Along with the personal effects Chizue Lister packed for her trip to Japan were supplies she now requires – dog leashes, collars, food dishes and water bowls.
The White Rock resident plans to use the items during her personal rescue mission of abandoned dogs and cats trapped inside the 20-kilometre exclusion zone around the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Lister – owner of Yucca Tree Café on Johnston Road – said she felt a need to help after hearing from a friend in Tokyo how animals were left behind when their owners within a 20-km radius from the facility were evacuated due to radiation concerns.
“They couldn’t go back to their homes, then the dogs and cats starve to death up there,” Lister, 39, told Peace Arch News Wednesday, a day before leaving.
“I had a broken heart. I was so sad. I want to do something, so that’s why I wanted to go there.”
Lister departed for her home country Thursday, the same day a 7.4-magnitude earthquake shook northeast Japan, causing massive power outages and triggering a tsunami warning, which was later lifted. There were no reports of casualties as of PAN deadline.
Lister – who lived in Japan until she was 25, when she met her Canadian husband and moved to White Rock – was to first visit her parents’ home in Niigata, where she grew up on farmland with her five siblings.
Lister’s family still lives in the area, which is 200 km outside the plant, and she was able to confirm their safety a couple days after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit March 11.
Her parents’ house – rebuilt after significant damage from an earthquake four years ago – withstood the recent disaster.
Lister planned to travel to the home upon landing in Tokyo to borrow her father’s car and drive to Fukushima with food and water for stray pets.
She had purchased 30 dishes at a local dollar store before leaving and said she would attempt to catch the animals and transport them to shelters in either Tokyo or Yokohama Prefecture, a six-hour drive away. She predicted she could fit five dogs in the car.
Lister said her friend in Japan has gone to Fukushima once before to aid deserted animals, and, while there, had met other volunteers doing similar work.
Lister said she hopes to meet others but is prepared to work alone. She planned to stock her vehicle with food and water in the event she is unable to return to her parents’ home after a busy day and has to stay in Fukushima and sleep in the car.
Asked if she is concerned about radiation, Lister – whose mission is to go five km within the plant – said, “of course.”
She has purchased painters coveralls, a mask and gloves to cover up as much as possible, and is prepared to go through radiation screening each time she exits the exclusion zone.
Lister said she is scared and nervous, and has awoken from restless sleeps asking herself, “What am I doing?”
But her compassion for animals outweighs those concerns.
People have been supportive of her cause, including friends who have contributed funds, and a café customer who donated leashes and collars.
While her husband isn’t fond of the idea, Lister said he understands her determination.
“He knows when I said I won’t stop,” she said. “I love animals. I have always wanted to save (them).”
