World’s Most Controversial Pet Shop

**plasty** · 07-04-12 at 07:38 AM

Welcome to the World’s Most Controversial Pet Shop

The Inner City Zoo is a Japanese pet shop condemned by animal activists for caging and selling penguins, meerkats, alligators, monkeys and other exotic animals.
Located in a cramped room, on the second floor of an office building in Yokohama, NOAH: The Inner City Zoo is hardly the kind of place you’d think of keeping exotic animals.
But ever since 1999, NOAH (Nature Orientated Animal House) has been the go-to source for all kinds of unusual pets, from alligators to otters and cranes. Many of them are endangered in their natural habitats, but that doesn’t seem to raise any red flags with Japanese animal protection authorities, and neither does the fact they are all being kept in tiny cages, with barely enough space to move around. The controversial pet shop’s clientele also seems to ignore the improper conditions, and spends thousands of dollars on unique pets.

Animal rights organizations around the world have condemned NOAH for selling exotic animals people have little to no knowledge how to take care of, and are urging people not to visit or buy anything from it. “Exotic animals should live in the wild as nature intended, not in captivity as a source of entertainment and prestige, and to line the pockets of greedy pet shop owners. Breeding and selling wild animals as exotic pets is cruel and irresponsible”, said Alan Knight, chief executive of International Animal Rescue. He is sure many of the exotic animals acquired as pets eventually end up abandoned, after their owners get bored with them, or after they grow too big and strong to manage. It also encourages the capturing and selling of these creatures, endangering their global population.

But Kenji Takahashi, the 59-year-old owner of NOAH: The Inner City Zoo, says he’s just “trying to increase the love that humans have for exotic animals.” “My premises may not be perfect and the space we have for each animal is not as big as we would sometimes like, but the same could be said for any zoo across the world,” Takahashi says. He believes his pet shop helps people appreciate nature more, because they realize that’s where their pets come from. That’s one “great” excuse to charge people $6 just to look through your shop, and thousands of bucks for exotic pets.

About the animals at NOAH, one onlooker said “Most animals were quiet, as if they’d come to terms with their enforced captivity. Many are in tiny cages, and the owls are tightly fixed down so they can’t fly. The animals looked sad”. Judging by the sizes of the cages they are kept in, it’s no surprise all these poor creatures are sad, but as long as they it doesn’t bother shoppers, this pet store remains in business.
Just last week, I wrote an article about the controversial Lujan Zoo, where people are allowed to pet and interact with dangerous animals, but NOAH: The Inner City Zoo makes that place look like animal heaven.

VIDEO:

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http://youtu.be/x5JOwic6NCQ

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http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/welcome-to-the-worlds-most-controversial-pet-shop.html#more-30432

**cazmajor** · 07-04-12 at 08:18 AM

:(

Sux

**Vivit4r** · 07-04-12 at 08:22 AM

Yep. They do look sad alright. Maybe they should cage the owner in a small enclosure for 1 week and see how he/she feels. Label the cage as exotic human idiot for view: 5 dollars, 2 dollars to buy.. Seriously though, if you have too many animals to accommodate properly, wouldn't the common sense thing to do is to lower the quantity of animals for sale?

**EvilToeKnee** · 07-04-12 at 12:28 PM

Nice. I wonder if I can buy an elephant there.

Valid_Username · 07-04-12 at 01:43 PM

Human beings at their most selfish, callous and stupid.
That goes for the 'customers' especially.

**MacFalic** · 07-04-12 at 02:12 PM

I call major BS! Notice how the author ascribes 'Human' emotions' and thinking process to these animals. This crap is straight out of PETA's handbook. Target a store so that they can get significant 'airtime', whether the claims are true or not.
[SARCASM]"Oh look at the animals. They look so sad. I don't really know how they look in their natural habitat. I can get a lot of attention for the 'cause' if I tell the news services about this. Never mind that this is in another country. The country has its own laws to protect animals from abuse. I don't really care about all that stuff. I just want attention!"[/SARCASM]
I did not see any animal in poor condition. No hair falling out. No ribs showing through fur. No 'weepy' eyes. No blood on cages or animals. The cages look clean, not cluttered with old food, feces, etc. In fact, the animals seem well cared for. Nice clean fur, trimmed nails, etc.

I am always suspect of threats playing on the possibility of extinction. In many cases these threats are completely bogus(see any animal population that surprises 'experts'.)

