1. Rescuers [Potential~ Fuji Television Crew Japan.
2. Rescuers ~ Off road Bike Club Bandai San (Bandai Yama)
3. Rescuers ~ Kenn Sakurai - Japan Tsunami Pet Rescue
4. Rescuers ~ Tohuku Veterinarian.
march 12th ? 2011- arahama sendai
Crew members
can be seen on Television footage walking through the
decimated town of arahama.
here is an
english translation of the voiceover exchange between the
two reporters in the clip. translation courtesy of toshiyuki
kitamura. source below- this is one of the best translations
published to date
He has a collar. He must be
someone's pet. He has a silver collar. He is shaking. He
seems very afraid.
Oh, there is another dog. I
wonder if he is dead.
Where?
Right there. There is
another dog right next to the one sitting down. He is not
moving. I wonder. I wonder if he is alright.
The dog is protecting him.
Yes. He is protecting the
dog. That is why he did not want us to approach them. He was
trying to keep us at bay.
I can't watch this. This is
a very difficult to watch.
Oh. Look. He is moving. He
is alive. I am so happy to see that he is alive.
Yes! Yes! He is alive.
He looks to be weakened. We
need to them to be rescued soon. We really want them rescued
soon.
Oh good. He's getting up.
It is amazing how they
survived the tremendous earthquake and tsunami. It's just
amazing that they survived through this all."
At least two, and perhaps three reporters/cameramen were present shortly after the tsunami devastated Arahama. The exact time and date as per video evidence was:
The crew were criticised
severely by commentators on You Tube and in email & blogs
for abandoning the two dogs in Arahama and not providing food,
nor water for the desperate animals. The Fuji TV crew
reiterate that they did not have permission to remove the
canines from the vicinity even although they had requested to
do so. [It seems an executive decision was made here by senior
staff at Fuji TV. Perhaps the crew had arrived by helicopter.]
At the same time they did not have any food, nor water with
them in order to provide this to the dogs. As was reported on
page one- one of these men was reported to have been sobbing
at the scene. It is unclear how these reporters arrived at
Arahama [if the film was indeed shot on day one] so quickly,
and confusion regarding the exact time and date of their
arrival is noted.
Rescuers who we are told, apparently found the animals , and
they are stated to have come across the dogs whilst attempting
to find a female resident friend residing in Arahama.
These young men on off road bikes then contacted Kenn Sakurai
of Butch Dog Food & ( who is said to be involved in Pet
Rescue ) for further instructions. It is unclear how they
happened to have the necessary equipment with them, dog
blankets, cages etc.
The crew were also
critisized for misunderstanding the Brittany Spaniel's
intentions. They can be heard discussing the fact that she was
'protecting' her critically ill mate (The English Setter), and
it is obvious that she does not receive a pat, nor any human
contact from them. Although distressed by the circumstances,
the crew have no comfort to offer the two hunting dogs. This
appears to be because of an apprehension that she might become
vicious if they approached too close. However canine lovers
will argue that she was seeking for them to follow with her
desperate woofs, to lead them to her distressed friend.
This was indicated twice by her moving towards the
salted water waste that she was desperate for a drink-and sat
by her pal in order to attract their attention to his fate.
At the same time she was clearly injured herself, as
indicated by her nipping at her sides and chest through-out
the period of the filming.
When help was not forthcoming
in the form of pats, food, water nor any human contact,
Brittany attempts to further draw their attention & to
wake her companion by almost sitting on him. When he does
indeed move and stir, then raised his head, she placed her paw
on it (possibly in order to stop him making too much of an
effort.) Also possibly to show them..."he is alive."
The film is turned on and off
frequently...and it appears to be over an hour before the crew
move away from the area , leaving the two chums behind.
At present we do not know the answer to this
question. Fuji TV to be contacted.
However
it
is possible that Japan Earthquake and Rescue Support was
contacted - prior to their formation as a group. Susan
Mercer of Heart Tokushima was arguably the person contacted.
We will contact you shortly regarding an update to
this question . It is known that Susan and her rescuers went
to Arahama TWICE in order to find the dogs, however they
were nowhere to be found. This evidence lends support to the
fact that the dogs WERE rescued, otherwise their bodies
would have been at the scene. [White Setter was not in any
condition to walk]
Did the Rescue Team discover the dogs that same day - or
the next day- and was this discovery a total accident? After
all the Fuji TV Crew may or may NOT have contacted a Rescue
Group.
UPDATE-
It
has been reported that the rescue team were there at the
same time as the Fuji Film Crew and that they took
possession of 5 dogs once the crew had left the scene.
Mon 28/03/2011
Was there any sign of life in Arahama apart from these two canines? Did EVERYONE die in Arahama?
Unfortunately yes - this does seem to be the case. This writer is in touch with some survivors residing nearby who state that it seems that all residents were swept out to sea- however residents further inland still survive. It seems that possibly 70% of all residents of the entire district were taken by the Tsunami, and are now deceased.
Please see the video in
the Video section here, of one resident & his dog's
amazing escape attempt from a building in Arahama.
Does anyone know the exact
names of the Television crew members?
Not yet, however we shall try to determine this.
They might have more relevant information, however please
remember that the human death toll in this catastrophe
places the Hunting Dogs of Arahama into a situation whereby
their plight, in juxtaposition, pales into
insignificance.
march 25 2011
Duis 英語ホームページ <international.dept@info.fujitv.co.jp>
date 25 March 2011 12:26
subject In relpy to your inquiry re the two
dogs
mailed-by info.fujitv.co.jp
Dear Sandie, [Alexandra]
Thank you so much for your message and we are sorry for
the delay in getting back to you.
Mr. Ken Sakurai from Butch Japan was involved in the rescue.
For more information, please see the following URLs (Japanese
only);
http://www.butch-japan.jp/
http://twitter.com/ButchJapan
Best regards,
1. Rescuers [Potential~ Fuji Television Crew Japan.
2. Rescuers ~ Off road Bike Club Bandai San (Bandai Yama)
3. Rescuers ~ Kenn Sakurai - Japan Tsunami Pet Rescue
4. Rescuers ~ Tohuku Veterinarian.