What’s the Fallout for Dogs Near Fukushima? by Jenny Marder

• “The dogs and cats spotted in Katsurao were were among thousands of pets abandoned after residents were forced to quickly evacuate areas around the Fukushima plant, after the tsunami damaged the facility, causing equipment failures and a release of radioactive materials…Upon visiting the area after the earthquake, [the International Fund for Animal Welfare] found that many local Japanese groups were eager to help with animal rescue efforts, but there was confusion as to whether the animals in the radiation hot spots were safe to handle and how they should be tested for contamination. (As one of our readers pointed out, the Hachiko Coalition is an organization that has done a great deal of animal rescue work in the Fukushima radiation zone.)
• Report – Nuclear Accidents and the Impact on Animals: “A committee of Subject Matter Experts (Appendix A) from Japan and the United States was convened May 2-3, 2011 to discuss animal issues resulting from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.