KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE | ISSUE #165 FEBRUARY 2014 | kansaiscene.com
leak that followed. Those that survived these disasters faced dehydration, starvation and even cannibalism. ARK staff visited the Fukushima area and rescued 200 animals, neutering some 638 more to prevent thousands more feral animals being born. Animals that have been abandoned aren’t the only ones to find a home at ARK. Elizabeth actively looks for animals being kept in cruel captivity, and challenges those who are doing it. ARK has investigated and prosecuted those that mistreat animals, including a yakuza breeding ring in Saga prefecture. Once these gangster guys might have dealt in drugs or women, now they keep dogs—often in filthy and tiny apartments—and sell their weekold puppies to pet shops. Elizabeth has been physically threatened and even arrested for trying to find out the truth and rescue some of the animals involved, but she refuses to be intimidated or silenced. She spreads information through media interviews, ARK’s website and active social media channels on Facebook and twitter. It’s this courage, steely determination and dedication to helping animals for the past 24 years that earned her one of England’s highest honors, an MBE in 2012. “At the time I was involved with this ongoing yakuza case, so when I got a call from the British Ambassador I thought, uh-oh, maybe I’m being asked to get out of Japan,” she remembered. “When they told me I was getting an MBE, I said, ‘Wow. Let me sit down and have a drink!’” The MBE has brought more media attention to ARK, but it’s a tough ongoing job to raise money and awareness about the plight of animals. When she first set up ARK, Elizabeth used to spend a lot more time personally with hands-on animal rescue and care. But these days, as she’s in her seventies,
she’s more involved with administration, promotional work including lectures, and writing books about her experiences with ARK. Every day she gets up at 6:30am to walk her own dogs, and gets ready to welcome the ARK staff at 7:30am. A morning meeting is held to discuss animals coming in or going out to new homes, and any jobs or volunteers there that day. On Wednesdays, she usually heads to Sasayama, where a new ARK facility is slowly taking shape. The new facility will include a training and education centre, something that’s key to Elizabeth’s hopes for the future of animal welfare. “Education is key,” she said. “The media in Japan often focus on the cute side of owning a pet, they don’t emphasise the responsibility it also involves. They don’t talk about how different animals are suitable for different people. They don’t report on the real truth behind puppies sold in pet shops.” If more people were made aware of the facts, they would surely shun the pet shops and come to a place like ARK instead to adopt an animal. It
seems like an overwhelming task to try and change the mindset of a nation, but Elizabeth doesn’t give up easily. She refers to the success of places like Battersea Cats & Dogs Home in the UK, which has been rescuing and rehoming animals for 150 years. “Of course I want ARK to continue and grow like that,” Elizabeth said. “In the future, I hope that animal welfare in Japan can be brought up to international standards, in particular the control of the pet business, breeders and so on. Also that cruelty is taken more seriously and addressed.” On January 6th 2014, Hyogo prefectural police set up an animal abuse hotline, the first in Japan—so steps are being made in the right direction. Elizabeth still visits the UK once or twice a year now, but her home and her heart are very definitely here in Kansai—among the thousands of four-legged lives she has helped to save. That’s one hell of a legacy in any country.
How you can help ARK Adopt a pet If you can give a safe and loving home to one of ARK’s animals, check the website or Facebook page to learn more about the animals looking for new homes, and the procedure. facebook.com/pages/AnimalRefuge-Kansai-ARK
Donate time ARK Nose is always looking for volunteers to walk dogs, play with cats, clean out kennels, and help groom animals. Even if you have no real pet experience, or can only visit once a month, the animals and staff there will welcome you. People skilled in gardening, maintenance, and photography are always needed to help with specific tasks on site.
A small dormitory is available for those wanting to stay overnight and help.
Donate money NPOs like ARK rely solely on donated money to keep running, so one-off donations, memberships or annual animal sponsorship are just a few of the options.
Donate clothes When you’re looking to clear out your closet, donate your clothes, shoes and bags to Orange Thrifty in Kobe, as they raise funds for ARK. kobe-haberdashery.com/ othriftyrokko/ot-e/otshop-e.html arkbark.net
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