Judging by compensation payouts, almost 50,000 households were affected by evacuations from the vicinity of the Fukushima I nuclear power plant– not counting those who died in the tsunami. Many kept pets, and were forced to leave them behind when the call to leave came.
The animals are now trying to survive on what they were left or can scavenge from the area. Reports of a breeder's pack of shelties in Minamisōma led to a rescue mission, but many fled.
Local cats are also affected. While some have been fed and rescued, others found their own food (note: graphic imagery). [furryne.ws: 1, 2]