. The shelter is riskier in that you really have no idea about background or health but it is possible. We have one such purebred dog. We were lucky this time. We have had a couple of neurotic ones, too. If you get a dog from a family, then you can ask questions and see the dog in the home to see about temperment and such. For us, temperment is one of the biggest factors for our family.
Hope that helps.
Leese

In the U.S. we would never buy a full breed dog; rather we would go to a shelter and adopt a puppy. This is what we did with our dog that just passed. I understand from the vet there really aren't shelters here to adopt from and if there are abandoned dogs more than likely they will have health problems. We also need a puppy for our family because we have small children 3 under 4 years old and an older dog may not suit well with small children. Since we "have" to buy a full breed dog I would rather buy from a breeder but finding a breeder in Japan when we don't speak Japanese could prove to be somewhat of a problem. My husband will ask his colleagues this week and we will go from there. The prices at Kojima stores outside of Tokyo do seem to be better and could be up to half as much as the Meguro store.
Thanks

Oh to add we would probably go for a Golden Retreiver puppy.

At 05:27 PM 08/12/2005, Yvonne Everett wrote to Admin by mistake:
Chris -
You might want to try M House in near National Azabu Market. They train and sell labs and retriever pups. My neighbor got her yellow lab pup from them.

Yvonne-do you happen to have a phone number for M House? Greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris

Chris, I previously posted information about an animal rescue operation under pets and pet sitting. There is a also a discussion about buying from a pet store there. You might want to check that thread too as there are English speaking contacts listed.

By Nancy on Saturday, August 20, 2005 - 01:28 pm:
Sloane, some dogs take longer to train than others. We've rescued dogs of different ages, (including one that was 4) all of whom were not house trained. It just takes a great deal of patience, and you have to consistently reward with treats when they get it right. I wouldn't even try it without a crate.

pet survey pls help...
i am planning on buying a new pet but i would like to know other option about it. so if you dont mind answering this questions..

1. which do you prefer a puppy or a kitten ?
2. if a puppy - which breed do you prefer ?
3. how much is the ideal budget ?
4. do you prefer a pet with papers or it doesnt matter at all? and why?

i hope you can help me out.�@thanks
ava

Gotta love Dorasena vet hospital! Y13,000 for teeth cleaning, including anesthesia, for small dogs (cost depends on size of dog, because of the amount of anaesthesia required).

Dorasena Vet hospital
03-3860-4981
Takenozuka 5-6-16, Adachi-ku, Tokyo
about 3-5 minutes' walk from Takenozuka train station

Incidentally I recently adopted a 4-year-old long-haired Chihuahua through PAK Kanagawa animal rescue, which I highly recommend!

You can meet many, many adoptable animals at one of their "Get to know us" events, and they disclose EVERYTHING about your future pet in badvance (healthwise and personality-wise). They are not pushy, and there is a 2-week trial period after which you can return your pet if things don't work out.
They have many sizes and breeds of dogs available.

note from Admin: PAK stands for Paws Adoption Kanagawa http://homepage3.nifty.com/nazozen/Dog3.html

Due to a severe dermatological problem that numerous trips to the vet have not done a thing to help, we have decided to try a fresh meat diet for our dog. Here is one link regarding this subject, but there are many more sources: http://www.mercola.com/2005/aug/27/meat_first.htm

Does anyone know how/where to obtain leftover scraps from the butcher or an abatoir that are not considered good enough to sell to humans but would be loved by a dog? For very small dogs the prices at Hanamasa Supermarket, for example, might be affordable, but for larger dogs, some other solution would be nice.

Dog Onsen! (http://www.ooedoonsen.jp = official site)
article in newspaper:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/05/28/tronsen_ed3_.php

Odaiba, Tokyo: Oedo Onsen
If you go tomorrow (Sunday 4 December) you can get 10% off by saying that you were watching the "Ad Magic Tengoku" program on channel 12 (TV Tokyo). That would be for the dog and owner.
I think it's about Y2600 normally. They showed a golden retriever with owner in the TV show.

