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Janet
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« on: February 01, 2008, 07:56:14 AM » |
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Below is a copy of the note I sent to the ASPCA last night after I listened to a newscast from WSBTV in Atlanta Ga reporting that OWNING CATS CAUSES MENTAL ILLNESS . I was appalled that this newscast aired and I need help with ideas on how to continue to approach this situation. Just vowing to never watch their newscast doesn't seem quite enough to me. I am sure the lives of many innocent pets in the Atlanta Metro area are now in peril because of this irresponsible reporting.Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:28 PM Subject: Atlanta Newscast Will Cause Irresponsible Death of Area Cats! I just watched a newscast from Atlanta station WSBTV. It was a 5 minute inflammatory segment regarding a report from a study that claims that a virus found in cats can cause mental illness and/or schizophrenia. The report was the usual "ratings grabbing" type of piece that built up the whole idea, complete with interviews of cat owners they had frightened and followed up (at the very end) with a Veterinarian that tried to put the idea in it's proper perspective. This station's irresponsibility placed the lives of many cats in the metro Atlanta area in peril. I can just hear the cars rushing to the animal shelters in the frenzied attempt to rid themselves of their cats that this station has proclaimed will cause mental illness to themselves and their children. Please look into this irresponsible, inflammatory report. This report has placed the lives of many innocent family pets in peril. Below are links to the newscast and to an article WSBTV also includes on their website. http://www.wsbtv.com/video/15189311/index.html http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=86621Thank you for your help, |
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Bridgett
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« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2008, 08:50:33 AM » |
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What?!   I read the article, my computer is to slow to bring up the video today. If you look at the CDC website on Toxoplasmosis, you see that the information in this article is not really new information. The link to mentall illness maybe new but the parasite is something that the CDC is well aware. I can't get the video to come up! Darn! If the reporter claims that only cats carry this parasite, he was most definitely inflammatory. The CDC fact sheets states that undercooked meat is also a risk. >:(Okay got the video to work. I totally agree! This newscast is highly inflammatory. The newscast makes it seem like only cats carry this parasite which is not true! I am writing the newstation. |
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Bridgett and Co
Why do cats always jump on your lap with their claws out? Especially when you are wearing shorts?
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Bridgett
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« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2008, 08:58:59 AM » |
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and as far as causing mental illness....
I suffer from depression and believe me, cats are great therapists.
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Bridgett and Co
Why do cats always jump on your lap with their claws out? Especially when you are wearing shorts?
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SusanP
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« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2008, 09:05:37 AM » |
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http://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/prevent.htmlI remember these precautions when I was pregnant and that was in the '70's. Basically, toxoplasmosis is spread through the fecal-oral route. Wash your hands after handling raw meat and cleaning litter boxes. I can't get that video up either. I hope they explain it's not an airborne disease like colds or flu.
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Bridgett
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« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2008, 09:08:38 AM » |
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Susan, this moron reported says that you get this parasite from having cats. He glosses over the fact that a person has just as much of chance of getting it from undercooked meat as from changing the kitty litter box.
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Bridgett and Co
Why do cats always jump on your lap with their claws out? Especially when you are wearing shorts?
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JustMe
Global Moderator
Hero Member
Posts: 4702
Herdin' Cats and 2 GSDs
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« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2008, 09:15:59 AM » |
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I hate the idiotic, sensationalistic, teaser blurbs television stations run to get you to watch their "news" programs.
Off topic, but I am so sick and tired of Britney Spears "news". They should just leave her alone so she can get herself well. Our country is falling apart and this is "news"? Who gives a rat's patootie!
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Never forget our cats and dogs and the Pet Food Recalls of 2007; the reason most of us are here!
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Bridgett
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« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2008, 09:54:23 AM » |
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My email Dear Channel 2 News,
I am writing to you from New Mexico after watching this video on your website.
I suggest Tom Regan’s next investigative story be on the mysterious influx of abandoned or surrendered cats to the local pound. After watching his fallacious and highly sensationalized report on a “dangerous cat virus,” thousands of cats are now at risk of losing their homes because of an unfounded fear created by this new story.
