On December 26, 2024, Oregon Department of Agriculture issued a press release that put a world of pet owners in panic. Oregon Department of Agriculture told the public they were “confident” raw pet food was the cause of a cat’s Avian Flu diagnosis. “Confident“.
From Oregon Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz:
“We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food. This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment…”
But…as it turns out, Oregon Department of Agriculture and Dr. Scholz was recklessly misleading the public. Friend Dr. Laurie Coger filed a public records request (Freedom of Information Act request) with Oregon Department of Agriculture. One of the documents provided evidences Oregon’s “confident” statement was little more than regulatory marketing meant to direct public fear towards a pet food…a raw pet food.
This document clearly states the cat was NOT “strictly an indoor cat” as Oregon stated in their press release. In fact, this document confirms Dr. Scholz of Oregon Department of Agriculture knew the pet owner “takes the cat on leash walks“, knew the cat was exposed to “grass outdoors”, and knew the pet had a “possible exposure” to “waterfowl“.
Oregon intentionally used misleading language (at best). Oregon told the public the pet was “strictly” an indoor cat. Oregon chose the word ‘strictly’, when they were well aware the cat was NOT strictly an indoor pet. Oregon chose the words this pet “was not exposed to the virus in its environment” when they knew the pet had outdoor exposure; their own records stated possible exposure to waterfowl.
This document proves Oregon Department of Agriculture could NOT have been “confident” the pet food was the cause. The document proves there was a risk of exposure from the environment.
Documents provided also evidence multiple samples of Northwest Naturals pet foods and treats were tested, but only the opened product (pictured below) tested positive. Pictures provided appear to show the opened product was almost empty.
Oregon Department of Agriculture’s reckless choice of words resulted in thousands of veterinarian and media websites unknowingly sharing misinformation. Just a few examples:
Posted on the AVMA website: “We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food,…”
NBC News: “The Oregon report represents the first documented case of an indoor cat…”
People.com: “…a house cat in Oregon died…”
AP News: “The death of an Oregon house cat and a pet food recall are raising questions…”
The facts are, Oregon Department of Agriculture gave false information in a press release that had devastating, long reaching results. Oregon Department of Agriculture MUST correct their error in an equally public manner.
Pet owners cannot remain silent when a regulatory authority intentionally alters the facts of an investigation. Pet owners are urged to call or email the Governor of Oregon, Tina Kotek. And/or contact the Director of Oregon Department of Agriculture, Lisa Charpilloz Hanson.
Contact information:
Governor Tina Kotek.
Share Your Opinion webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx
Phone: (503) 378-4582
Department of Agriculture Director
Director’s Office
info@oda.oregon.gov
Phone: 503-986-4552
Example email:
Dear ,
A public records request has revealed that Oregon Department of Agriculture intentionally (and perhaps maliciously) gave false information in a press release. I am requesting Oregon promptly correct the false statement in a new press release.
On December 26, 2024 Oregon Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz was quoted in a ODA press release regarding a reported case of avian flu in a pet cat: “This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment…“
Oregon public records evidence something very different. In the public records requested document titled “Call Report” of Dr. Ryan Scholz, dated 12/10/24, Oregon’s records evidence the cat in question was NOT ‘strictly an indoor cat’. The document states the pet owner “takes the cat on leash walks“, the cat was exposed to “grass outdoors”, and states the pet had a “possible exposure” to “waterfowl“.
Oregon’s press release also told the public “We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food”. I question Oregon’s confidence. The ONLY product that tested positive was an opened bag (with very little pet food left in the bag), all other pet food products tested negative. The potential for exposure could have equally been in the environment. A more truthful statement from ODA would have been…’we cannot be sure how this cat was exposed’.
Oregon’s false statement to the public was repeated by thousands of media outlets and veterinarian websites, unknowingly facilitating Oregon’s lie. Oregon’s false statements to the public confirm pet owners mistrust of pet food regulatory authorities altering investigation facts to match a preferred narrative.
Oregon must promptly correct this serious error, in the same public manner the lie was originally told; a press release must be issued with factual statements from Oregon Department of Agriculture. Oregon Department of Agriculture must publicly admit the agency gave false information in the original press release, and must admit the environment could have exposed this pet to avian flu.
Sincerely,
Please encourage all pet owning friends to call or email Oregon’s Governor and/or Director of the Department of Agriculture. To protect all pets, we must demand that investigations are truthful and not biased.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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