One must first have actually been in Japan before passing judgment. Recognize the country as free and independent. It has its own laws that are not subject to any other country. Their culture is different from any other. Similarities, yes; like humans are all unique in and of themselves. One has no right to criticize this or any other country unless one is a citizen of that country. Some may disagree with the things in\of another country.(see Japanese whaling industry) As already stated, it does not matter if we(any person or country not 'our' own) agree or not. Their are other avenues in place to censure the actions of other countries(see the UN.) As this is propaganda meant to advertise PETA and other conservationist organizations, it does not meet the criteria of calling the 'global police'.

Another look at the article (emphasis mine):

Quote:

The Inner City Zoo is a Japanese pet shop condemned by animal activists for caging and selling penguins, meerkats, alligators, monkeys and other exotic animals.
Located in a cramped room, on the second floor of an office building in Yokohama, NOAH: The Inner City Zoo is hardly the kind of place you’d think of keeping exotic animals.
But ever since 1999, NOAH (Nature Orientated Animal House) has been the go-to source for all kinds of unusual pets, from alligators to otters and cranes. Many of them are endangered in their natural habitats, but that doesn’t seem to raise any red flags with Japanese animal protection authorities, and neither does the fact they are all being kept in tiny cages, with barely enough space to move around. The controversial pet shop’s clientele also seems to ignore the improper conditions, and spends thousands of dollars on unique pets.

Animal rights organizations around the world have condemned NOAH for selling exotic animals people have little to no knowledge how to take care of, and are urging people not to visit or buy anything from it. “Exotic animals should live in the wild as nature intended, not in captivity as a source of entertainment and prestige, and to line the pockets of greedy pet shop owners. Breeding and selling wild animals as exotic pets is cruel and irresponsible”, said Alan Knight, chief executive of International Animal Rescue. He is sure many of the exotic animals acquired as pets eventually end up abandoned, after their owners get bored with them, or after they grow too big and strong to manage. It also encourages the capturing and selling of these creatures, endangering their global population.

But Kenji Takahashi, the 59-year-old owner of NOAH: The Inner City Zoo, says he’s just “trying to increase the love that humans have for exotic animals.” “My premises may not be perfect and the space we have for each animal is not as big as we would sometimes like, but the same could be said for any zoo across the world,” Takahashi says. He believes his pet shop helps people appreciate nature more, because they realize that’s where their pets come from. That’s one “great” excuse to charge people $6 just to look through your shop, and thousands of bucks for exotic pets.

About the animals at NOAH, one onlooker said “Most animals were quiet, as if they’d come to terms with their enforced captivity. Many are in tiny cages, and the owls are tightly fixed down so they can’t fly. The animals looked sad”. Judging by the sizes of the cages they are kept in, it’s no surprise all these poor creatures are sad, but as long as they it doesn’t bother shoppers, this pet store remains in business.
Just last week, I wrote an article about the controversial Lujan Zoo, where people are allowed to pet and interact with dangerous animals, but NOAH: The Inner City Zoo makes that place look like animal heaven.

One does not even have to 'read between the lines'.

**cazmajor** · 07-04-12 at 02:30 PM

Koco have soul... Koco saaaad :(

Code: Select All

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQCOHUXmEZg

**FirtY** · 07-04-12 at 02:44 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MacFalic

I call major BS! Notice how the author ascribes 'Human' emotions' and thinking process to these animals.

U obviously never had a dog mac..

**MacFalic** · 07-04-12 at 04:52 PM

Actually I have had a great many pets through the years. From canaries and finches, parakeets, turtles(soft-shell and painted), snakes(ball python and banded milk), various cats(my last was a stubby manx), many, many, dogs, a heifer(I grew up on ranches), and goats.

I believe that at least one dog was specie challenged, he did not know he was a dog. If he saw a cat, he would climb and walk fences like a cat. When I had a couple of nubian kids, he acted as mom and shepherd, even suffering while they tried to nurse from him. He was my favorite dog. I almost(there was a fair amount of intervention) killed the s.o.b. that poisoned him. My current dog has a wonderful personality. It is the personality exhibited of a DOG, not necessarily the trait shown by most humanity.

