Animal Shelter Fined

Exotic animal shelter in central Chiba fined 100,000 yen for violation of the Animal Protection and Management Act

Several reports received in autumn 2023 led to Public Interest Foundation for Animal Environment and Welfare Eva and ARK jointly filing criminal charges against an exotic animal shelter in central Chiba Prefecture. Charges included violating the Animal Protection and Management Law by keeping a large number of animals in an unsanitary environment with accumulated excrement.

On February 20, 2025, the Togane District Public Prosecutors Office filed a summary indictment against the operator of the facility; a summary or for a fine of 100,000 was issued by the Togane Summary Court on February 27. The disposition was confirmed in March.

In addition to dogs and cats, the facility housed a wide variety of exotic animals including meerkats, squirrel monkeys, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, bats, macaws, parrots, hawks, pigs and emus. The animals were not appropriately managed. The facility was in such a state of disrepair that volunteers were at a loss for words. In addition, the facility had not been registered as a Type II Animal Handling Facility, despite the number of animals housed there.

Even if self-proclaimed animal protection or welfare organizations which have filed a Type II notification are fined for violating the Animal Welfare and Management Act, the current law cannot force them to cease operations. The organization in question is currently operating in a different location.

ARK strongly supports an amendment to the law which will require registration, rather than simply notification, of Type II animal handling facilities, so that organizations convicted of violating the Animal Welfare and Management Law will be prevented from continuing their activities.