Elizabeth Oliver ~ Guardian Angel to the pets left behind in Japan
Tragedy struck twice for the countless number of pets in Japan in the Fukushima fallout zone. First when the earthquake and tsunami happened and for those that survived that, the second tragedy was being left behind when their owners were told to evacuate the area. After the evacuation, people were allowed back in to retrieve their essential belongings for two hours. However, they were told to leave their pets tethered in front of their homes for the authorities to pickup.
But for most pets left behind that never happened. In the ten days following, only 15 pets of the estimated 20,000 had been picked up. The rest were left to die. But Elizabeth Oliver, age 70, who is originally from Somerset, England was not about to let that happen if she could help it.
Elizabeth, who is a longtime resident of Japan for the last 40 years, took it upon herself to brave the potentially lethal radioactive levels and rescue those pets that were left behind in the deserted towns within the 12 mile evacuation zone. She enters those areas wearing a protective suit and carries a Geiger counter with her at all times. She is one of only a few that are working to rescue these abandoned pets.
Although her actions might seem like a drop in a bucket to many, it has made all the difference in the world to 197 dogs and 17 cats that have been saved from the area. After Elizabeth rescues the animals they are taken to her Animal's Rescue Kansai shelter in Osaka which is more than 400 miles from the affected area.
Once the animals are in her shelter, she then advertises them for 3 months in order to try to find their original owners. After that time, she then puts then up for adoption if no one claims them.
This rescue effort is not for the weak of heart. Elizabeth has seen a lot of heartbreaking things during this time. But she is a woman of great courage and conviction and is determined to make a difference for the innocent animal victims of Japan's recent tragedy. Despite the risk to her own personal health, Elizabeth flies in the face of the danger to rescue the helpless animals that she so dearly loves. She is truly a guardian angel to these abandoned pets at a time when many seem to have forgotten about them.
Tragedy struck twice for the countless number of pets in Japan in the Fukushima fallout zone. First when the earthquake and tsunami happened and for those that survived that, the second tragedy was being left behind when their owners were told to evacuate the area. After the evacuation, people were allowed back in to retrieve their essential belongings for two hours. However, they were told to leave their pets tethered in front of their homes for the authorities to pickup.
But for most pets left behind that never happened. In the ten days following, only 15 pets of the estimated 20,000 had been picked up. The rest were left to die. But Elizabeth Oliver, age 70, who is originally from Somerset, England was not about to let that happen if she could help it.
Elizabeth, who is a longtime resident of Japan for the last 40 years, took it upon herself to brave the potentially lethal radioactive levels and rescue those pets that were left behind in the deserted towns within the 12 mile evacuation zone. She enters those areas wearing a protective suit and carries a Geiger counter with her at all times. She is one of only a few that are working to rescue these abandoned pets.
Once the animals are in her shelter, she then advertises them for 3 months in order to try to find their original owners. After that time, she then puts then up for adoption if no one claims them.
This rescue effort is not for the weak of heart. Elizabeth has seen a lot of heartbreaking things during this time. But she is a woman of great courage and conviction and is determined to make a difference for the innocent animal victims of Japan's recent tragedy. Despite the risk to her own personal health, Elizabeth flies in the face of the danger to rescue the helpless animals that she so dearly loves. She is truly a guardian angel to these abandoned pets at a time when many seem to have forgotten about them.
This is AMAZING! It takes a special person to do this. I live in Texas and Im so thankful for what shes doing for these animals.
God blesses your good heart...
What an extraordinarily wonder woman. Bless her !
A 70 year old angel was sent to these abandoned dogs and cats! Bless your caring, loving, strong heart for what you are doing to aid these animals!! A loving hug from Oklahoma, and our many rescued dogs (family) so far from you!!
Interesting comment by my young daughter: "It's great that this lady (a foreigner) is saving the animals. The Japanese kill whales, guess they don't care about their animals either".
Shame on the Japanese nation ---TOTAL SHAME!!!
She is truly blessed with a gift of love of all animals. The Japanese are known for their disregard of earth's creatures by pillaging and poisoning them. Elizabeth is a hero!
We in the U.S. cannot judge the Japanese after the extensive tragedies that befell American pets that were left behind to drown or starve during Hurricane Katrina. Like the Japanese pet owners, evacuating Americans were told they could not bring their pets with them. At least they were not made an empty promise like the Japanese pet owners, though. I see in the video/photos several Japanese veterinarians and rescue workers, and much love and anguish on the faces of the pet lovers. Many of the Japanese people have loving hearts for animals.
I agree with BGarland and add that volunteers from Posado's Safe Haven, near my home, went to rescue Katrina pets. All pet rescuers should be gratefully acknowledged, and Elizabeth especially, for going into the radioactive zones. She saw a need and dealt with it.
THE JAPANSESE HAVE A LOT OF KARMA TO DEAL WITH ASKING PEOPLE TO TIE THERE PETS UP TO DIE .
DONT LIKE THAT AT ALL THEN TAKING ON THE U.S STRADEGY OF NOT TELLING THE WOLRD HOW VERY DANGERIOUS
IT HAS BECOME WORSE THEN TRONOBLE . OF COURSE THIS WOMEN IS GREAT SHE IS SIMPLY NORMAL .
THE JAPANESE DID NOT SEEM TO MIND THE ''COVE''' MASS SLAUGHTER OF DOLPHINS EITHER . LOVE THEIR CULTURE BUT THESE ACTIONS NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE .
YOU DONT BUILD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS EVER , BUT TO BUILD THEM ON AN ISLAND ON A FAULT KNOWN TO TSUNAMIS THAT HAVE HELPED DESTROY THIS WORLD AND HOPEFULLY TEACH SOME LESSONS AS GERMANY IS GETTING RID OF ALL NUCLEAR POWER .......THE TIME IS NOW
Firstly, this woman is amazingly, wonderful!
But, these animals being rescued are surely going to be full of radiation? They will develop many tumours, and cancer. They will be so ill, and suffering in the future if not now. Is it safe for these animals to be returned to their owners at this stage? I wonder where Elizabeth is going to take the pets? Perhaps she has made a sanctuary of sorts? I can well understand that employing animal killers is NOT the thing to do, unless done humanely, but some of these abandoned pets might be so ill already that they need euthanising?
The owners will have big decisions to make as to whether to take their pets back or not, as there will be some hefty vets bills, which they may not be able to afford.
My biggest beef here is that; ALL PETS AND ANIMALS ARE PART OF THE FAMILY AND AS SUCH SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT BEHIND. It is our DUTY to love and protect our pets for the rest of their lives! What if everyone who had a pet refused to be rescued without their pet? I know some did in the Katrina crisis, but if EVERYONE insisted their pet-children came with them, (like I would) the rules would have to cater for the animals!
1000000000000000 thanks to this lady !!!!
No, they are not ill. They might, like people who have lived in the evacuated zone, eventually die of cancer, maybe after 10 or 15 years. But they have still many years of good life ahead. I have volunteered a bit for another NPO (JEARS.org) who save animals in the 20-30 km zone from the nuclear power plant, and they are not ill with radiation (though might be ill bec. of other things, as they have been on their own for a long time now).
Oliver takes the animals to Osaka, to a no-kill shelter.