With a name like Scallywag, mischief is expected. However, this cutie is more about fun and games.
Ten years old and still a spry fellow, Scallywag came to ARK in March when his former owner was diagnosed with dementia. Now in Tokyo, Scallywag was seriously underweight after he stopped eating because he missed his owner. This dog can't help but love people, though, and with time he started to perk up.
“Wag,” as he is affectionately called, has been gaining weight with proper care and recently hit 11 kilograms, which is perfect for an apartment but a house in the country would also be most welcome.
Despite his age, Scallywag likes other dogs. However, he isn't interested in cats. He’s playful, inquisitive and a bit cheeky. A fun dog looking for a home, please give Scallywag a chance.
If you are interested in adopting Scallywag or any of the other animals below, email ARK at [email protected] or call 050-1557-2763 Monday to Saturday (bilingual) for more information. Tokyo ARK is an NPO founded by Briton Elizabeth Oliver. It is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. All animals are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Prospective owners are requested to undergo a screening process. Web: www.arkbark.net.
Breakups are hard. That’s the unfortunate case whether you’ve got two legs or four. In the case of Candy Floss, this bright girl had been with her owner since the time she was a little puppy, but as her owner advanced in age and realized they couldn’t care for Candy Floss the way they used to, they made the heartrending decision to put their beloved pup up for adoption.
Any of us might have reacted the same as Candy Floss — her first few months at ARK were as stressful and confusing as could be. Gradually, though, she became more accustomed to her new surroundings and started to warm up to ARK staff (especially when there was the promise of a treat). Now, after 9 months, Candy Floss seems ready to find another forever home.
Like her name, Candy is a sweet dog and loves playing with other furry friends. She weighs just over 18 kilograms and is still working on hand-shyness, but she’s doing her best to adjust and is sure to do so given another stable home. Still, it’s worth remembering that she’s making the most of a “ruff” situation outside her control. Despite it all, Candy Floss is a 14-year-old and fully healthy pup who’s putting herself back out there after heartbreak — anyone who’s gone through the same could learn a lesson from her.
Pepper has been at ARK for a decade. In a sense, she has a scarlet letter attached to her. But it isn’t an “A,” it’s an “F.”
Pepper has most likely languished in the shelter due to the stigma of having tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). Due to earlier misconceptions regarding the virus, people still fear it when they shouldn’t. Pepper, who is a sweet and affectionate cat who loves attention has, in a sense, been a prisoner of a lab test label.
The virus, which is now known to be very weak, is no longer the danger it was once believed to be. A cat in a normal household has every chance of living a full, healthy life, as long as any cat that tests negative for the virus. Pepper’s 18-year-old roommate, also FIV-positive, can attest to that. The virus is not transferable to humans and it’s extremely unlikely it could be transferred notwithstanding an all-out, drag-down cat fight. We’re hoping that given the new understanding of what FIV-positive means, Pepper can at long last find a home with a caring, compassionate human friend and leave the sad substitute that is the shelter.
Lychee is a young dog who was rescued from the backwoods of Osaka along with some 20 others pups, with more still in need of help.
While it wasn’t quite a hoarding situation, it was close. Lychee and the others were discovered in horrid conditions of extreme neglect and filth. The dogs were not abused but were at the mercy of a man who was incapable of caring for the two Shiba he said he started with. They were simply left to multiply.
Lychee, who is estimated to be only 4 years old, has been at ARK since April and she is already beginning to bloom, but still only weighs about 9 kilograms. Gone are the skin problems and malnourishment that had afflicted all the dogs. They’ve gained some much-needed weight.
Lychee is an easy-going girl, fine with other dogs but untested with cats. She’s sweet, as are the others, and a little shy. She’ll wag her tail slowly and deliberately and has been called “incredibly charming.” Lychee loves going for walks and doesn’t find them scary. She becomes very excited when people come to see her and is even good at the vet’s.
Though Lychee may need a bit of time to adjust to changes, she’ll surely blossom into a playful, delightful companion. We’re hoping someone will be hers.
This little cutie is Almond. She’s 6 years old and weighs in at just under 11 kilograms, so she’s the perfect size for apartment dwellers. She’s gentle, likes affection and isn’t at all demanding. Almond also likes to sleep a lot, is good with other dogs and isn’t afraid of cats.
From this shining resume, you would never guess that Almond came from a horrific hoarder situation in Shimane Prefecture. There was a particularly notorious case in which 164 dogs were living in one house and Almond was one of the 22 emaciated sweeties that came to ARK.
That was only six months ago and, already, she has filled out beautifully. If you look closely, though, you can see scars around her muzzle that attest to the nightmare she lived. The dogs were barely fed. Ravenous, they were forced to snap away food or starve to death, and most were extremely fearful as a result.
