For Dog Owners

When owning a dog, understand its ecology, habits, and physiology, and raise it with love and responsibility until the end of its life. Also, please be considerate of neighbors and people who are not comfortable with animals.

Rules for owning a dog in Minato City

Toileting should be done before the walk.

Feces/urine while walking outdoors can lead to contamination of other people's private property and public areas. Make it a habit to have your dog defecate at home before going for a walk. If the dog defecates during a walk, be sure to pick it up and bring it home. Also, some people find it uncomfortable to simply pour bottled water on the asphalt when the dog urinates because the urine spreads over the asphalt. After absorbing the urine with a pet sheet, apply water so that the odor does not remain, and then absorb water again with the pet sheet so that it does not spread.

Hold the dog's leash short when walking.

Walking off-leash is a very dangerous practice that can harm other people and dogs and has even resulted in death because of traffic accidents. For the safety of dogs and people, always keep your dog on a leash. Walk with a short lead because a long lead may delay your response in the event of an accident or trip another person or entangle a dog. Leads of variable length should be locked in the shortest state.

Rabies shots should be administered once a year.

In order to prevent rabies, Japan's Rabies Prevention Law requires that rabies shots are administered once a year. After your pet receives an injection, report to the Residents Support Section, Health and Welfare Subsection of each Regional City Offices, or to the Life Hygiene Section, Life Hygiene Counseling Subsection of the Minato Public Health Center, and receive an injection certificate, which you should attach to the dog's collar or other equipment.

Are you prepared for a disaster?

If you live with a pet, you must also consider disaster preparedness for your pet. Make sure that you are prepared for the following in case of an emergency.

• Pet food and water, regular medications (at least a five-day supply of each), pet dishes, collars, leashes, toiletries, and other articles as needed.
• Rabies vaccine and other shots
• Rabies shot certificate, lost dog tags, and microchips
• Can you put your dog in a cage without hesitation?
• Can your dog do toileting in a designated area?
• Is your dog afraid of other people or animals?

In the event of a disaster, return to your home with your pets when it is safe. If your home is in danger of collapsing, please evacuate to a city evacuation center that can accept pets with the evacuation supplies for your pets.