Editor:

Re: Pet saviour looks for hope amid fallout, April 13; and Risking radiation, April 20.

After reading reporter Hannah Sutherland’s April 13 article, I followed up on Chizue Lister and met with her at her lovely little restaurant, the Yucca Tree Café.

Wow, is she ever tiny for attempting such a big job. We met later and chatted for a couple hours. She was upbeat about her hurried trip to Japan, yet tried keeping a smile on her lovely face.

You could tell she was hurting inside.

I’d competed in track in Miyazaki, Japan back in 1993, then backpacked across most of Honshu, staying in youth hostels every three nights. Taking the express train, I got to enjoy the beautiful countryside, and I met so many Japanese who were always friendly and courteous. When I got lost in some cities, they always helped my on my way. Some even dipped into packages and gave me little gifts! I was 66 at the time. Chizue and I pored through my huge photo album of my trip, and it was lovely to see her brighten at all the cities she knew.

Hannah’s more recent article on April 20 made me want to write and encourage like-minded, animal-friendly people to perhaps make a small donation, such as I did yesterday. With Chizue’s first-hand knowledge of the problems near the radiation site and in surrounding areas, she will be able to get our funds into the right hands.

She mentioned there’s a group of about 50 volunteers who are trying to cover much of the cities and countryside, getting water and food to as many animals as possible. Gas is very expensive over there also, so our donations will help. All these volunteers are using their own money and taking time away from their jobs to do as much as they can for the starving, dehydrated animals.

There’s a saying: behind every good man, there’s a good woman. I’ve met Kelly Lister, so let me tell you, that behind this strong little woman is a terrific man.

Ruth Carrier, White Rock

Unnatural demise

I understand that this is a country in crisis, but when I was reading this article I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of society considers tying up animals and letting them die of hunger and thirst a “natural” death.

Jutta Sinclair, Surrey