Here is info in English on how to go there. They have a luxury spa for people as well of course. http://www.fulbrightmemorialfund.jp/PlacesOfInterest/
Odaiba_Area/OedoOnsenMonogatari/OdeoOnsen.html

We moving to Tokyo in March 2006. We had a dog about 9 years old. She had kidney malfunction symptom since two years ago but luckily our vet saved her in time. Since then, she has to take prescriptive diet. We used Hill's K/D in the past, but then the supply stopped. We are using Royal Canine's Reno. Just wonder if we can get similar product for kidney malfuction sympton in Tokyo? Also any suggestion for a reputable vet in minato-ku, near Roppongi Hill?

Wendy, as far as I know, most of the prescription diet foods from Hills and Royal Canine are available in Japan. The food is available only from a veterinarian, not a pet food store. Both companies have Japanese web sites that will give contact information. If you write in English, I know from personal experience that there are English speaking persons at both companies here. I would recommend that you bring a small supply of food initially. Will your dog be able to avoid quarantine?

Nancy, not sure if my dog need to be qurantined or not upon arrival at Tokyo. We haven't found a animal mover yet and thus not much info at the moment. But I believe the chance is high as we are moving from Shanghai. BTW, do you know any good vet in minato-ku, near Roppongi Hill? We haven't come for a house hunting trip yet, but hope to find an apartment/house near Roppongi Hill.

Wendy,
Check the animal import website for details on quarantine procedure. I don't have any idea what it will be like from Shanghai but from the US there is a 6 month waiting period (at minimum) or the balance in quarantine here in Japan.

http://www.maff-aqs.go.jp/english/

On the diet question, we have found that there are many choices here in Tokyo they just might be called something different. Be patient, you'll find what you need and it will probably be good quality.
Good luck.
Leese

Leese, I've read through the website you provided. Thanks.

It saids other than those designated countries (rabbies free countries), dogs from other countries have to be "separated" in the departure origin for 6 months (same as you did from US) and then a quaranteen of 24 hours in the arrival port in Japan. I just wondered the meaning of "separation" here? Does it mean my dog has to be kept in my house (no daily walking) 6 months before departure? Who is to certifiy this?

Wendy,
My understanding of the new quarantine law in a nutshell is that your animal (dog in this case) must have a micro chip then 2 rabies vaccinations after that, then a rabies titre blood draw THEN wait 6 months in the country of origin until they can come into Japan. There isn't any specification that I've seen saying they must be seperated from anyone or any animal while they wait. Once that 6 month waiting period is done then you can bring them into Japan. I've been told that if all your paperwork and such is in order and you've done everything correctly you usually go home with your pet from the airport. If your pet hasn't done the 6 month in their country of origin they get to do the balance here in a kennel in Japan. Yikes!

I haven't figured out why the 6 month waiting period yet, though. It only takes about 1-3 weeks to get the results back on the Rabies titre (it shows the dog has immunity to rabies in their blood).

My friend left their cat in the US with their mom during this waiting period. Make sure your vet gives each vaccination exactly on the day needed and not sooner. Her vet gave a vaccine too soon and had to start the process all over again. The Japanese are very careful about following the directions exactly.

The website I listed has all the forms you need. Anyone imported this way yet?

Good Luck
Leese

Leese, it sounds crazy to leave our pet in the country for 6 months while we have already moved out ! Not everyone got a friend or relative who is willing to take care of your pet, right? It's also very unhumane to separate from the pet for such a long period. I wonder, after the pet finishes the waiting period, perhaps we already move back due to some unpredictable reason ! Any other way to get around with this stupid policy?

Wendy, there are other countries that have very strict rules regarding the importation of animals. If you started early, you can manage to bring your pet home with you from the airport. Leese, I know of a family where the dog had to complete the balance of the quarantine in Japan. They were able to keep the dog in the facility in Yokohama, rather than Chiba, which was closer to their home. The family said the facility was fine and their dog was well cared for. Of course it was a bit lonely but they could visit often. This seems like a reasonable solution, certainly preferable to not even attempting to bring the family pet with.

