Horrific Abuse Uncovered: Animals Trapped in Filthy Cages by Dog and Cat Rescue

“There was even a cage where three dogs were crammed into a small space. Inside the cage, feces, urine, and newspapers were piled up more than 15 centimeters high. The room was filled with a powerful stench, and nearly 40 dogs and rabbits had been confined in this dimly lit space, without sunlight, for seven years.”

These are the words of Miho Fukumoto, representative of the animal rescue shelter “BeSail_Animal.”

Since July 2019, Fukumoto has been involved in rescuing cats abandoned by their owners due to neglect and stray dogs (hereafter, comments are from Fukumoto).

“The number of animals taken in and euthanized by public health centers is available through surveys by the Ministry of the Environment. However, there are no statistics for the number rescued by private organizations like ours. My impression is that the number is increasing each year. When we rescue dogs or cats, we first provide initial medical care, such as vaccinations. Once they regain their strength and become accustomed to humans, we start looking for foster homes.”

The case described earlier is one of the horrific abuse scenes that Fukumoto witnessed firsthand.

“In September last year, I heard about a man in Satte City, Saitama Prefecture, who was saying things like ‘Could you take about 20 of my dogs and rabbits?’ I sensed something was wrong and went to visit the man. I was shocked when I arrived. Inside a shuttered 20-square-meter room where the animals were kept, there were cages stacked three tiers high, with 19 dogs and 19 rabbits confined inside.

The owner, a man in his 70s, had closed his pet shop around 2017. Since then, for seven years, he had only been feeding the animals ‘just enough to keep them alive’ and had otherwise neglected them. The interior was covered in filth. Some dogs were so emaciated from starvation that they resorted to eating their own feces.”

The former pet shop owner only lamented, “I’m frustrated they didn’t sell,” showing no signs of remorse. Furthermore, he attempted to carry the dogs by grabbing only their front legs, treating them roughly. As a result, Fukumoto and her team decided to take in and protect the animals.

Why dogs and pigs have become unnaturally fat

In Chuo City, Yamanashi Prefecture, an unimaginable scene unfolded at a pig farm.

“It was in January last year. A volunteer living nearby suspected something was wrong after noticing dogs barking and a foul odor coming from the pig farm, so they informed me. When I arrived at the site, I saw strange-looking animals. Normally, abused animals become emaciated. However, at this pig farm, there were nine pigs and 35 dogs that were unnaturally plump. The farm’s owner was also a food waste disposal contractor who collected leftover school meals. To dispose of the food waste, they forcibly fed it to the pigs and dogs. The animals were likely overnourished from consuming human food, which is rich in carbohydrates.”

The dogs were chained so tightly that the chains dug into their necks, leaving them unable to move freely. Additionally, the body of a pig was found being burned on the property, prompting the police to be called to persuade the farm owner to release the animals.

“If it’s not a clear violation of the Animal Welfare Act, we can’t intervene if the owner refuses to hand over the animals. Sometimes we need police cooperation. No matter how abusive they are, owners often have a strong mindset that ‘the animals are my property.’ When persuading them, it’s important not to criticize from a superior position, saying things like ‘You can’t just neglect them!’ Instead, approaching them by saying, ‘It must have been tough taking care of so many animals,’ often helps open their hearts and leads to them willingly giving up the animals.”

Currently, Fukumoto’s shelter is home to 28 dogs and eight cats.

“Feeding costs and medical expenses amount to ¥500,000 to ¥600,000 per month. We have cameras installed, and if a dog barks or something unusual happens, I get notified on my phone even in the middle of the night. I work tirelessly 365 days a year, from morning till night. But since I love dogs and cats, it’s not a burden. I just hope pet owners will show love to their pets. Please don’t treat them as mere ‘tools’ for profit — treasure them as precious ‘family’ with lives of their own.”

Fukumoto stated, “If I hear that dogs or cats are suffering anywhere in Japan, I’m prepared to go.”

From the February 21-28 , 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”