Chapter 750: Shelter
Chapter 750: Shelter
The stray Pokémon could freely move within this designated area, and Yuga wouldn't restrict their access to the Pokémon Paradise, allowing them to roam freely within it.
Residents of Verdanturf Town or the visitor from outside could enter this area to interact with the stray Pokémon, essentially forming a bond with them.
If anyone became attached to one of these stray Pokémon and wanted to adopt them, they could apply to the YoYo Daycare. If the conditions were met, they could adopt the Pokémon.
Since the potentials of these stray Pokémon weren't particularly good, Yuga stipulated that Trainers couldn't adopt them to prevent the possibility of them being abandoned again.
Adopting them as regular pets didn't require high potentials, reducing the possibility of abandonment.
Initially, the stray Pokémon strongly opposed this idea because some of them didn't like humans.
Yuga then said, "I'm not forcing you to stay with humans. Whether you stay or not is your decision. Who knows, you might find someone you get along with? It's uncertain, and not everyone in this world is bad!"
Hearing Yuga's words, they found it quite reasonable, so they ultimately agreed.
Yuga also proposed that whether they were abandoned again or suffered mistreatment, they could return to the Pokémon Paradise anytime they wanted. the Pokémon Paradise's gates would always be open to them.
Yuga hoped that these Pokémon could find good homes because life on the streets was undoubtedly harsher.
In this world, there were many people, and those who would abandon Pokémon were a minority.
Furthermore, with so many stray Pokémon in the Pokémon Paradise, it was becoming a burden for Yuga.
He wasn't concerned about their food; although he couldn't provide them with Pokéblocks every day, they could eat Tree Berry every meal, and he had plenty of them in his Ecopark.
However, it wasn't just about feeding them; what they lacked was human care.
With their large number, Yuga couldn't personally attend to every need, especially because he was often busy. If they were feeling cold, sick, or facing any other issues, Yuga might not notice.
In the Ecopark, there were Pokémon like Audino, Wigglytuff and the Milktank who specialized in taking care of others, and Yuga wasn't worried about that.
But he couldn't separate these Pokémon from the Ecopark! The number of the Miltank in the Ecopark was already limited.
So, the best solution was to have someone adopt them.
Although this move would have some impact on the lower potential Pokémon sales at the YoYo Day Care, it was an unavoidable decision.
While Yuga might not be a particularly kind person, he did want to do something meaningful when he had the ability to do so.
After making this decision, Yuga organized a team to give these stray Pokémon baths and clean them thoroughly.
Most of the stray Pokémon were quite dirty, and without proper grooming, it would be challenging to find them adoptive homes.
Afterward, Yuga invited Joyka to perform detailed physical examinations on them, ensuring that each one was in good health.
Joyka wasn't particularly surprised by Yuga's actions since he had brought Pokémon to her for care on several occasions. In her eyes, Yuga was a kind-hearted person.
Although this was all based on a misunderstanding.
In response, Joyka even volunteered to come periodically and provide free health check-ups for these Pokémon, showing her support for Yuga's initiative.
With Joyka's compassionate offer, Yuga welcomed it wholeheartedly. He was already concerned about the long-term health of these Pokémon.
Although Yuga wanted these Pokémon to be adopted, adoption was a matter of compatibility. It wasn't something to be decided casually.
Pokémon are sentient beings with emotions and thoughts; they aren't just ordinary pets. Yuga couldn't let them go to just anyone.
Joyka proved to be a member of the Joy family in more ways than one; she was truly kind-hearted and greatly assisted Yuga.
After resolving the hygiene and health issues of these Pokémon, Yuga temporarily housed them in the Gym's Ecopark since the Pokémon Paradise wasn't ready yet.
To repay Yuga, Manectric and the group of Poochyenas would join the YoYo Day Care and Gym patrols along with Linoone and Mightyena.
Yuga had already decided that once the Pokémon Paradise was completed, he would assign Linoone and Mightyena there, leaving the Gym and YoYo Day Care patrols to Persian and Purrloin's team.
After all, parts of the Pokémon Paradise would be open to the public, and with various people visiting, it was essential to maintain security.
Lately, Persian's team had grown in numbers. Even though it exclusively recruited cat-type Pokémon, it was now sufficient to handle the patrol duties for both the Gym and the YoYo Day Care.
Yuga also suggested to Persian that his cat Pokémon could participate in the adoption program at the Pokémon Paradise. While Persian little relucant, it ultimately agreed. Persian knew that this was for the best for its Pokémon.
Even if adoption was on the table, Yuga knew that it might not yield immediate results. He would likely have to care for these Pokémon for quite some time. Promoting the program was crucial.
So, he approached Liliana for assistance. He hoped to leverage the police force's resources to help with the program's promotion.
This experience taught Yuga the importance of interpersonal relationships. Fortunately, his relationships with both Jenny and Joy were solid.
Liliana enthusiastically supported Yuga's request. She knew that stray Pokémon had long been a security challenge for the city, and Verdanturf Town was no exception.
These Pokémon often resorted to theft, robbery, and even violence due to their struggles for food and shelter. They posed a significant security threat to the city.
However, there were no easy solutions. Even if they were caught and detained, they would often return to their old ways once released. It was a complex problem.
Beyond the security issues, stray Pokémon also affected the city's aesthetics. Having dirty, unkempt Pokémon roaming the city streets did little for its appearance.
This was especially concerning for tourist cities, where appearances mattered greatly.
Yet, in tourist cities, the population of stray Pokémon tended to be higher, causing significant challenges for city management.
Comparatively, Verdanturf Town was fortunate. Having Yuga assist in solving this major issue was not only appreciated by Liliana but also by Mayor Ishida when he learned about it. They praised Yuga for being a Gym Leader with a strong sense of social responsibility.