I feel for you. I wouldn't want to have to comply with such a strict set of rules. Knowing the Japanese I doubt you can get in without going through the normal process.
I don't know many people who even know they are going to come to Japan 6 months in advance to even plan ahead. Most of us know just a few weeks or months but not 6.
Our dog did the previous proceedure (just before it changed) and was kenneled for 2 weeks. He was fine and they did take good care of him. They even sent us a note (we couldn't get out to Chiba) with a photo of our dog.
I still haven't figured out why they clamped down like this. I hear many other countries are doing the same thing.
If you do end up kennelling don't forget to plan ahead finanacially.
Leese

Had to join in here....I'm the friend of Leese whose cat is back in the US. Our vet back home gave her second vaccine 7 days too early and they refused her entry. Well...she could have been quaranteened for 180 days instead...but that would be lonely for her...and very expensive for us. I would recommend hiring a pet transport company....get their advice. www.pettransport.com is one I think. We won't get around any of the rules....that's Japan. Even a local vet here agreed that my cat was obviously no rabies hazard (her titre test was well within the allowed limits)...It's just "the rules"...and they're aren't any exceptions. If you are moving here soon and can find (even hire) a family or friend to take care of your pet during the waiting period, it will be better than quaranteen, in my opinion, if you have to do more than a week or two.

It's the problem I faced here in Shanghai ... I can't find any friends here closed enough to take care of my dog as Shanghai is not our home town. We moved to Shanghai 3 years ago as expatriates. What's the cost of the quarantee charge in Japan? I think we have to move in early April the latest.

We live in Yokohama, and would like to adopt a kitten. Does anyone have a suggestion as to go about this task. We have tried a few vets in the area, but none had kittens or knew of any. Grateful for any suggestions are Hannah (9)and Max (6), who are eagerly awaiting their new pet!

Re Adopting a kitten
Try these sites - think they have been mentioned here before so maybe more info.
www.salanetwork.org
Tel 042 362 3142 or
www.arkbark.net
I dont know much about Arkbark (maybe only dogs??) but my friend volunteers at Sala and is often showing me pics of cute kittens!!

Andrea,
Try contacting Dr. Herold. Her details have been posted here before along with photos of pets she has placed in homes. She runs a rescue operation in Tokyo and usually has kittens (and dogs) needing homes. You can contact her (in German, English or Japanese) by fax 042-584-4354 or e-mail: herold[at]inv.co.jp

Hi, I am a vet student at UC Davis in California and am spending this summer in Japan. I am trying to find a vet clinic where I can work that has an English speaking veterinarian. Does anyone know of somebody , with preferably an email address in the Tokyo or Yokosuka area? Thank you!

You can try " Angell Memorial " in Hiroo: http://tinyurl.com/7d9jf
(A friend of mine once referred to this Vet as the "Mayo Clinic" for pets. It is both good and pricy.)
Anyway, a large percentage of their clientelle is English-speaking, as are the doctors.

Sarah,

I don't know if any clinic will allow you to work if you are a student (you didn't say what year) and are not certified to practise in Japan.(there is also the issue of working without a proper visa). That being said, I know many of the English speaking veterinarians in the Yokohama area, which is not too far from Yokosuka. Please e-mail me privately with some details and perhaps I can help.

Just learned of a great way to save money on pet food. I can't believe I just found out about this Pet Food Club which offers huge discounts on many of the dog and cat foods sold in Japan (such as Hills and Nutro) They even carry prescription food. The website is in Japanese only (though there are some photos) but if you send an email an English speaking person will contact you. E-mail address is: pfcalta{@}nw.ejnet.ne.jp (omit the brackets around the @!
The food is delivered to you via Kuroneko Yamato and you can pay at the time of delivery.

Hey I have a question re: my cats. They will be arriving this summer once they finish out the 7 month process to get over here! I have a huge US X-large litter box waiting for them. I noticed at the supper market I would probably have to use 5 + bags of their litter to fill mine maybe half way. It's nothing close to the Tidy Cat that they are used to. Can anyone tell me if they know if that weird looking litter is worth buying 5 bags each week? Also is their a cheaper way with delivery? Thanks!

