[Nara City Hall] Achieved Zero Culling of Dogs and Cats for 7 Consecutive Years [Mayor's Press Conference] (Announced May 14, 2026)
Nara City announced that it has achieved zero culling of dogs and cats for the seventh consecutive year in fiscal year 2025. This success is attributed to initiatives in collaboration with citizens and organizations, such as spay/neuter support and adoption promotion. Donations through the hometown tax system have also reached a record high.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 15, 2026 at 01:58
- 🔍 Collected: May 14, 2026 at 17:02
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 14, 2026 at 18:03 (1h 0m after Collected)
Nara City has set a goal of 'zero culling of dogs and cats' and has promoted various initiatives to reduce the intake of sheltered dogs and cats and expand opportunities for adoption to new owners.
In fiscal year 2025 (Reiwa 7), we achieved 'zero culling,' excluding natural deaths and euthanasia. This marks the seventh consecutive year of achievement since fiscal year 2019 (Reiwa 1).
This is the result of continuous efforts in adoption activities for sheltered dogs and cats with the cooperation of not only the administration but also citizens, private businesses, and animal welfare organizations. We will continue to work towards achieving zero culling in the future.
- The city's number of culls (※2), excluding natural deaths and euthanasia (※1), first reached 'zero' in fiscal year 2019. It has since been maintained for seven consecutive years through fiscal year 2025.
- The 'Support Project for Spaying/Neutering of Stray Cats (Voucher System)' started in June 2024. The city fully covers the cost of surgery at cooperating veterinary clinics. Following 454 surgeries in FY2024, the number was 445 in FY2025. The number of cats taken in is the lowest on record.
- The 'Shelter Animal Grooming and Training Project,' which began in FY2023, has promoted dog adoptions. The number of adoptions increased from 4 in FY2023 to 6 in FY2024, and 7 in FY2025.
- Donations for the 'Zero Culling Project' through the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) reached a record high of 2,541 donations totaling 47,754,900 yen in FY2025. The total amount from FY2020 to FY2025 is 161 million yen.
※1 Natural death/Euthanasia: Euthanizing an animal when there is no hope of recovery from injury, etc.
※2 Culling: Disposing of an animal judged difficult to rehome due to aggression, illness, etc.
**Overview**
Nara City, with the goal of 'zero culling of dogs and cats,' has promoted various initiatives to reduce the intake of sheltered animals and expand adoption opportunities, achieving 'zero culling' (excluding natural death/euthanasia) in FY2025. This is the seventh consecutive year of this achievement since FY2019.
**Topics**
- The city's culling number (※2), excluding natural death/euthanasia (※1), has been 'zero' for seven consecutive years since FY2019.
- The 'Support Project for Spaying/Neutering of Stray Cats (Voucher System)' started in June 2024. The city fully covers the cost of surgery at cooperating veterinary clinics. The number of cats taken in is the lowest on record.
- The 'Shelter Animal Grooming and Training Project,' which began in FY2023, has promoted dog adoptions, increasing from 4 in FY2023 to 6 in FY2024, and 7 in FY2025.
- Donations for the 'Zero Culling Project' through the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) reached a record high of 2,541 donations totaling 47,754,900 yen in FY2025. The total amount from FY2020 to FY2025 is 161 million yen.
※1 Natural death/Euthanasia: Euthanizing an animal when there is no hope of recovery from injury, etc.
※2 Culling: Disposing of an animal judged difficult to rehome due to aggression, illness, etc.
**Trends in Dog and Cat Intake and Disposal**
**Nara City's Initiatives Leading to Zero Culling**
- March 2015: Started Adoption Volunteer System
- May 2017: Started Subsidy System for Spaying/Neutering of Adopted Animals
- April 2018: Started Dog and Cat Partnership Store System
- July 2018: Started Foster Volunteer System
- August 2018: Started Subsidy System for Spaying/Neutering of Stray Cats, Started Reward System for Adoption Volunteers
- April 2020: Started Reward System for Foster Volunteers, Started Medical Expense Subsidy for Foster Volunteers
- April 2021: Started Reward System for TNR Activity Support Volunteers, Started Injured Animal Medical Project, Started Medical Expense Subsidy for Adoption Volunteers
- April 2024: Started Adoption Support Store System
- June 2024: Started Support Project for Spaying/Neutering of Stray Cats (Voucher System)
- March 2025: Completed Kennel Renovation
**Trends in Spaying/Neutering (TNR) Numbers, Cat Intake, and Cat Adoptions**
**Nara City's Initiatives to Achieve Zero Culling**
**Three Pillars for Achieving Zero Culling**
1. Reducing Intake at the Animal Shelter
2. Enriching Care
3. Promoting Adoptions
▲ Scene from an adoption event
**Reducing Intake at the Animal Shelter**
**Spaying/Neutering Project for Stray Cats (Started June 2024)**
The city issues surgery vouchers to applicants, fully funding the surgery costs at designated veterinary clinics (27 in the prefecture, 11 of which are in the city).
©Doubutsu Kikin
▼ FY2025 Results: 445 cats, 12,492,000 yen
**Reducing Intake at the Animal Shelter**
**TNR Activity Support Volunteer System (Started April 2021)**
For those who have difficulty with TNR activities, such as being unable to take a trapped cat to the hospital due to old age or lacking trapping skills, 'TNR Supporters' provide assistance with trapping and transportation. This is a subsidy system for those supporters.
