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- abandonment / crime / illegal disposal / Kittens / Pets / Zoo
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More most people, taking care of a pet means being responsible for it and seeing it through to the end of its life.
Unfortunately, however, there are many people who fail to fulfill their responsibilities as pet owners and abandon their pets for their own reasons.
Fukuyama Municipal Zoo outraged at pet abandonment
On October 19th, 2022, Fukuyama Municipal Zoo, a public zoo in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture updated its Twitter account.
Normally, this account provides information on the daily lives of the zoo's animals and zoo events, but this day's post was different from the usual.
Around noon that day, five kittens were found abandoned in cardboard boxes near the zoo's entrance.
"Around noon, 5 kittens were put in an orange box and dumped at the gate of the zoo! We have contacted the police and other relevant authorities and have responded to the situation, but we are both angry and frustrated! It is a crime to abandon an animal! Moreover, zoos are not places where animals that can no longer be kept are taken in. Please stop doing this!"
Perhaps the person who abandoned the kittens thought that the zoo might take them in. However, as Fukuyama City Zoo says, zoos are not appropriate places for this.
Fukuyama Municipal Zoo's complaint spread. Online, many people voiced their disbelief that anyone would do such a thing, leaving comments such as: "I can't believe it..." and "This is so terrible, I cried."
Other reported cases of pet abandonment at zoos
Sadly, it is not uncommon for people to abandon their pets at zoos.
In 2019, Labrador retriever and golden retriever puppies were abandoned at the Utsunomiya Zoo in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, on three separate occasions. In total, more than 20 animals were abandoned.
Some people bring their pets to the zoo because they feel they can't handle them anymore or because their neighbors have complained. But whatever the reason, it's a lack of responsibility to callously abandon them.
Abandoning pets is a crime
According to Japan's Law Concerning the Protection and Management of Animals, abandonment of an animal is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to one million yen.
It's a crime to abandon an animal for any reason. It's not kindness to impose pets on others by abandoning them at their doorstep, whether it's a private residence or a zoo.
Hopefully, Fukuyama Municipal Zoo's complaint and stern warning won't go unheeded...