**[Insert]

Quote:

The Middle-Class Liberal Well-Intentioned Blues

Written over 30 years ago, but there's nothing quite as timeless as liberal guilt. From Gold Turkey: National Lampoon Radio Hour/Greatest Hits:

I wish I was a Negro
With lots of Negro soul
So I could stay true to my ethnic roots
And still play rock 'n' roll

If I was a funky Negro
Eating soul food barbeques
I wouldn't have to sing
The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

I wish I was an Indian
A grown-up Sioux papoose
So when I get drunk on a beer and a half
I'd have a good excuse

I'd be a noble savage
Wouldn't ever wear no shoes
And I wouldn't have to sing
The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

I wish I was a Wetback
On strike in a lettuce patch
Or a slant-eyed peasant with Viet Cong
Stashed underneath my thatch

I only ever cross a picket line
To pay my union dues
To keep on singing
The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

But I am not a Negro (c'mon!)
Not a Red Man nor a Mex (join me kids!)
I'm a member of the oppressing color
Language, age, and sex

I sympathize with the Arab cause
I feel for the put-upon Jews
And I keep singing
The middle-class liberal
Humanitarian
Meaningful dialogue
We are all responsible
Well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

Code: Select All

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2yppzb-Lpo

With all that said, I do believe all matter is related\connected. That change(s), from minor to epic, affects all matter. I do not necessarily believe things other than sentient(humanity, ocean fairing mammals) have a "soul". But as all and everything is energy in differing forms, everything may benefit from a collective soul. i.e. communicating with trees, etc. (yes I have, was not on acid at those particular times).

**song included to lighten mood

**Gandolph13** · 07-04-12 at 05:24 PM

No surprise, they still slaughter whales and cry "scientific research"

**FirtY** · 07-04-12 at 05:32 PM

The point was that animals and in my experience especially dogs have feelings or emotions. They get sad and happy and depressed and excited. Put one in a cage with standing room only for any extended length of time and see how it affects them.

I see the fight for animal rights as a downright decent endeavor, and the post above makes me think you yourself care about such things, in sharp contrast to the first post.

**Gandolph13** · 07-04-12 at 06:03 PM

No Argument there Firty!

My cat has what we call the huff and puff. She gets annoyed if I disturb her slightly when she's sleeping on my lap, she jumps across to the coffee table and sits with her back turned to me and lets out the loudest nasal snort, just like my son when he's annoyed. I think my son taught her bad habits.

It's cute and funny though, a cat doing the "disgruntled nasal snort"

Miss personality and queen of the house!

**MacFalic** · 07-05-12 at 07:42 PM

Ahem.......!
Without confessing guilt of any crime!

I believe the whole sentence was:

Quote:

I almost(there was a fair amount of intervention) killed the s.o.b. that poisoned him.

The 'fair amount of intervention was a number of police, family, and neighbors, prying me off of the SOB. I did not kill him, but it was close. I did avoid a criminal record though I don't quite know how.

p.s. I am candid, open, and truthful in\on this forum. As stated in other threads, on the subject of violence committed, I can't be entirely candid, open, and truthful. I have apologized before and do so again for deeming my posts as cathartic. Thus the truth. Thank You! one and all, for helping keep my sanity.

wormri · 07-05-12 at 10:37 PM

I expected it to be a shop that sells chickens, on the front, live chickens, in the back, a wingeria.. but that is just as awful...