I just learned an important nuance regarding the implanted micro-chip id system. It has a benefit beyond the requirement for taking the pet in & out of Japan.

Even if you never take your dog out of Japan, it is much more useful than the metal registration tag in case the dog gets lost. Our vet office told me that every ward office and animal hospital has the reader and you would be reunited with the dog much faster than tracing through the license tag.

The cost is only a few thousand yen (or less?), so I'm going to get one for our dog even though we don't take him out of Japan. Maybe this is old news to everyone else...

Sari- Have you tried COSTCO for cat litter? Or does anyone on here remember if they have it? If you have room, you could stock up from them. They offer delivery if you need it.

Does anyone know if Costco even delivers to the Moto Azabu area of Tokyo we are by Ropongi and Hiro?

Please see the topic on COSTCO at
http://www.tokyowithkids.com/discussions/messages/333/1197.html?SundayJune1920050532am#POST7231

We recently adopted a dog from the rescue organisation listed below, I think somebody may have briefly mentioned them�@in a previous post.

Although their main establishment is in Kansai, they have recently opened a branch in Tokyo. In the past we have gone to a breeder and bought a puppy, but this time we decided to try adoption and the whole experience has been extremely positive.

We found that one of the best things with adopting an older dog, is that their personality is formed, so it is much easier to tell if they are going to fit into your family or not, something you really can`t do with a puppy, pure bred or not. What you see is what you get!

The good thing about this website is that each dog has a very honest profile regarding it`s personality and habits.

We adopted a very cute, intelligent, quiet, wonderful with children 11 month old shiba ken who was already toilet trained. Cost was 15,000yen and that included neutering and all health tests and immunisations. Highly recommended.

{http://www.arkbark.net/e/index.htm,http://www.arkbark.net/e/index.htm}

Linda, it's great that you adopted a dog from a rescue organisation. Was it Moco that you adopted? She's about that age, but a Shiba mix. She was found wandering in Tokyo and she followed a boy home but they family couldn't keep her. The link in your post wasn't working so I fixed it.(hope you don't mind...it took me awhile to get the hang of inserting links J ) http://www.arkbark.net/ Many of the announcements from ARK are posted on the yahoo group Angels with Fur. Now that you are a dog owner, you may want to join this group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AngelsWithFur/

Nancy it`s a small world really isn`t it? Yes it was Moco that we adopted! What kind of dog do you have?

Thanks for fixing the ark link and the Angels with fur discussion group looks like a very good resource and I have just signed up.

Now we have to decide what to feed her. When yesterday I did a brief search of `pet food` on the internet I was rather surprised and horrified at what can go into some pet foods ie road kill, remains of slaughterhouse animals, and animals that have been euthanized at the pound, some of which have diseases such as cancer.

Even more disturbing are the stories of inhumane treatment of the animals in their laboratories.

It disturbs me to think that I fed my previous dog IAMS for thirteen years?!!

Nancy is there a brand of dog food that is produced ethically and humanely? That doesn`t cost the earth?

Linda

Linda, I know this looks like more work, but basically the best thing to feed your family is home cooking. Our "Fluffy" came down with a skin problem (Kirkland 18kg dryfood was her mainstay plus table scraps). I spent too much money on 4 visits to the vet over a year, and finally got advice from another JWK reader to try cheapest meat cuts from Hanamasa and to serve them raw. Within just 5 days, Fluffy's lethargy lifted considerably and after seven days she stopped scratching (she had already removed most of her hair through scratching on about 50% of her fur surface, and more hair had fallen out just from stress I think). I also steamed all the scraps from vegetables when washing and cutting, such as carrot ends, potato peels (washed first peeled thickly on purpose), cabbage outer leaves and hearts, etc. She loved them. I gave her raw chicken once a day in the morning cut into pieces that made her chew a bit, instead of just wolfing down. And she still got the odd table scraps served AWAY from the table in her bowl. I realize that the chicken meat we buy is not always raised in the most humane way. But the raw meat and steamed vegetable diet produced amazingly good results in a very short time. Unfortunately, it does take a bit more time and you'll have trouble getting a pet-sitter to do all that work. Dog stomachs are built to eat raw meat and also meat that is slightly "off". So you can also feed something to your dog that is just past the date, or that you feel is "old" leftovers from a meal 4-8 days ago. If your dog is full-grown, and basically a not terribly active house dog, you do not need to worry about peak nutrition, but some people supplement with a children's vitamin (cut in half for a small dog) once every day or two days.

