If you decide to keep a dog or a cat, be sure to take full responsibility for the animal. This includes learning about effective disciplining techniques and taking care of the pet's health. Be sure that your pet is not causing trouble for your neighbours. If you have a cat, be sure it is not ruining gardens or damaging cars. Be a responsible owner and have your pet spayed or neutered. Tsukuba provides a subsidy towards spaying and neutering pets. (See below.) Remember, cats are not social animals so they don't respond to "dominant leaders" in the same way that dogs do. Cats respond better to being treated as a partner. Trying to discipline a cat by hitting it or trying to assert dominance in another way will not work.
Pet owners are required to make sure their pets do not inconvenience other residents nor pose a danger in anyway. They must also be mind-ful that not everyone in this world likes dogs and cats. If you choose to have a pet, make sure to carefully consider all of the responsibilities that go along with it. Please train your pet, not just take care of it.
Many apartment complexes do not allow pets. Please check before you sign the lease.
By law, you must register and vaccinate your dog if it is more than 90 days old. Also, rabies vaccinations must be given once a year. This can either be done at your regular veterinarian's office or at the mobile units that tour the city in April. (See the April 1 and May 1, 2005 Japanese newsletter for the schedule.) The fee for both registration and vaccination is 5300 yen, and for vaccination only it is 3300 yen. Rabies vaccinations must be given once a year. If you are taking the dog to one of the mobile units, be sure to keep your dog on a short leash that s/he cannot escape from. If this is your first time to register your dog, please tell one of the staff at the location. If you received a postcard in the mail about this registration, bring it with you. Attach the vaccination sticker to your dog's collar immediately. Notify the city if your dog passes away, you move, or any other changes occur. (Environment Division)
A huge number of stray animals are put down in Ibaraki because the pet population is not under control. The City will provide a 4000 yen subsidy towards spaying female cats or dogs and 3000 yen towards neutering male pets. The animal must be over 6 months old and dogs must be registered in Tsukuba and vaccinated. Owners must be registered residents of Tsukuba. This subsidy will be available while funds are available. Please be a responsible owner and have this operation done on your pet. Application forms at branch offices of City Hall. Contact the Environment Division for more information.
If your pet goes missing, be sure to call the Ibaraki Animal Administration Center right away to find out if it has been picked up. The Center only keeps the animals for 4 days (including the day they were brought in) - so don't hesitate to call. They also have a bulletin board for owners to post information about their lost pets. Please be sure to put a collar on your pet that clearly shows your contact information.
If you can't take care of your pet, please try very hard to find it a new home. If you can't, you can bring the pet to a shelter, where it will be held for a short time before being destroyed. From October 1, 2004 you will have to pay a fee (in cash) to have the pet taken in. 400 yen for cats and dogs under 90 days old and 2000 yen if they are older. Contact the Ibaraki Animal Administration Center for details.
If you wish to take your pet/pets overseas, check with your destination country's embassy or consulate in Japan, or with the Narita Airport Branch Office of the Animal Quarantine Station concerning the necessary procedures to follow.
Please consult the Animal Quarantine Service (under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries) website at http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/im_index.html for information about bringing animals into Japan.
There are three types of assistance dogs: guide dogs for visual impairments, hearing dogs, and service dogs for physical impairments. Assistance dogs have legally been allowed in public facilities, stores, hotels, and restaurants since 2003. Please remember that assistance dogs are not pets. You should not approach an assistance dog or attempt to pet one as that will distract it from its important work.
Topics: Pets
Relevant for: Newcomers, Residents
Please note: While all efforts have been made to offer accurate and up-to-date information on this site, the information is presented as a guideline and is subject to change without notification. Phone numbers, addresses, and/or policies may have changed since this page was created. Please contact the appropriate section of the City Hall for confirmation of information and city policies.