FAQ on How to Keep Dogs and Cats

	Questions
Ｑ１	What should I keep in mind when I would like to keep a dog?
Ｑ２	Are there any requirements to keep a dog?
Ｑ３	When should I register my dog and get a rabies shot for it?
Ｑ４	What should I do when my dog bites someone?
Ｑ５	What should I do when my dog is missing?
Ｑ６	What should I do when my dog is dead?
Ｑ７	I would like to keep a dog. Can I get one at a public health center?
Ｑ８	What should I keep in mind when I would like to keep a cat?
Ｑ９	My problem is that stray cats ruin my garden. Will you capture them?
Ｑ１０	Will you adopt my dog and take care of it?
Ｑ１１	Is it possible to return to my home country with my dog/cat?

Ａ１：Keeping a dog requires great care and costs. More specifically, you have to feed it, take it for walks, and look after it every day. In addition, you are required to bear the costs for food, a dog house, tools for care and cleaning, as well as registration and vaccination.
　　Give careful consideration beforehand. Do not abandon your dog for self-serving reasons. Do not keep a dog only because it is cute or if you cannot afford it.

Ａ２：You are required to register your dog once in its lifetime, and have it get a rabies shot every year. You have to leash your dog when you keep it outside or keep it inside your house, in order to keep other people from potential danger.When you take your dog for a walk, make sure that it does not bother other people - have it exercise with a lead on. Do not leave your dog's droppings on the ground. You, as the owner of the dog, are responsible for picking them up.

Ａ３：You are required to register your dog once in its lifetime. In or after 91 days of the birth (or within 30 days after the acquisition) of the dog, have your dog registered at your local municipal office. After registration, a license tag is issued. Put the tag on its collar or on another part of the dog.
　　You must have your dog get a rabies shot once a year. It is conducted during April and June. Inquire at your local municipal office for further information. When your dog gets a rabies shot, a tag which certifies that the dog has got a rabies shot is issued. Put the tag on its collar or on another part of your dog.
　　If you cannot get a rabies shot for your dog during April and June, have it get the shot at a veterinary hospital and report it to the municipal office.

Ａ４：After first-aid treatment for the victim, take him/her to a hospital immediately and have him/her consult a doctor. Tell the doctor, that he/she was bitten by a dog and also about the dog's rabies shots record. The dog's owner is required to report it to the nearest public health center and receive instructions. Your dog needs to have a medical examination by a veterinarian.

Ａ５：Report to a public health center or a police station immediately. In particular, describe your dog's features (breed, sex, size, hair color, whether it wears a collar or not, and other features). In addition, tell them the location where it disappeared and the details of the disappearance. You can also refer to "Mayoi Inu Joho (information about lost dogs)" on the website of Gifu Prefectural Government, which gives you information on dogs that are kept at public health centers within Gifu Prefecture.

Ａ６：Bring the tag which was issued at registration, and report it to the local municipal office.

Ａ８：Make sure to prepare a bowl for eating and a toilet.
　　　It is preferable to bring the cat home in the morning, so that it can get accustomed to the new environment earlier.　When your cat arrives home, it is important to give it a lot of rest.　 There are necessary costs which accompany keeping a cat, such as food and vaccinations.　It is recommended to give your cat a spaying and neutering operation, and keep it inside the house. This can prevent unwanted procreation and decrease its risk of getting an infectious disease or being involved in a traffic accident.

Ａ９：Unlike dogs, capturing cats is not allowed. Dogs may be captured according to the Rabies Prevention Act, but there are no such rules and regulations for cats. Capturing cats may possibly violate laws with regard to animal protection and management, depending on the purposes and manner of capture. In order to prevent cats from entering your garden, taking measures, such as using coffee grounds, pyroligneous acid, vinegar, and cat repellent may be an option.

Ａ１０：Dogs and cats can be taken to public health centers. However, we ask you to look for someone who will take care of your pet instead of you, before you take your pet to a public health center. Should there be nobody else that can keep it, please consult a public health center.

Ａ１１：When you take your dog/cat to a foreign country, you must satisfy requirements for leaving Japan and entering the target country. Contact Dobutsu Ken-ekijo (Animal Quarantine Service) for further information.