I found the cost of the raw meat for a small dog sustainable, especially supplemented with vegatable and table scraps.I'm not sure how I would have felt about it if I had a big dog though!

Yes, Linda, what a small world. I was so pleased when I heard Moco was adopted. I had just finished the posters in Yokohama. We have three Basset Hounds and a cockatoo. If you click on my name, you will see a photo in my profile. The tri-colour Bassets are both rescues, and came with a multitude of health problems. They need special food. The lemon and white Basset eats Nutro light. I have often thought of cooking for the dogs.(most of what the cockatoo eats is homemade) When one of the dogs falls ill, and is off solid food, I have made chicken soup. It's a recipe from a Japanese chef that uses local ingredients. Even the dogs that are not ill want it. I have some friends that cook for their dogs, for the very reasons that you have said. But I wonder about the missing vitamins, and the calories. Bassets are prone to joint problems so their weight needs to be controlled. I weigh their food everyday to be sure they are not overfed. If you are going to buy commercial food, and want to save money, look at my post from the 25th of February about pet food club. If you want to try cooking for Moco, I suppose you can probably find a recipe on the internet. Or ask the veterinarian for some ideas. Our vet thought I cooked for the dogs, perhaps because back in our home country this would be very common.

Cornelia, thanks for the information. My friends have a "recipe" which I will try and get and post here. I think you can make up the food in amounts that keep over a few days. Another friend with a large chocolate labrador cooks up the food once a week and freezes it in individual portions, precisely so the pet-sitter can feed the dog. Just one small note about vegetables, never give a dog onions.

Thanks Nancy and Cornelia for your suggestions. I`ll probably do a combination of home made and good quality dog food. The Nutra website claims that they support the humane treatment of animals. After a bit more research I also found the website below which was linked from the PETA website. It lists dog foods recommended by PETA as being produced cruelty free. I hope the link works.

http://www.caringconsumer.com/resources_foodguide.asp

Linda, your link works. Thanks for the information. Now the big question is which products are available in Japan. Any idea? There is a dog food called Drs. Diet that is made in Japan that might be worth looking into...or maybe not. http://www.sankyo-lifetech.co.jp/ The website is in Japanese. As far as I know, this dog food is only available from a veterinarian.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CAT OWNERS IN ADACHI-KU, TOKYO

In July 2007, Adachi Ward launched a program to assist in the costs of spaying/neutering cats. Financial assistance is available to cat owners and also to "people caring for cats lacking owners." Assistance is 4000 yen for female cats and 2000 yen for male cats.

To receive financial assistance, follow these steps:
(1) Apply at the local public health center ("hokenjo")
(2) Receive a set of three forms from the Center; take these to the veterinarian of your choice. Forms must be used within 60 days from the date of issuance or they will become invalid.
The three forms in the set are:
(i) Statement of permission to receive financial assistance,
(ii) Request form for spaying/neutering operation,
(iii) Statement that the operation has been completed (For this one, you need to sign it & give it to the vet, who will fill it out and send it back to the public health center to get reimbursed-- see step #3 below).
(3) Sign or hanko the third form and hand it to your vet for him/her to return. The vet will then deduct 4000 yen in the case of a female cat, or 2000 yen in the case of a male cat, from the regular spaying/neutering fees.

Also something interesting on the pamphlet being circulated:
"Cats are protected animals under the Cruelty to Animals Act. Injuring or abandoning a cat is a crime."

"Killing or injuring an animal protected under the Cruelty to Animals Act is punishable by a fine of up to 1 million yen or imprisonment of up to 1 year. Intentionally weakening a protected animal by denying it food or water is punishable by a fine of up to 500,000 yen. Abandoning a protected animal is punishable by a fine of up to 500,000 yen."