Just the briefest of looks at the CDC’s Toxoplasmosis fact sheet will show you the truth of the matter. Yes, it is a fact that it is possible to contract this parasite from cat feces. However, your reporter fails to mention that there is an equal chance of contracting it from undercooked meat and from utensils used to handle raw meat. Yes, there may be link between this parasite and schizophrenia but cats are not the only source of contamination: a fact your reporter totally ignored.
Adding to this deception, your reporter also fails to state any precautions cat owners can take just in case they do suspect their pet has this parasite. Another quick glance at the CDC’s fact sheet, which is available to the world on the web, will show owners simple precautions they can take. There is no need to throw out the cat as this reporter implies.
Your reporter also fails to state the fact that risk of contamination is for only a few weeks, not the life of the cat.
Next time Tom Regan sets out to persecute cats, make sure he has all the facts.
Sincerely,
Bridgett Backer
Ps. Here the link to CDC factsheet: http://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/epi.html#food |
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Bridgett and Co
Why do cats always jump on your lap with their claws out? Especially when you are wearing shorts?
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Janet
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« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2008, 10:15:40 AM » |
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Bridgett, Thank you so much for writing the station. The more feedback they get the more likely they are to consider the potential implications of their reporting in the future. News outlets have a responsibility to their communities to use intelligence in making decisions regarding their broadcasting. Their email address is talk2us@wsbtv.com |
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Bridgett
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« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2008, 10:22:34 AM » |
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I had to write! I have never been so infuriated! How negligent can a reporter be? Doesn't he understand the impact that this story can have! People are going to get rid of their cats because of this!
I have had cats all my life, if there was something to catch, I would have it.
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Bridgett and Co
Why do cats always jump on your lap with their claws out? Especially when you are wearing shorts?
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Trudy
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« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2008, 11:34:49 AM » |
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I haven't even read all the links yet, but i'm so angry I will write too.
My vet, the one who is female, worked up until she had the baby. she just had to wash Her hands and keep clean. and then another report like this when My daughter was living with us. we have many cats, so she went to the Drs. and got tested. She didn't have toxo. . It's not that easy to get.
as far as mental illness, the writer sounds like they have it.
The bad news also is people getting rid of pets because of foreclosier, and then food prices, and now this.
I can tell you, Bengal Rescue is bursting at the seams. we are getting twice the amount of calls we have ever gotten.
This is a terrible thing for the news to be putting on.
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JustMe
Global Moderator
Hero Member
Posts: 4702
Herdin' Cats and 2 GSDs
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« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2008, 11:37:42 AM » |
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Good point, Trudy. There always seems to be a pregnant vet where I go. LOL. Several young female vets.
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Never forget our cats and dogs and the Pet Food Recalls of 2007; the reason most of us are here!
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catwoods
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« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2008, 01:57:33 PM » |
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I dont' have much time today as I have to leave for town but in 2006 I read the CDC stuff on toxoplasmosis and many other vet-written articles on the Internet. Basically it's not that easy to catch and is more commonly contracted from improperly handled and undercooked meat. Good hygenic practices (taking cat waste out each day), handwashing, are safeguards, too. Maybe over the next few days I could recover those links or someone else might find them meanwhile.
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Bridgett
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« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2008, 02:10:43 PM » |
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Bridgett and Co
Why do cats always jump on your lap with their claws out? Especially when you are wearing shorts?
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Poco
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« Reply #13 on: February 01, 2008, 05:39:06 PM » |
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I get the impression that most cat owners are too smart to panic over this. The ones that do probably wouldn't be good cat owners in the long run.
(But it is good to stay on top of the media about this. They should be smarter.)
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 Hope my eye gets better soon! |
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Janet
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« Reply #14 on: February 01, 2008, 05:48:37 PM » |
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Klondike, I hope this is true. I do hope that the public is smart enough to see this report for what it is...a cheap shot at "ratings".
I hope that in this day and age there are not many people that believe everything they "see on TV".
But I must say that my heart breaks imagining the pets that may have been dragged sleeping from their baskets following this newscast.
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