▼ FY2025 Results: 92 cases, 736,000 yen
**Planned Initiatives for FY2026 to Reduce Intake at the Animal Shelter**
Support Project for Spaying/Neutering of Stray Cats → Increased Budget
FY2026 Budget: 17,300,000 yen (Consignment fee)
In fiscal year 2025 (Reiwa 7), we achieved 'zero culling,' excluding natural deaths and euthanasia. This marks the seventh consecutive year of achievement since fiscal year 2019 (Reiwa 1).
This is the result of continuous efforts in adoption activities for sheltered dogs and cats with the cooperation of not only the administration but also citizens, private businesses, and animal welfare organizations. We will continue to work towards achieving zero culling in the future.
- The city's number of culls (※2), excluding natural deaths and euthanasia (※1), first reached 'zero' in fiscal year 2019. It has since been maintained for seven consecutive years through fiscal year 2025.
- The 'Support Project for Spaying/Neutering of Stray Cats (Voucher System)' started in June 2024. The city fully covers the cost of surgery at cooperating veterinary clinics. Following 454 surgeries in FY2024, the number was 445 in FY2025. The number of cats taken in is the lowest on record.
- The 'Shelter Animal Grooming and Training Project,' which began in FY2023, has promoted dog adoptions. The number of adoptions increased from 4 in FY2023 to 6 in FY2024, and 7 in FY2025.
- Donations for the 'Zero Culling Project' through the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) reached a record high of 2,541 donations totaling 47,754,900 yen in FY2025. The total amount from FY2020 to FY2025 is 161 million yen.
※1 Natural death/Euthanasia: Euthanizing an animal when there is no hope of recovery from injury, etc.
※2 Culling: Disposing of an animal judged difficult to rehome due to aggression, illness, etc.
**Overview**
Nara City, with the goal of 'zero culling of dogs and cats,' has promoted various initiatives to reduce the intake of sheltered animals and expand adoption opportunities, achieving 'zero culling' (excluding natural death/euthanasia) in FY2025. This is the seventh consecutive year of this achievement since FY2019.
**Topics**
- The city's culling number (※2), excluding natural death/euthanasia (※1), has been 'zero' for seven consecutive years since FY2019.
- The 'Support Project for Spaying/Neutering of Stray Cats (Voucher System)' started in June 2024. The city fully covers the cost of surgery at cooperating veterinary clinics. The number of cats taken in is the lowest on record.
- The 'Shelter Animal Grooming and Training Project,' which began in FY2023, has promoted dog adoptions, increasing from 4 in FY2023 to 6 in FY2024, and 7 in FY2025.
- Donations for the 'Zero Culling Project' through the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) reached a record high of 2,541 donations totaling 47,754,900 yen in FY2025. The total amount from FY2020 to FY2025 is 161 million yen.
※1 Natural death/Euthanasia: Euthanizing an animal when there is no hope of recovery from injury, etc.
※2 Culling: Disposing of an animal judged difficult to rehome due to aggression, illness, etc.
**Trends in Dog and Cat Intake and Disposal**
**Nara City's Initiatives Leading to Zero Culling**
- March 2015: Started Adoption Volunteer System
- May 2017: Started Subsidy System for Spaying/Neutering of Adopted Animals
- April 2018: Started Dog and Cat Partnership Store System
- July 2018: Started Foster Volunteer System
- August 2018: Started Subsidy System for Spaying/Neutering of Stray Cats, Started Reward System for Adoption Volunteers
- April 2020: Started Reward System for Foster Volunteers, Started Medical Expense Subsidy for Foster Volunteers
- April 2021: Started Reward System for TNR Activity Support Volunteers, Started Injured Animal Medical Project, Started Medical Expense Subsidy for Adoption Volunteers
- April 2024: Started Adoption Support Store System
- June 2024: Started Support Project for Spaying/Neutering of Stray Cats (Voucher System)
- March 2025: Completed Kennel Renovation
**Trends in Spaying/Neutering (TNR) Numbers, Cat Intake, and Cat Adoptions**
**Nara City's Initiatives to Achieve Zero Culling**
**Three Pillars for Achieving Zero Culling**
1. Reducing Intake at the Animal Shelter
2. Enriching Care
3. Promoting Adoptions
▲ Scene from an adoption event
**Reducing Intake at the Animal Shelter**
**Spaying/Neutering Project for Stray Cats (Started June 2024)**
The city issues surgery vouchers to applicants, fully funding the surgery costs at designated veterinary clinics (27 in the prefecture, 11 of which are in the city).
©Doubutsu Kikin
▼ FY2025 Results: 445 cats, 12,492,000 yen
**Reducing Intake at the Animal Shelter**
**TNR Activity Support Volunteer System (Started April 2021)**
For those who have difficulty with TNR activities, such as being unable to take a trapped cat to the hospital due to old age or lacking trapping skills, 'TNR Supporters' provide assistance with trapping and transportation. This is a subsidy system for those supporters.
▼ FY2025 Results: 92 cases, 736,000 yen
**Planned Initiatives for FY2026 to Reduce Intake at the Animal Shelter**
Support Project for Spaying/Neutering of Stray Cats → Increased Budget
FY2026 Budget: 17,300,000 yen (Consignment fee)