A heart-wrenching tale unfolds in San Bernardino, where Joseph Journell, a 56-year-old man, recounts the devastating loss of his two beloved feline companions. Alexander, his cherished 14-year-old tabby, and Tuxsie, a playful 4-year-old tuxedo cat, met untimely ends after ingesting raw milk linked to a bird flu scare.
“It’s horrible when you realize that you’re the one that actually gave them the milk that killed them,”
expressed Journell with profound sorrow etched on his face. The grief of losing these furry family members reverberates through his words as he recalls the events that unfolded in late November.
The saga began innocently enough – an attempt to keep Alexander healthy led Journell down a path fraught with unforeseen peril. He had turned to unpasteurized milk from Raw Farm in Fresno based on hearsay about its purported immune-boosting and healing properties over conventional pasteurized milk. Little did he know that this seemingly well-intentioned decision would have catastrophic consequences.
As Thanksgiving Day dawned, tragedy struck their peaceful abode. Alexander succumbed first, sending shockwaves of despair through Journell’s world. Tuxsie followed suit just two days later, leaving behind an unbearable void in their once lively home. The third cat, Big Boy, fought for his life as he battled the insidious H5N1 bird flu virus.
In a gripping turn of events, Big Boy found himself hospitalized for a week undergoing intensive treatments while grappling with blindness and impaired mobility upon returning home. Despite these harrowing challenges, there glimmers a ray of hope as he embarks on the journey towards recovery under Journell’s vigilant care.
Amidst the chaos and anguish enveloping Journell’s life post-tragedy stands Cleo – a beacon of health spared from the ill-fated milk that claimed her comrades’ lives. As emotions run high and questions linger unanswered, one thing remains clear – justice must prevail.
Journell seeks recompense for the staggering $12,000 spent on treating his cats—a demand echoed by Seattle-based food safety lawyer Ilana Korchia representing him in this battle for accountability against Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee amidst conflicting claims regarding virus transmission timelines.
While McAfee contests the notion of immediate illness post-consumption based on preliminary findings—citing varying viral survival rates in different batches—experts like Richard Webby caution against underestimating the potential risks associated with contaminated dairy products carrying lethal pathogens like H5N1.
The unfolding tragedy extends beyond Journell’s personal sphere into a broader narrative encompassing nearly a dozen feline casualties across California due to tainted raw pet food amid a widespread outbreak impacting hundreds of U.S. dairy herds nationwide—a somber reminder of the far-reaching implications of unchecked food safety practices.
Federal and state health advisories ring loud and clear warning against raw milk consumption given its potential role as a carrier for infectious agents such as bird flu—an urgent plea reiterated by officials urging vigilance among pet owners regarding feeding practices to safeguard animal welfare amid mounting health concerns.
Journeying through physical distress compounded by mental anguish following this ordeal underscores Journell’s resilience amidst adversity as he navigates grief while contemplating lingering uncertainties surrounding raw milk’s touted benefits juxtaposed against its perilous repercussions—a cautionary tale echoing far beyond his doorstep.
