A few businesses in Japan have started giving “family allowances” to pet owners, granted it’s only about $9/month, and not many are doing it… However, when I read the following post regarding how pets are treated in Japan, I was grateful that someone was doing something, no matter how small (warning, it will make animal lovers cry):

At least they’re trying to get Japanese people to think of animals as more than just toys or fashion accessories. It can be really sad seeing the situation animals are in over here. Japan doesn’t have the same system of animals advocacy and shelters like in the West. Most only hold animals for a week or two waiting for the owners to claim it. Euthanasia rates are nearly 100%. Most people opt to buy a puppy mill pet store puppy than adopt. Then, when it’s not cute anymore or becomes inconvenient they get abandoned or euthanized. When I first moved into my apartment here, my ward office gave me a Helpful Tips Pamphlet. Once section had info on where to license your pet. If you move and cannot take your pet, it said, please bring it to one of the following animal control locations for disposal. :’(

With dogs, its not such a problem. It’s easier to prevent a dog pregnancy than a cat pregnancy. Cats get the short end of the stick.Getting an animal fixed can be damn expensive (my five pound male cat has an appointment this month for a neautering, its going to cost 200 dollars) and a lot of people just don’t bother getting it done.
Neighborhoods get together every so often, gather up all the local kittens, tie them into bags and toss them into rivers rather than get their cats neutered.

I don’t want to sound like I’m bad mouthing Japan. I love this country, but its still Asia. Asia is no known for it’s great animal treatment.