From Commerce to Canines

It is generally accepted that our dogs are sensitive to our emotions. Whatever the state of our innermost thoughts, our dogs appear to know what we are thinking. It is then that they respond accordingly, they offer comfort and companionship, solace when needed, but sometimes even more than we can understand.

Hirotaka Saito was in trouble; his business empire was failing, the financial pressure was overwhelming, and the situation was so hopeless that he contemplated the unthinkable: ending his life. With that appalling thought in his mind, he prepared to leave his house for one final time, but one thing stopped him, literally, because standing in the way blocking his exit was his 70-pound pet dog. Had this intuitive canine read his mind? Had it really realised that his master was so far in the depths of despair that he would do something so final. Well, I have spent my whole life training dogs and dealing with behaviour issues and probably alongside others in this line of work, none of us can even begin to know with any degree of certainty that the dog in question knew what Hirotaka had in mind. We would probably all agree that this perceptive canine knew that his human was in a very dark place and acted accordingly.

Hirotaka did not commit suicide but came to the conclusion that the actions of his dog that day had saved him, and he decided that for the rest of his life he would rescue dogs, thus honouring the dog that had prevented him from taking his own.

He sold what was left of his business and his precious Ferrari and used the money to buy a plot of land and started  Wansfree Canine Rescue. This, however, is not just another shelter for homeless strays; this is a rehabilitation centre for the dogs with serious aggression issues, the ones that have no chance of permanent adoption due to their unstable behaviour. Coming from all over Japan, many of the dogs are due to be euthanised as rehoming is impossible. Hirotaka is ably assisted by his two canine “assistants”, Neneji and Torajiro, who both have a calm, gentle nature, thus assisting the new arrivals to benefit from their new circumstances.

A second chance

These damaged dogs that arrive are generally the result of cruelty, neglect, ignorance and bad breeding. The one common denominator for the cause of this misery heaped upon these badly disturbed dogs is us, the humans. They didn’t ask to be badly bred by breeders for profit; they didn’t ask to enter this world where domestication results in abuse that results in their miserable existence.

Dealing with these animals can be dangerous. If  Hirotaka is vigilant and reads the warning signs, he will be able to anticipate an unprovoked attack. In my experience, understanding a dog’s body language is critical, particularly the eyes. Experience will give a couple of seconds’ warning. Unfortunately, regardless of experience, some will attack without warning, and this requires a degree of protective clothing. This creates its own problem as the genuine kit is bulky and presents a difficulty. A full attack suit is very heavy and cumbersome, restricting movement, and can present a silhouette that a dog can see as threatening.

Hirotaka has decided to take a non-confrontational approach and only wears 3 pairs of gloves at a time to protect his hands. The danger of this is that the risk doesn’t just come a bite but from the pounds per square inch pressure that results from a dog bite. Even if the bite doesn’t penetrate the skin, the damage from a crush injury can be extremely debilitating. An Akita inu can achieve a pressure of 300-400 psi.

The shelter has no cages or chains, allowing the residents to roam free with virtually no supervision. This will be a canine utopia, particularly as some of these unfortunate animals will have been delivered to the shelter in chains, so dangerous was their reputation. The only supervision comes at meal times, when it would be too risky to allow the residents to monitor themselves, particularly with their reputation.

The risks involved

He will have to deal with some very powerful canines that are native to Japan, including the Akita inu, the Shikoku, the Kishu inu and the Tosa inu. This final one, known as the Japanese Tosa, is banned from entering the UK as it is considered to be so unstable that it is a danger to the general public.

Going from the complexities of running a business to running a shelter for delinquent dogs is a rather big jump.

In a world where euthanasia is often considered a first option. It is heartening to come across a story like this, particularly as this man, not content with what he has already achieved, has ambitions way beyond into the future. By 2028, Hirotaka anticipates acquiring more land and hiring up to 300 staff, assuming that he can raise the funds. Furthermore, he will continue to campaign for a halt to euthanasia at government shelters. This is an individual who is at peace with the world, his life has purpose, and as he says, he is so grateful for the second chance given to him by his dog. I have never met this man, and I never will, but knowing what he is facing in the years ahead, I wish him well.