Almond is a gentle dog and though she was initially a bit nervous on walks, she’s much more confident now and well-behaved. The Shimane dogs in general require a bit of patience. On walks, they need to be beside a wall or something solid so they feel protected, or they will panic. Almond tends to freeze. She is improving, however, and time will heal some wounds.
It’s a new world for Almond and though she may look a bit down and out, she’s actually pretty bouncy and up for a bit of fun.
Kochi and Fumi were still kittens when they thought they’d found their forever home. When their owners decided to set off on new adventures, however, the two lovely cats unceremoniously got the boot.
At home one day and with no home the next, being tossed once again into the unknown has done nothing for shy boy Fumi’s confidence, but being with Kochi helps a lot. The two are about 6 years old and though we don’t think they’re related, they are certainly family. The cats mean the world to each other and, actually, we think it would be Kochi who couldn’t live without her friend.
It’s a very important friendship and we hope this time they can find a family that sticks with them through thick and thin. The pair need a real home, a permanent home, not a fair-weather family but one that weathers whatever comes along — together!
Tik Tok is a darling of a dog who was featured on this page over a year ago. Sadly, little has changed since we last caught up with him.
After losing his owner to illness, and other family members unwilling to take him in, he remains a lonely soul. It’s hard to believe, as this 14-year-old Shiba mix with a baby face is a true sweetheart. At just over 12 kilograms, he’s also easy to care for and not a problem in even a small apartment. His legs aren’t quite what they used to be, which means he’s not looking for long walks or dashes around the neighborhood. A short stroll, on the other hand, would be heavenly and we’re hoping he can find someone who agrees.
Tik Tok also loves being stroked and is very happy to be picked up. But most of all he loves his food. A single person open to sharing life with an appreciative and loving companion, or a relaxed, laid-back family would be wonderful for Tik Tok. He would repay the favor a thousand times over.
Ernie is a very handsome red tabby. He’s known around the shelter as a funny guy who runs hot and cold, but mostly hot because there’s not a lap he can resist. He loves being picked up, too.
Ernie lost his residence privilege when his former owner moved to a place that wouldn’t allow cats. Imagine that, one day you have it made and the next you’re out on the street. That’s no way for anyone to be treated.
He was very skinny when he came to ARK, and while the 3-year-old ginger is still on the thin side he has been gaining weight as of late. Ernie can be a bit shy in the beginning but it won’t be long before he gets over that. He seemingly prefers people to cats, which is understandable since he had no other feline friends in his former home.
Ernie’s a great match for just about anyone and any household. He is fine with both adults and children. If personality is what you’re after, red is definitely where it’s at.
Guango may not be the prettiest dog on the block, but he has been around it more than anyone. Though he is already 11 years old, it’s not the years but how they were spent that has left a mark on this dog.
Guango was rescued from something you’d find in a horror film, a hoarding situation in which 160 dogs were thrown together and pretty much left to fend for themselves. Guango’s face is scarred, most likely from fighting with the other dogs. They would have fought over food and, due to living in that horrific situation, the animals wouldn’t have been able to establish a proper hierarchy. Hence, the constant combat. His eyes are whitened, but he can see. Most impressively, Guango is healthy. He is rather sprightly and weighs under 10 kilograms, which is the perfect size for apartment dwellers.
When Guango first arrived at Tokyo ARK, he was extremely fearful. However, volunteers found he would transform while out on walks, practically skipping across the grass with joy. He is learning to enjoy human company but seems to have had enough of other dogs and simply likes to chill out.
Guango is not at all demanding. He’s enjoying the first bit of peace he has had in his life, and we’re hoping someone can show him just how good life can be.
Meryl is a true beauty. An affectionate, gem of a dog whose gentle nature gives no hint of her rather gruesome past. Eight years old, Meryl spent all but the past eight months of her life confined to the basement of a veterinarian’s office, where she was used for blood transfusions that are needed for operations.
Thanks to the actions of American Kerry Anne O’Connor, however, Meryl found her freedom. O’Connor, a longtime resident of Japan, works with vets and dog owners to provide a more compassionate alternative to the sadly common practice of “transfusion animals.”
An incredibly sweet dog, Meryl is rather shy and not used to other dogs or children, but she will warm quickly to people who are gentle with her. Weighing just over 20 kilograms, she is more than ready and willing to discover the world with a family of her own.
If you are interested in adopting any of the pets shown here, email ARK at [email protected] or call 050-1557-2763 Monday to Saturday (bilingual) for more information. Tokyo ARK is an NPO founded by Briton Elizabeth Oliver. It is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. All animals are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Prospective owners are requested to undergo a screening process. Web: www.arkbark.net.
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