Key Facts
• October 18, 2025: Animal Welfare Festival Ehime 2025 held in Matsuyama.
• Event hosted by Ehime Prefecture, Matsuyama City, and Ehime Veterinary Association.
• Seven owners of 19- and 20-year-old dogs and cats were honored.
• Noriko Oka (64) attended with her 20-year-old miniature dachshund, Funfun.
• Oka adopted Funfun in 2007 at a local adoption event.
• Funfun, known for his gentle nature, now requires a cart for daily walks.
• Oka calls Funfun her “irreplaceable third son.”
• Middle school volunteer Momo Akaboshi pledged to promote animal welfare.
• Ceremony included commemorative photos of honorees and their pets.
Summary
The Animal Welfare Festival Ehime 2025, held on October 18 in Matsuyama, celebrated the bond between humans and their pets. Seven owners of long-lived dogs and cats, aged 19 and 20, were honored for their dedication. Among them was Noriko Oka, who adopted her miniature dachshund, Funfun, in 2007. Now 20 years old, Funfun is cherished as Oka’s “irreplaceable third son.” The event also featured a pledge by middle school volunteer Momo Akaboshi to foster a society where humans and animals coexist happily. The ceremony concluded with commemorative photos of the honorees and their pets.
