Pet owners must follow rules to avoid becoming a nuisance for their neighbors. The law also requires the completion of designated procedures, such as notification forms and registration. In this issue, we will explain the rules and procedures for keeping dogs and cats as pets. If you are thinking of keeping a pet, or if you already have one, please follow the rules and enjoy life with your pet.
● If You Own a Dog
If you own a dog, you must obey the following rules as stipulated in the Rabies Prevention Act and the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance concerning Animal Protection and Maintenance.
○ Registration
A dog ninety-one days or older must be registered within thirty days of ownership. The registration fee is 3,000 yen. After you register your dog, you will be issued a dog tag; please attach it to your dog’s collar. If there is any change in the information about your dog or you, you must complete the designated procedures to report the change.
○ Rabies Vaccination
If you have a dog ninety-one days or older, please vaccinate it against rabies between April 1 and June 30 every year (note; fee required). Shinagawa City conducts periodic group vaccinations in April at eighteen designated veterinary hospitals; please be sure to have your dog vaccinated. If you vaccinate your dog at a veterinary hospital or clinic other than the ones offering the periodic group vaccination, please obtain a vaccination certificate from the place and take it to the Public Hygiene Section (Hon Chosha 7F), Shinagawa Health Service Center (3-11-22 Kita-Shinagawa), Ebara Health Service Center (2-9-6 Ebara), or your local community center, and obtain a vaccination completion slip. The handling fee is 550 yen.
○ Manners When Keeping a Pet Dog
Rules for Walking Your Dog
・ If at all possible, have your dog poop before going on a walk. Please take a plastic bag with you in case your dog poops outside, and be sure to take the poop home in the bag for disposal.
・ Please be sure to keep your dog on a leash when taking a walk or in places other than your home, such in the park or a plaza.
Discipline
・ Like human children, basic discipline is necessary in order to live in society. Do not spoil your dog. Firmly teach your dog proper behavior.
・ It is wise to gather information on disciplining your dog from books and magazines, or by participating in a dog-training class. Consulting a specialist such as your veterinarian or a dog trainer is also a good idea.
Dog identification tag
・ You must attach a dog tag/vaccination confirmation to your pet’s collar in accordance with the Rabies Prevention Act.
・ It is also a good idea to attach an ID tag or microchip to your pet’s collar that includes your telephone number.
Health maintenance
・ Observe your dog daily and safeguard its health. If you notice anything unusual, consult a veterinarian promptly. Preventive measures against illness—such as having your dog undergo immunizations—are also important.
○ Dog-Training Classes and Pet Health Consultations
Shinagawa City and the Shinagawa branch of the Tokyo Veterinary Medical Association offer dog-training classes and pet health consultations by veterinarians twice a year.
Note: These programs are conducted in Japanese only.
Inquiries: Public Hygiene Section, Tel: 5742-9132
○ Fun Seminars on Doggy Manners in the Park
To improve the manners of pets in the park, dog-training classes by a police dog trainer—including agility classes, drills, and question-and-answer sessions—are conducted several times a year at Shinagawa Chuo Park, etc. in the autumn and spring.
Note: These programs are conducted in Japanese only.
Inquiries: Park Section, Tel: 5742-6789, Shinagawa Chuo Park Maintenance Office, Tel: 5742-5037
○ If Your Dog is Lost
If your dog has disappeared, please call the Public Hygiene Section first. In addition, your pet may have been found and may be at the Tokyo Metropolitan Animal Protection Consultation Center (Tel: 3302-3507) or at your local police station. If you live near the border of the city, you should also call the public health center of the neighboring city.
○ If Your Pet Dies
If your pet dies, please complete a death notification form. This can be done at the Public Hygiene Section, Shinagawa Health Service Center, Ebara Health Service Center, or your local community center. It can also be filled out electronically. Furthermore, if you are having problems handling your pet’s body, the Shinagawa Trash and Recycling Collection Office collects those that are under 25 kilograms (note: fee required).
The Shinagawa Trash and Recycling Collection Office (Tel: 3490-7051) has jurisdiction over Shinagawa, Osaki, Oi, and Yashio districts. The Ebara Branch of the Shinagawa Trash and Recycling Collection Office (Tel: 3786-6552) has jurisdiction over the Ebara district.
○ Tokyo Veterinary Medical Association Shinagawa Branch Affiliated Animal Hospitals List (designated hospitals that offer periodic group rabies vaccinations)
| Facility Name |
Tel. |
Address |
| Kita-Shinagawa Animal Hospital |
6712-0653 |
1-22-21 Kita-Shinagawa |
| North Animal Clinic |
3446-1212 |
5-12-3 Kita-Shinagawa |
| Shimada Animal Hospital |
3472-1418 |
5-16-17 Minami-Shinagawa |
| Asakura Animal Hospital |
3441-6550 |
2-13-26 Kami-Osaki |
| Royal Pet Clinic |
3763-7200 |
3-16-3 Minami-Oi |
| Tanaka Jiro Animal Hospital |
3298-9898 |
5-23-8 Minami-Oi |
| Otter Animal Hospital |
3773-4809 |
3-3-3 Oi |
| M’s Animal Hospital |
3775-5521 |
5-7-6 Oi |
| Nature Animal Hospital |
3785-7711 |
5-24-13 Koyama |
| Matsumoto Veterinary Hospital |
3786-5406 |
1-1-18 Ebara |
| Tanaka Animal Hospital |
3781-0604 |
6-11-7 Ebara |
| Ikeda Animal Hospital |
3784-0917 |
2-11-2 Hatanodai |
| Furuya Animal Clinic |
3788-4688 |
4-4-19 Hatanodai |
| Kanazawa Clinic |
3785-1169 |
5-7-6 Hatanodai |
| Hoshi Animal Hospital |
3781-5766 |
1-3-3 Togoshi |
| Shibata Animal Protection Hospital |
3787-1874 |
5-4-20 Togoshi |
| Sato Animal Hospital |
3781-8659 |
6-17-8 Yutakacho |
| Hirabayashi Animal Hospital |
3782-7220 |
1-14-14 Futaba |
● If You Own a Cat
Although there are no detailed laws about keeping cats as there are for dogs, in a city where there is a concentration of homes, you should be careful to avoid causing any problems for your neighbors.
To be specific, please observe the following precautionary measures:
・ Keep your cats indoors: This will help to prevent them from running away, damaging things with their poop/urine, and hurting other small animals such as birds. It will also protect them from the danger of traffic accidents and contagious illnesses.
・ Identification tag: Attach a name tag or microchip indicating who the owner is
・ Spaying/sterilization: To prevent unwanted pregnancies
○ Subsidies for Spaying/Sterilizing Your Cat
Shinagawa City offers subsidies to cover part of the cost of sterilizing/spaying your cat (limited to one cat per household). In FY2015, applications are scheduled to be accepted sometime in August and January, and the operations will be conducted in October and March, respectively (on a first-come, first-served basis). To receive a subsidy, please have your cat undergo the operation at an animal hospital affiliated with the Shinagawa branch of the Tokyo Veterinary Medical Association.
FY2015 Subsidy Amounts
Male cat
Shinagawa City subsidy 4,000 yen
Veterinary Medical Association subsidy 4,000 yen
Female cat
Shinagawa City subsidy 8,000 yen
Veterinary Medical Association subsidy 8,000 yen
Note: The abovementioned fees are subsidy amounts set by Shinagawa City and the Veterinary Medical Association. Please note that surgery fees vary according to the animal hospital you use.
Inquiries: Public Hygiene Section, Shinagawa Public Health Center, Tel: 5742-9132
