General Jan 19, 2021
Animal rights groups warn the surge could see pets abandoned once lives return to normal after the virus is defeated.
National Jan 12, 2021
Aichi city aims to give ‘dropout’ service dogs a second life
The city of Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, is utilizing Japan's furusato nōzei hometown donation system to support a second life for dogs that fail to become service animals. There is currently no public support for such dogs, according to the Japan Service Dog Association. "There are ...
National Nov 4, 2020
Japanese health officials find 164 dogs crammed into tiny house
Japanese health officials have found 164 emaciated dogs crammed into a tiny house in one of the country's worst cases of animal hoarding, an animal rights activist said Wednesday. The parasite-infested animals were found in a 30 square-meter (323 sq. foot) house in the city ...
National Oct 27, 2020
Runaway police dog found after search on Hyogo's Mount Nagusa
A police dog that ran away during an operation to locate a missing woman on mountain in Hyogo Prefecture was found Tuesday after an extensive search. The 2-year-old German shepherd, nicknamed Kureba-go, was discovered at around 9:40 a.m. nearly two days after escaping on Mount ...
National / Crime & Legal Oct 7, 2020
Dog trained to support child victims makes rare court appearance
At present, there are four courthouse dogs in Japan and it is believed the case is the first in which a dog has appeared in court.
National Sep 24, 2020
Akita paper launches English site to spread word on beloved dogs
The site is dedicated to the popular breed and run by the Akita Sakigake Shimpo.
National Aug 20, 2020
‘Monkey dogs’ and tech keep crop-eating simians at bay in Nagano
At present, 21 such dogs are used to control the around 900 monkeys estimated to live in the city.
National Aug 3, 2020
Japan confirms first cases of COVID-19 in pets as two dogs test positive
Two pet dogs belonging to two coronavirus patients have tested positive for the coronavirus, a pet insurance company said Monday, marking the first cases in which infection of a pet has been reported in Japan. The two dogs have not shown any symptoms and one ...
World / Social Issues Jul 18, 2020
Superheroes praise U.S. 6-year-old who saved sister from dog attack
Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Spiderman ... superheroes have lined up in recent days to praise the courage of a 6-year-old boy who was mauled while saving his little sister from a dog attack. "You're a hero, what you did was so brave, so selfless, ...
National Jun 9, 2020
Wasao, an Akita dog who earned nationwide popularity for his unique looks, has died at age 13, believed to be equivalent to around the early 90s in human years, a support group said Tuesday. The big, white furry canine with a squinty-eyed face died Monday. ...
National / Science & Health May 23, 2020
The local government in the city of Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, has announced that a person who traveled from the Philippines had developed rabies — the first case in Japan in 14 years. The municipal government said Friday that the patient, whose sex, age and nationality ...
World May 16, 2020
COVID-19 sniffer dogs: The U.K.’s latest attempt to tackle the coronavirus
The U.K. hopes to develop a new weapon in the global war against the coronavirus pandemic: COVID-19 sniffer dogs. A £500,000 ($605,000) government program to find new ways of fighting the pandemic that’s gripped the nation since March will back clinical trials to train dogs ...