Here’s what happened in June! Mina update Mina, volunteers, and Mina's dad Mina is still in treatment and unfortunately has entered the phase where hair falls out. It’s a difficult time, but she continues to have an upbeat and positive attitude and is supported by her family, staff, and community. Her dad even came to visit! Animal updates Right: Ash the fox; Middle: a baby woodpecker; Right: José the crow Ash the fox has been rehabilitated and released into the wild, and a s

May was a big month! Mina Mina came home from the hospital! She finished radiation and had a break for two weeks before starting another course of chemo at the end of the month. There are a lot of routine adjustments and precautions in place to keep her healthy, but she is happy to be home with the animals, with the team, and with the growing community around the sanctuary. AnimO AnimO, Mina, and Harry the volunteer were featured on an episode of Why Did You Come to Japan? Un

From Mina on April 24: Today was a big moment. We took out the needle from my last round of of the first course of chemo. I’ll start another course at the end of May, and I’ll continue radiation for another 3 weeks… but I get to go home next Friday. I get to cuddle my dogs in bed, and I honestly can’t wait. Something really amazing happened today too. My doctor called me in for an examination. He said he normally waits until after a treatment ends because that’s when the canc

Mina in her new home for the next couple months The biggest update for March is that Mina, founder and animal whisperer, is undergoing radiation chemo and immunotherapy in the hospital. She is away from the sanctuary for about two months while she gets treatment, but she is in daily contact with the amazing on-site team. Things are going pretty well on both sides. If you are interested contributing, there is a GoFundMe to help with treatment costs and an Amazon wish list of i