世論 What Japan Thinks

The Cabinet Office Japan released the results of a survey last month into animal welfare. Note that the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals mentioned later in the survey has an official English translation, if you’re interested in that.

Demographics

Between the 2nd and 12th of September 2010 3,000 people over the age of 20 chosen at random from resident registers were approached to complete a face-to-face questionnaire. 1,939 people were available and completed the survey, a response rate of 64.6%. 54.8% of the sample were male, 9.2% in their twenties, 16.1% in their thirties, 16.5% in their forties, 17.1% in their fifties, 21.2% in their sixties, and 19.9% aged seventy or older.

Comparing the answers for cats and dogs, I don’t really know why pet cats run twice the risk of getting their wedding tackle removed!

Research results

Q1: Do you like or dislike keeping pets? (Sample size=1,939)

Love it	23.4%
Like it	49.1%
Dislike it	21.8%
Hate it	3.3%
Don’t know	2.4%

Q2: Do you keep a pet at home? (Sample size=1,939)

Yes (to SQ1)	34.3%
No (to SQ2)	65.7%

Q2SQ1: What kinds of pet do you have? (Sample size=666, multiple answer)

Dog (to Dog1 onwards)	58.6%
Cat (to Cat1 onwards)	30.9%
Fish	19.4%
Bird	5.7%
Insect	3.6%
Rabbit	3.3%
Rodent	2.7%
Reptile	2.6%
Amphibian	1.8%
Other mammal	1.1%
Other non-mammal	0.2%
Don’t know	—

Q2Dog1: Do your dogs have collars, microchips, or other ways to mark them as having an owner? (Sample size=390)

Yes, all dogs have them (to Dog2 and Dog4)	33.8%
Yes, some dogs have them (to Dog2, Dog3, and Dog4)	2.1%
No (to Dog3 and Dog4)	64.1%
Don’t know (to Dog4)	—

Q2Dog2: How are they marked as having an owner? (Sample size=140, multiple answer)

Collars	73.6%
Name tags	25.7%
Microchips	12.1%
Other	2.1%

Q2Dog3: Why aren’t your dogs marked as having an owner? (Sample size=258, multiple answer)

Don’t see the need for them	71.7%
Too much bother	12.0%
Dogs don’t like it, seems cruel	8.1%
Costs money	2.7%
Other	8.1%
Don’t know	4.3%

Q2Dog4: Have your dogs been neutered? (Sample size=390)

Yes, all dogs have been	30.8%
Yes, some dogs have been (to Dog5)	5.1%
No (to Dog5)	62.3%
Don’t know	1.8%

Q2Dog5: Why haven’t your dogs been neutered? (Sample size=390)

Best to leave them as nature intended	39.9%
Don’t think the operation is necessary	39.2%
It’s cruel on the dogs	14.1%
They are still puppies	11.0%
I want them to have puppies	10.6%
Operation cost is expensive	4.6%
Too much bother	4.2%
Other	2.3%
Don’t know	1.1%

Q2Cat1: Do your cats have collars, microchips, or other ways to mark them as having an owner? (Sample size=206)

Yes, all cats have them (to Cat2 and Cat4)	17.5%
Yes, some cats have them (to Cat2, Cat3, and Cat4)	2.9%
No (to Cat3 and Cat4)	79.6%
Don’t know (to Cat4)	—

Q2Cat2: How are they marked as having an owner? (Sample size=42, multiple answer)

Collars	78.6%
Name tags	33.3%
Microchips	7.1%
Other	–

Q2Cat3: Why aren’t your cats marked as having an owner? (Sample size=170, multiple answer)

Don’t see the need for them	72.4%
Cats don’t like it, seems cruel	17.9%
Too much bother	8.2%
Costs money	2.9%
Other	3.5%
Don’t know	2.4%

Q2Cat4: Have your cats been neutered? (Sample size=206)

Yes, all cats have been	72.3%
Yes, some cats have been (to Cat5)	3.9%
No (to Cat5)	22.3%
Don’t know	1.5%

Q2Cat5: Why haven’t your cats been neutered? (Sample size=54)

Don’t think the operation is necessary	37.0%
Best to leave them as nature intended	29.6%
They are still kittens	25.9%
Operation cost is expensive	18.5%
It’s cruel on the cats	9.3%
Too much bother	5.6%
I want them to have kittens	1.9%
Other	5.6%
Don’t know	–

Q2SQ2: Why don’t you have a pet? (Sample size=1,273, multiple answer)

Can’t look after it properly	46.2%
Tough to part when it dies	37.0%
Live in apartment, etc that forbids pets	25.2%
Worried that barking, smells, etc will bother the neighbours	18.2%
Home, garden is messy	13.6%
Expensive	10.4%
Don’t like animals	10.2%
Home, garden is small	6.8%
Can get diseases from them	6.8%
Family are opposed	6.5%
Other	2.3%
No particular reason	2.7%
Don’t know	1.7%