Use Your Photos To Celebrate Cancer Survivors And Their Feline Companions

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Use Your Photos To Celebrate Cancer Survivors And Their Feline Companions

25 June 2009 251 views 2 Comments

Last year, the story of Jasmina Ristic, a Chicago woman struggling with cancer whose cat Spodee offered needed love and support, inspired a partnership between Purina Cat Chow and the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure. Ristic's story is featured with other Stories of Hope. "Once my treatment began, I struggled to cope with the pain and exhaustion. But somehow my cat, Spodee, knew I was suffering. It didn't make sense. There was no way for her to know. But she just did," she writes. "She snuggled up with me in bed and on the couch, making sure to touch me with all of her paws at once. (It was as if she wanted to hug me.) And she always accompanied me around the house. She practically never let me leave her sight when I was home." A recent Purina Cat Chow national survey of breast cancer survivors with cats underscores this connection by revealing 84 percent of respondents felt their cat had a calming effect during their battle with breast cancer and 76 percent of respondents received daily support from their cat during treatment. This year, Purina Cat Chow will donate more than $200,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and will raise awareness for breast cancer through the Purina Cat Chow Connected for the Cause campaign. All you need to get involved is to upload a photo at this Web site. For every picture uploaded, Purina Cat Chow will donate an additional $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure up to $10,000.

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2 Comments »

Kirsten said:

It saddens me that a publication like PetTalk, which is focused on animals and pets, would publish an article like this.

The Susan G. Komen organization tests on helpless, defenseless, innocent animals EVERY day in order to find a cure for humans. Torture and kill animals to try and save other animals (us)? Does that sound right?

I guess Houston PetTalk only cares about SOME animals, and not all.

This article should EXPLAIN to people where the donations are going when their cute pictures are uploaded.

“In one recent experiment, mice were injected with cancer cells and forced to grow huge tumors. The “lucky” ones were bombarded with radiation and infected with modified herpes. Others received no treatment at all. Their blood was collected by jabbing needles directly under their eyes, which causes blood vessels to rupture and other deadly complications. The mice were then killed when their tumors grew to a certain size. In other experiments, rats were killed so that their mammary glands and fat could be removed and studied.”

Do your readers really want to upload a picture so a mouse can grow a tumor, get poked in the eye with a needle and then die? This reader does not.

https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1061

# 30 June 2009 at 1:16 pm

Lisa W said:

Thanks for printing Jasmina’s story about her faithful cat Spodee, and how much Spodee helped comfort her throughout her treatment. I too am a breast cancer survivor and my parents’ cat was a constant source of help and support to both me and my parents throughout my diagnosis and subsequent treatement. I applaud Purina for encouraging survivors to reach out to their pets or adopt loving animals to help give them the support they need!

# 6 July 2009 at 12:53 pm