Animal Action Fund to Open TNR Specialty Hospital in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki, to Advance Zero Euthanasia Goal

Animal Action Fund, a public interest incorporated foundation aiming to achieve zero euthanasia of dogs and cats, will open a TNR specialty hospital, “Animal Action Fund Hospital Miyakonojo,” in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture, to further promote TNR in the prefecture. TNR stands for Trap, Neuter, and Return: trapping cats, performing spay/neuter surgery, and returning them to their original location. Currently, 18 municipalities in Miyazaki Prefecture participate in Animal Action Fund’s “Sakura-neko Free Spay/Neuter Program” and are promoting TNR using free spay/neuter surgery tickets. Although there are three animal hospitals in the prefecture where these free tickets can be used, demand exceeds supply, and some of the 18 municipalities continue to face shortages of the necessary number of tickets. To improve this situation and supplement the shortage of veterinary medical resources, Animal Action Fund has decided to open “Animal Action Fund Hospital Miyakonojo.” On March 25, 2026, discussions were held with local authorities and organizations, including Miyakonojo City, the local volunteer group NPO Nora Zero Miyakonojo, and members of Animal Action Fund. The talks covered the current situation, future cooperation frameworks, habitat surveys, and other issues. During the meeting, participants reported that although around 30 cats are operated on each month through free spay/neuter tickets and free surgeries by the prefectural animal welfare center, TNR efforts are not keeping pace with the speed of cat reproduction. More than 200 cats are waiting for surgery, abandonment of cats in parks and residential areas continues, and reports of stray cat populations have exceeded 1,000 animals. By expanding the capacity to accept TNR cases through “Animal Action Fund Hospital Miyakonojo,” the foundation hopes to accelerate TNR in Miyazaki Prefecture and realize coexistence between people and cats as soon as possible. This opening is not a one-off project but is intended to supplement insufficient veterinary care needed to promote TNR, and the foundation expects to receive support from Miyakonojo City and Miyazaki Prefecture. Animal Action Fund Hospital Miyakonojo: Location: Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Details will be provided upon reservation. Opening period: June 2026 to March 2027, four days per month, except January with three days. Planned number of surgeries: 150 to 200 cats per month, totaling 1,500 to 2,000 cats. URL: https://www.doubutukikin.or.jp/activitynews/20260429/56505/ Animal Action Fund says it will continue working with the three partner hospitals in Miyazaki Prefecture to promote TNR and ensure that no lives that can be saved through spay/neuter surgery are left behind. Animal Action Fund is a private, nonprofit animal welfare organization established in Yokohama in 1988. All of its activities are funded by private donations. Its work includes the “Sakura-neko TNR” free spay/neuter program for ownerless cats, free spay/neuter surgeries for dogs and cats in multi-animal hoarding collapse cases, support for finding adoptive homes, photo contests, awareness campaigns, and petition activities. “Sakura-neko” refers to a cat whose ear tip has been cut into the shape of a cherry blossom petal as a sign that it has been spayed or neutered. “Sakura-neko TNR” is an activity that prevents reproduction by performing spay/neuter surgery on ownerless cats, allowing them to live out their one-generation lives as Sakura-neko, while helping reduce complaints and euthanasia related to ownerless cats. TNR, short for Trap, Neuter, Return, is considered the most effective and humane method of reducing stray cat populations without killing them, and is practiced worldwide. Organization overview: Name: Animal Action Fund Address: 71-7 Okuikeminamicho, Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture Established: June 1988 Chairperson: Kunihisa Sagami Official website: https://www.doubutukikin.or.jp