[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by dogsbody70

what spaces are there to exercise dogs? can they use public parks?

People here are very vigilant about walking their dogs. You will see people out at all hours of the day and night taking their dogs on long walks. You can use public parks, though the dogs need to be leashed. However, there are dog friendly parks and dog runs where they do not need to be on a leash and can run about.

I had heard of japanese owners getting rid of their dogs by shoving them down a rubbish shute.

While I am sure that maybe there has been someone who has gotten rid of their dog by trash chute, I assure you it is not normal, common, or even vaguely acceptable behavior. There are cruel and terrible people everywhere - as I said, should I be judging everyone in the UK as pet abusers if I can find a story of someone tossing a dog into the trash? Wasn't there a story a bit back about a woman caught on camera chucking cats into trash bins and closing them in there to die in the UK?

Also, I have never seen a rubbish chute in Japan. They are so incredibly rare to begin with that even if everyone who had one were tossing their dogs down it, it would still be less than a fraction of a percent of dog owners.

I did see a programme about owners with their pampered dogs being forced to wear designer clothes and those dogs were obvioiusly uncomfortable. surely dogs have their own fur?

And as I said before, television loves to hunt down the strangest most extreme examples of anything and treat it as if it is the norm. Should everyone in Japan be judged on the behavior of some strange individuals who dress their dogs up in designer clothing? The great majority does not do this. I am sure that I could find people in the US and UK who do similar things... But because they are not exotic and "strange" like Japan, making a program about them would be no fun as it would be completely clear to anyone watching that not everyone does that. However, when it is somewhere far away like Japan... Well, television knows it can say pretty much anything it likes to get ratings.
Trust me, people display just as much shock and horror at people who treat their dogs like little fashion accessories.

I have seen pictures of AKITAS wearing garments-- well considering the thick coat of the akitas its ridiculous and humilating.

You may not realize it, but most of the photos you see of pets in clothing are one off events. Someone dresses their dog up for a photo (usually for new years cards or the like), takes the picture, and then is done with it. I have never, even once, seen a dog actually being taken out and walked around in anything more fashionable than a raincoat or little booties in the winter.
Does 5 minutes in a little outfit once or twice a year really torture an animal that much? You write as if people put these clothes on them and keep them dressed all the time.

these owners are not dog lovers-- they just like to show off their pet in matching accessories.

So... Thinking of your pet as close to a child, and wanting to dress them up in a cute outfit for a matching photo is a sign that they do not care about their dog?
I think that the weird culture that has been popularized by socialites in the US of carrying a little dog around like a fancy accessory is silly... But I really do not see why all the dog owners of Japan should be judged based on the behavior of a select few.

Yes there is abuse in this country and that makes me angry too. Breeders need to be extra careful where there pets go.

The RSPCA inspects the homes of people who want their rescue dogs.

It's people who are the problem as always. give me animals any day.

Years ago there was bear baiting with dogs-- these poor bears who were taken and used as a dancing bear-- then dogs would be encouraged to bite them. also badger baiting whicn secretly still goes on

Like the cock fighting and dog fighting. We are supposed to have rid this country but there are always these cruel people who use animals for their own sport. URGH.

This is exactly the point I am tying to make. You are judging Japan based on the behavior of a select few... But at the same time, assigning that same group of select few in your own country to the category they should be assigned to; that of horrible and cruel people who are not the norm.

The worst mainstream problem in Japan are people who get a dog, love the dog, and want the dog to have the "experience" of having puppies... So breed their dog, but then find that they simply cannot deal with a full litter of puppies, especially with mixed sexes and the costs of shots, registration, and preventing more puppies. Add to this that people often think that it would be best for the dog to select their own mates, so do not stick with the same breed... This leads to an unfortunate number of puppies who they are unable to find homes for (most people are wary of private breeders)... This sadly leads to puppies being sent to shelters, where the majority inevitably end up being disposed of.
I have, sadly, heard of more than a couple cases of people who bred their dog, got her fixed immediately, wanted to keep all the puppies... But took too long to get the puppies fixed and ended up with a litter between siblings. And no one wants any puppies that are at a high risk of health problems due to inbreeding.

The fact is, most people simply cannot have pets due to their housing arrangements. The people who do have pets usually care very very much about them. Getting a dog here is not something you can do on a whim... There is just too much of a financial burden.

I do not trust dedicated breeders (dedicated as that is their main source of income, not their feelings toward the work) here or in any other country. But I do trust private owners, as I have seen nothing but loved and pampered dogs in my years of living here.