Who We Are
The Japan Animal Welfare Society UK
Our Aims
The Japan Animal Welfare Society UK (JAWS UK) exists to combat animal cruelty and neglect, mostly in Japan. Our aims are to:
• Instil a greater awareness of and compassion for animals in Japan.
• Support the vital work of our sister Society – the Japan Animal Welfare Society in Tokyo and its Branches throughout Japan.
• Provide crucial funding for the training of Animal Welfare Inspectors (veterinary officers) and their work in the relief of animal
.. suffering.
• Provide funding in support of animal welfare seminars designed to promote awareness and improvements in animal welfare.
• Provide funding for vital animal welfare equipment, including veterinary drugs, humane cat traps and animal handling facilities.
• Provide financial support (grants) to animal welfare groups and individuals who provide approved animal welfare services in
.. local areas.
• Promote and achieve the adoption and implementation of the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare throughout Japan.
We endeavour to achieve these aims by raising funds in the UK which are used to provide financial support towards the development of a modern approach to animal welfare in Japan. This support includes specific funding to the Japan Animal Welfare Society in Tokyo and via grant applications to other organisations and individuals involved in the day to day rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of sick, injured or abandoned animals.
Our History
A welfare society (later to become the Japan Animal Welfare Society) was founded in Tokyo in 1945 by British and other foreign residents who were appalled by the treatment of animals, in particular the plight of dogs awaiting experiments (vivisection) in teaching hospitals. The unfortunate dogs were frequently exposed to devastating living conditions and then often used without anaesthetics for un-regulated live experiments.
A voluntary rota to provide food and care for these victims was organised and representations made to those responsible in an endeavour to create a more humane and caring attitude to the unfortunate animals involved.
On their return to the UK in 1956, two of the original founders, headmistress Mrs Eleanor Close and Lady Gascoigne, wife to the head of the British Mission, organised and established a new Charity, the Japan Animal Welfare Society. (JAWS). Its purpose was to raise money in the UK to fund improvements in the lives of these dogs and countless other animals in Japan whose existence was made a misery by the difference in cultural attitudes to modern Animal Welfare thinking at that time.
Read more about "How it all began"
JAWS UK rapidly gained support in the UK through its Membership, Donations and Legacies and the funds raised enabled the continuation and further development of its’ sister Society – The Japan Animal Welfare Society – in Tokyo.
This essential financial support to that Society and other Japan based Animal Welfare Societies and individual welfare workers continues to provide measurable achievements to this day.
Our Patron/ Trustees
We are a registered charity with a Council of Management composed of English and Japanese members. Our Chairman is Anthony Crittenden, former head of the RSPCA Inspectorate. Our active patron is the Baroness Fookes of Plymouth, who as Commons MP Dame Janet Fookes campaigned for animal welfare.
We also rely on our associated Friends of JAWS Southampton who raise money especially for Hanshin Branch in Japan.
• Patron: Baroness Fookes of Plymouth DBE, DL
Baroness Fookes, perhaps better known as Dame Janet, has been in Parliament for 40 years - first as an MP and latterly as a Peer. Animal Welfare has been a subject close to her heart throughout that time. She served on the RSPCA Council from 1973 to 1992, including two years as Chairman. She was also a Council Member for the charity known as the Dogs Trust. She chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare from 1985 to 1992 and remains an active member of it.
Lady Fookes sponsored a private members Bill to protect animals from sales in street markets and in the last Parliament she was a keen supporter of the landmark Animal Welfare Act of 2006. Dame Janet currently chairs the charity which funds the Companion Animals Welfare Council.
• President: Sir Anthony Montague Browne, KCMG, CBE, DFC
Sir Anthony was an active member of Jaws UK Council from 1973 to 1985, retiring as Chairman of Council in 1986. He has since continued to be a firm supporter of the work of Jaws UK. After graduating from the University of Oxford, Sir Anthony served with the Royal Air Force gaining the DFC. On leaving the RAF he embarked upon a career in the Foreign Office during which time he was closely involved in the drafting of the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 and the organisation of NATO. Sir Anthony was engaged as Private Secretary to Sir Winston Churchill from 1952 – 1965 and has produced a book of his memoirs entitled, Long Sunset: Memoirs of Winston Churchill’s Last Private Secretary (1977). He continues to donate generously to the work of JAWS UK.
• Chairman/Hon. Company Secretary: Mr. Anthony Crittenden. BSc.
After achieving qualifications in Agriculture (NCA) Anthony joined the RSPCA Inspectorate in 1962. He was engaged with front line animal welfare work in Surrey, North Wales, Cheshire and Lancashire until 1995 when he transferred to the Society’s Legal Department as Chief Superintendent of Prosecutions.
In 1999 Anthony became the Chief Officer of the Society’s Inspectorate, responsible for the recruitment, training, deployment and general standards of the Society’s force of over 300 Inspectors and Animal Welfare Officers. He retired in 2003 after completing over 40 years service to animal welfare within the Society’s Uniformed Inspectorate.
He was invited to join the JAWS UK Council in 2004 as Animal Welfare Adviser following the retirement of the late Mr. Frank Milner and became Chairman of Council in 2008.
Council Members:
Mr. Anthony Crittenden, Chairman, Hon. Company Secretary
Mrs. Patricia Coveney
Mrs. Margaret Greenleaf, Hon. Treasurer
Mrs. Anthea Hopkins
Miss Akiko Motomura
Mrs. Novelette Stewart
Mr. Mark Townson
Mrs. Jitsu Townson
Mrs. Emi Yokoyama
Miss Ashlea Haselgrove, Hon. Officer of the Society(Australia)
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