Unmasking the Dark Truth: Where Do Rescue Dogs and Cats Really Come From
More and more people are considering adopting rescue dogs and cats rather than buying them from pet shops. The term “rescue dogs and cats” has become so popular that it can be said to be a kind of fad. However, behind the scenes, a new pet business called “rescue business” or “subcontractor animal protection” has appeared, which takes advantage of the fad to take in retired breeding dogs and cats from breeders and recruits foster parents for them under the name of rescue dogs and cats (hereinafter referred to as animal protection business).
“I think it’s a wonderful thing that the terms “rescued dogs and cats” have become commonplace in society rather than being something special, and that more people are choosing to become foster parents. But behind the scenes, animal protection businesses are gradually spreading. Animal protection businesses trample on the goodwill of those who want to become foster parents. Furthermore, they are an unforgivable act that threatens the existence of animal protection organizations that work hard,” says Sugimoto Aya, an actor, animal rights activist, and chairperson of the public interest incorporated foundation Animal Environment and Welfare Association Eva.
In the first part, “Aya Sugimoto warns about the reality of unscrupulous animal businesses that take advantage of the popularity of ‘rescued dogs’ and ‘rescued cats’,” she explained what the animal protection business is all about. In the second part, we continue to talk to Sugimoto about how to spot organizations that are running shady animal protection businesses.
Interview and text by Yoko Makino
An awareness poster created by the Public Interest Foundation Animal Environment and Welfare Association Eva for Animal Welfare Week asks the question, “Where will you get your pet from?”
Aya SugimotoActor, writer, dancer, businessman, Liberata producer,Eva, a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for Animal Environment and WelfareChairman of the Board. In 2014, she established the General Incorporated Foundation Animal Environment and Welfare Association Eva (now a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation), and as its chairman, she is devoting herself to animal welfare activities. She has also written books such as “I Can Hear the Screams of the Animals – Would You Still Buy a Life? (Wanibooks PLUS)” and “Animals are not ‘things’! Aya Sugimoto speaks out against the ‘revision’ of the Animal Welfare Law” (Horitsu Bunkasha).
Where did the rescued dogs and cats come from?
Even if we know that animal protection businesses exist, can ordinary people, especially those who are considering adopting a rescue dog or cat for the first time, spot the fake organizations disguised as such? Sugimoto shared some points to check.
「If you see only purebred dogs and cats at an adoption event, you should be suspicious.In other words, if the same types of dogs and cats as those lined up in pet stores are available, there is a high possibility that breeders are behind the scenes. However, there are cases where breeders go bankrupt and dogs and cats are rescued, and in those cases, only purebreds are available in large numbers at adoption events.
Be careful with obviously purebred cats and dogs. Photo/iStock
The important thing is thatListen carefully to the background of the rescue dog or catIt’s a good idea to ask the staff there and then what circumstances led to the dog or cat being rescued. If you don’t get a clear answer to your question, it’s likely that they’re an animal protection business or a subcontractor connected to a breeder.
For example, if an organization is willing to explain things like, “This cat was rescued because the breeder died suddenly in such and such a place in Chiba prefecture and it was left abandoned with nowhere to go,” then you’ll know the background clearly. But if they reply, “No, I don’t really know,” or never answer, saying, “We don’t have anyone who can explain,” then it’s best to be suspicious.”