Okinawa fourth worst in Japan to abandon pets

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Sep. 20^th through 26^th was the Animal Protection Week in Japan.

During that week, the Okinawa Prefecture Nature Conservation Division announced the statistic regarding the number of stray dogs and cats that were taken to the Animal Protection and Control Center in 2011.

During 2011 a total of 7,243 animals were taken to the center; 3,282 dogs and 3,961 cats, of which 86% were put down, earning Okinawa the dubious distinction of being the 4^th worst prefecture of Japan in abandoning pets.

Okinawa Nature Conservation Division Head Technician Tetsuya Oshiro states, “Dogs and cats have a live span of 10 to 15 years. If properly raised and taken care of, the annual cost to have a pet is approx. \300,000 ($3,000). People should foresee this before deciding to have a pet.”