We've been thinking seriously about owning a pet for a good 6 months now. On weekends we can be seen hanging over the fence of Yoyogi Park's leash-free zone, except the only ones salivating are us...because we're so desperate for our own pooch. We're kind of pathetic...a childless, dogless couple in their 30s with more than a tad of "cluckiness". haha!
Well, we've come to realise that it wouldn't be fair to have a dog, given we haven't got an outdoor space, just 2 puny little balconies...so we've been investigating the possibility of getting a cat from an animal refuge, such as ARK . I've been reading their website and learning about the ugly underworld of pet breeding . One of the most disturbing trends in Japan, and one that is encouraged by some pet stores, is the idea of trading your old, hagged-looking dog or cat in for a nice, fresh-faced one, as is mentioned in the article under Animal Welfare/Background/The Pet Shop business. Mottainai desho. Or more like HIDOIIIIIIII.
huh? As if pets were disposable, like...chopsticks. Well here's some news! Not even chopsticks should be disposable, dammit. I'm calling for all round, lower consumption. Disposible is dead okay. Sustainable and lifelong is the new in.
Fact:
- Over 400,000 dogs and 300,000 cats are gassed in the hokensho (animal pound run by Dept of Health) of Japan every year.
- Over 73,000 pet dogs and 13,500 pet cats are used in laboratory experiments.
Source: ARK
