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LATEST NEWS ~NOVEMBER 2011





doggy


Latest News about Arahama Dogs. 2nd November 2011.

All previous updates on this website were  provided by Kenn Sakurai- President of Butch Pet Food in Japan. He has stated that he was not the primary source of information regarding the actual physical rescue of these 2 dogs, which was also published on his Facebook profile, and to the various animal rescue sites,  and elsewhere as well as this website; the majority of the updates were stated to have been provided to him by the various rescuers concerned (his associates).  Note that he did not rescue , or state that he rescued these animals himself. In light of the most current news it is our aim to fully investigate this matter in depth, and report back here as to the results of our findings.  If there is any way at all we can provide comfort and relief to the genuine owner of these two dogs, then it our intention to do that immediately.

Is this the English Spaniel of Arahama, the missing dog said to be named Lee Chan?


whitey


THE DOG WE NICK-NAMED WHITNEY- IS THIS REALLY LEE CHAN?

Lee Chan, [who the owner is desperate to locate] is the apparent name of the MISSING English Spaniel who was being guarded by his devoted mate reported to be named Mei Chan , the Brittany Spaniel found recently- living with her female owner in Arahama, according to Ms Akiko Fujimura, Director of Japan SPCA- This information is conflicting with the information that has been reported by the apparent rescuers previously.
[Please see report below].

The  photo above is being published here today for the first time in the hope that if this IS a missing dog, then this photo will establish once and for all to the owner, whether or not her female 8 year old English Spaniel was rescued by the  young male  teams said to have worked in conjunction with Mr Sakurai. In which case the other dogs they are supposed to have rescued that day did NOT include the 'Guardian Brittany Spaniel'.
(5 dogs rescued in total is now the figure being stated by the source)

Alternatively, one must accept that possibly there were no rescues at all that day, and the previous reports from the rescuers & passed on to thousands of followers were bogus. On the other hand some have argued that the Brittany Spaniel photographed by Akiko Fujimura in Arahama could be different dog. However it does  look VERY much like the Brittany Spaniel we admire so much for her loyalty & devotion; therefore we have a dilemma.

If this photo above, of the English Setter is indeed NOT the dog who is apparently missing , then many many questions arise as to the validity of ALL previous reports emanating from the one source. If this is the missing dog, and the owner identifies it as such,  then who is the owner that is said to be a Widow, and who it is claimed , has reclaimed both the Brittany Spaniel & this dog above, and who signed a confidentiality agreement with Mr K. Sakurai?

At the same time, Mr Sakurai has stated recently, that a 3rd owner has come forward, an elderly man, providing legal documentation in order to re-claim HIS dogs. The YouTube dogs are HIS according to his statement.

Also, we have been notified that another party has stated they have evidence that both dogs are DEAD! We do NOT believe this to be the case, especially in light of Akiko San's investigations.

It is genuinely hoped that we can collectively use our investigative skills in order to resolve this mystery.

The photograph above was provided to us in April, however was NOT published then due to apparent Privacy concerns and a confidentiality agreement said to have been signed by the parties concerned.


TSUNAMI DOG OF ARAHAMA- FOUND ?
BRITTANY SPANIEL FOUND WITH HER OWNER ALIVE AND WELL .

Akiko


As reported today by Akiko Fujimura ABOVE, of Nippon Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and published on the Life With Dogs Website- 
http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2011/11/tsunami-dog-found/

藤村晃子さんは “STAY TOGETHER” TSUNAMI DOGS  で知られているNippon SPCAの責任者の一人です。この長い７ヶ月間たくさんありました質問などのアップデートです。



The Brittany Spaniel said to be named - Mei Chan- was apparently discovered in Arahama living with her owner, who is also said to have reported to Akiko Fujimura:  that she found Mei-Chan waiting patiently for her outside the elementary school which can be seen in the background of the YouTube Video of the Arahama Tsunami Dogs.

At the same time the owner is said to have stated that SHE found the Brittany herself either on the day of the tsunami or very soon afterwards, and that no-one else rescued her dog. Akiko Fujimura of Nippon SPCA reiterated that she went to Fukushima on a dog rescue mission and whilst in the vicinity found the owner of the Brittany Spaniel, who also owned the 8 year old female White Setter.  Akiko has provided convincing photographic evidence of herself with the dog concerned (see below), and gathering by the spot pattern marks on the coat, the dog appears to be the 'Tsunami Brittany' , or otherwise a very good doppleganger.

Ms Akiko Fujimura has reprimanded Mr Sakurai in the article for his very public critisism of her organisation, Nippon SPCA, and others involved in rescue work in Japan. Please see link above for further information.

It is possible that of the 5 dogs said to have been rescued that day, only the English Setter was amongst them. Until we have further news from the owner though, we cannot speculate further. The mystery remains, however if  the story holds true and at least one of the dogs was rescued by the team, then whose dogs did this apparent Widow adopt?  Having said that, we still do not have any written proof that this apparent Widow was in fact the genuine owner of either dog or who in fact she really is.
Some have mentioned that there does seem to be a size discrepency between a fully grown Brittany Spaniel, and the one that Akiko is holding, however it must also be remembered that, if this is Brittany from YouTube Video fame- then Akiko has reported that Mei Chan is stated by the owner to be only 17 months old at present, which obviously means that she was a 12 month old juvenile at the time of the Tsunami.


britty


Akiko Fujimura is the Director of the NSPCA-
 All Nippon Japanese Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
She is also a Television & Film writer as well as a Journalist.


Please note that all archived material will be available again once the facts pertaining to the genuine ownership of both of these dogs has been established. In order to avoid conflicting information that may be misinterpreted, it is best to wait until all reliable reports have been thoroughly scrutinised.  A forum will be up and running on this website shortly, please visit Felissa Elfenbein's excellent blog- The Two Little Cavaliers- where you can express your thoughts pertaining to the latest developments.  Please look for the latest news on Felissa's home page, which should be online on the evening of the 4th of November.

We will be providing further updates on this story as they come to hand. Mr Sakurai has been contacted for his response to the latest developments. We are awaiting further information from him.


NEWS MARCH 2011 IS ARCHIVED HERE: removed until further notice.
           NEWS APRIL 2011 IS ARCHIVED HERE: removed until further notice.
         NEWS MAY 2011 IS ARCHIVED HERE: removed until further notice.
            

FORUM AVAILABLE HERE: Shortly



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