07-04-12 at 02:12 PM	#6
MacFalic Sleeps with Kuune Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Land of Cunning Sheep Posts: 845	I call major BS! Notice how the author ascribes 'Human' emotions' and thinking process to these animals. This crap is straight out of PETA's handbook. Target a store so that they can get significant 'airtime', whether the claims are true or not. [SARCASM]"Oh look at the animals. They look so sad. I don't really know how they look in their natural habitat. I can get a lot of attention for the 'cause' if I tell the news services about this. Never mind that this is in another country. The country has its own laws to protect animals from abuse. I don't really care about all that stuff. I just want attention!"[/SARCASM] I did not see any animal in poor condition. No hair falling out. No ribs showing through fur. No 'weepy' eyes. No blood on cages or animals. The cages look clean, not cluttered with old food, feces, etc. In fact, the animals seem well cared for. Nice clean fur, trimmed nails, etc. I am always suspect of threats playing on the possibility of extinction. In many cases these threats are completely bogus(see any animal population that surprises 'experts'.) One must first have actually been in Japan before passing judgment. Recognize the country as free and independent. It has its own laws that are not subject to any other country. Their culture is different from any other. Similarities, yes; like humans are all unique in and of themselves. One has no right to criticize this or any other country unless one is a citizen of that country. Some may disagree with the things in\of another country.(see Japanese whaling industry) As already stated, it does not matter if we(any person or country not 'our' own) agree or not. Their are other avenues in place to censure the actions of other countries(see the UN.) As this is propaganda meant to advertise PETA and other conservationist organizations, it does not meet the criteria of calling the 'global police'. Another look at the article (emphasis mine): Quote: The Inner City Zoo is a Japanese pet shop condemned by animal activists for caging and selling penguins, meerkats, alligators, monkeys and other exotic animals. Located in a cramped room, on the second floor of an office building in Yokohama, NOAH: The Inner City Zoo is hardly the kind of place you’d think of keeping exotic animals. But ever since 1999, NOAH (Nature Orientated Animal House) has been the go-to source for all kinds of unusual pets, from alligators to otters and cranes. Many of them are endangered in their natural habitats, but that doesn’t seem to raise any red flags with Japanese animal protection authorities, and neither does the fact they are all being kept in tiny cages, with barely enough space to move around. The controversial pet shop’s clientele also seems to ignore the improper conditions, and spends thousands of dollars on unique pets. Animal rights organizations around the world have condemned NOAH for selling exotic animals people have little to no knowledge how to take care of, and are urging people not to visit or buy anything from it. “Exotic animals should live in the wild as nature intended, not in captivity as a source of entertainment and prestige, and to line the pockets of greedy pet shop owners. Breeding and selling wild animals as exotic pets is cruel and irresponsible”, said Alan Knight, chief executive of International Animal Rescue. He is sure many of the exotic animals acquired as pets eventually end up abandoned, after their owners get bored with them, or after they grow too big and strong to manage. It also encourages the capturing and selling of these creatures, endangering their global population. But Kenji Takahashi, the 59-year-old owner of NOAH: The Inner City Zoo, says he’s just “trying to increase the love that humans have for exotic animals.” “My premises may not be perfect and the space we have for each animal is not as big as we would sometimes like, but the same could be said for any zoo across the world,” Takahashi says. He believes his pet shop helps people appreciate nature more, because they realize that’s where their pets come from. That’s one “great” excuse to charge people $6 just to look through your shop, and thousands of bucks for exotic pets. About the animals at NOAH, one onlooker said “Most animals were quiet, as if they’d come to terms with their enforced captivity. Many are in tiny cages, and the owls are tightly fixed down so they can’t fly. The animals looked sad”. Judging by the sizes of the cages they are kept in, it’s no surprise all these poor creatures are sad, but as long as they it doesn’t bother shoppers, this pet store remains in business. Just last week, I wrote an article about the controversial Lujan Zoo, where people are allowed to pet and interact with dangerous animals, but NOAH: The Inner City Zoo makes that place look like animal heaven. One does not even have to 'read between the lines'. Last edited by MacFalic; 07-04-12 at 02:23 PM.

07-04-12 at 02:30 PM	#7
cazmajor Elite Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,646	Koco have soul... Koco saaaad :( Code: Select All http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQCOHUXmEZg

07-04-12 at 04:52 PM	#9
MacFalic Sleeps with Kuune Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Land of Cunning Sheep Posts: 845	Actually I have had a great many pets through the years. From canaries and finches, parakeets, turtles(soft-shell and painted), snakes(ball python and banded milk), various cats(my last was a stubby manx), many, many, dogs, a heifer(I grew up on ranches), and goats. I believe that at least one dog was specie challenged, he did not know he was a dog. If he saw a cat, he would climb and walk fences like a cat. When I had a couple of nubian kids, he acted as mom and shepherd, even suffering while they tried to nurse from him. He was my favorite dog. I almost(there was a fair amount of intervention) killed the s.o.b. that poisoned him. My current dog has a wonderful personality. It is the personality exhibited of a DOG, not necessarily the trait shown by most humanity. [Insert] Quote: The Middle-Class Liberal Well-Intentioned Blues Written over 30 years ago, but there's nothing quite as timeless as liberal guilt. From Gold Turkey: National Lampoon Radio Hour/Greatest Hits: I wish I was a Negro With lots of Negro soul So I could stay true to my ethnic roots And still play rock 'n' roll If I was a funky Negro Eating soul food barbeques I wouldn't have to sing The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues Intentioned blues Intentioned blues . . . I wish I was an Indian A grown-up Sioux papoose So when I get drunk on a beer and a half I'd have a good excuse I'd be a noble savage Wouldn't ever wear no shoes And I wouldn't have to sing The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues Intentioned blues Intentioned blues . . . I wish I was a Wetback On strike in a lettuce patch Or a slant-eyed peasant with Viet Cong Stashed underneath my thatch I only ever cross a picket line To pay my union dues To keep on singing The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues Intentioned blues Intentioned blues . . . But I am not a Negro (c'mon!) Not a Red Man nor a Mex (join me kids!) I'm a member of the oppressing color Language, age, and sex I sympathize with the Arab cause I feel for the put-upon Jews And I keep singing The middle-class liberal Humanitarian Meaningful dialogue We are all responsible Well-intentioned blues Intentioned blues Intentioned blues . . . Code: Select All http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2yppzb-Lpo With all that said, I do believe all matter is related\connected. That change(s), from minor to epic, affects all matter. I do not necessarily believe things other than sentient(humanity, ocean fairing mammals) have a "soul". But as all and everything is energy in differing forms, everything may benefit from a collective soul. i.e. communicating with trees, etc. (yes I have, was not on acid at those particular times). song included to lighten mood Last edited by MacFalic; 07-04-12 at 05:07 PM.

