Strays trained as therapy dogs for disaster victims

KAMAISHI, Iwate Pref. — A citizens' organization has begun training four stray dogs found in areas of disaster-hit Fukushima Prefecture to be therapy dogs.

The International Therapy Dog Association accepted the four dogs on Dec. 14 from public health centers in Fukushima Prefecture. The group hopes to train them as therapy dogs to help promote the physical and mental well-being of residents in retirement homes and evacuees in temporary housing.

"It is going to take some time, but we hope the four will turn into therapy dogs and make a contribution to the disaster-hit regions," said Toru Oki, the head of the group.

A large number of dogs were abandoned in areas hit by the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and ensuing nuclear crisis. The environment ministry and the Fukushima Prefectural Government have been caring for them.

Oki said public health centers are full of pets affected by the disasters and that finding new homes for them has been difficult, adding that the association has plans to work with more stray dogs from the disaster-hit areas.