07-05-12 at 07:42 PM	#13
MacFalic Sleeps with Kuune Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Land of Cunning Sheep Posts: 845	Ahem.......! Without confessing guilt of any crime! I believe the whole sentence was: Quote: I almost(there was a fair amount of intervention) killed the s.o.b. that poisoned him. The 'fair amount of intervention was a number of police, family, and neighbors, prying me off of the SOB. I did not kill him, but it was close. I did avoid a criminal record though I don't quite know how. p.s. I am candid, open, and truthful in\on this forum. As stated in other threads, on the subject of violence committed, I can't be entirely candid, open, and truthful. I have apologized before and do so again for deeming my posts as cathartic. Thus the truth. Thank You! one and all, for helping keep my sanity. Last edited by MacFalic; 07-05-12 at 07:53 PM.

07-04-12 at 08:18 AM	#2
cazmajor Elite Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,646	:( Sux

07-04-12 at 08:22 AM	#3
Vivit4r The World is Ours Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 1,994	Yep. They do look sad alright. Maybe they should cage the owner in a small enclosure for 1 week and see how he/she feels. Label the cage as exotic human idiot for view: 5 dollars, 2 dollars to buy.. Seriously though, if you have too many animals to accommodate properly, wouldn't the common sense thing to do is to lower the quantity of animals for sale?

07-04-12 at 12:28 PM	#4
EvilToeKnee 3rd Street Saint Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA Posts: 771	Nice. I wonder if I can buy an elephant there.

07-04-12 at 01:43 PM	#5
Valid_Username Expert Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 720	Human beings at their most selfish, callous and stupid. That goes for the 'customers' especially.

07-04-12 at 02:44 PM	#8
FirtY Elder Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eire Posts: 2,954	Quote: Originally Posted by MacFalic I call major BS! Notice how the author ascribes 'Human' emotions' and thinking process to these animals. U obviously never had a dog mac..

07-04-12 at 05:24 PM	#10
Gandolph13 Legendary Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia (GMT+10) Posts: 12,343	No surprise, they still slaughter whales and cry "scientific research"

07-04-12 at 05:32 PM	#11
FirtY Elder Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eire Posts: 2,954	The point was that animals and in my experience especially dogs have feelings or emotions. They get sad and happy and depressed and excited. Put one in a cage with standing room only for any extended length of time and see how it affects them. I see the fight for animal rights as a downright decent endeavor, and the post above makes me think you yourself care about such things, in sharp contrast to the first post.

07-04-12 at 06:03 PM	#12
Gandolph13 Legendary Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia (GMT+10) Posts: 12,343	No Argument there Firty! My cat has what we call the huff and puff. She gets annoyed if I disturb her slightly when she's sleeping on my lap, she jumps across to the coffee table and sits with her back turned to me and lets out the loudest nasal snort, just like my son when he's annoyed. I think my son taught her bad habits. It's cute and funny though, a cat doing the "disgruntled nasal snort" Miss personality and queen of the house!

07-05-12 at 10:37 PM	#14
wormri Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 280	I expected it to be a shop that sells chickens, on the front, live chickens, in the back, a wingeria.. but that is just as awful...