Alison Young Investigates

Too frequent shots put cats at risk for cancer

Experts in feline veterinary medicine have recommended for years that cats receive as few shots as possible to reduce their risk of a rare form of cancer. But new research indicates some vets still aren't following the recommendations to protect cats against injection-site sarcomas. Pet owners must take an active role to ensure their cats' receive appropriate care, experts say. Cancer linked to shots can be fatal to your cat

Whooping cough vaccine leaves 15% at risk

Synopsis: A cluster of whooping cough cases among fully vaccinated children at Cobb County elementary schools in metro Atlanta points out the flaw in the current pertussis vaccine: It's only 85 percent effective. But vaccine manufacturers aren't working to develop one that's more effective. Instead, officials hope to curb outbreaks of the disease by giving more booster shots to adolescents and adults. Parents learn vaccine not all-powerful

Debt collectors' tactics draw scrutiny by regulators

Synopsis: Georgia consumers complain that two national debt-collection firms use deception and abusive tactics to collect money, even when they don't owe it, records show. So state officials ordered the firms -- Frederick J. Hanna & Associations and Mann Bracken -- to answer questions and turn over a slew of documents about their collection practices. But the firms say the watchdog agency has no business examining their activities because they are law firms. Consumers complained more about debt collection than any other industry in 2008, according to new federal data. Compliants pile up against debt collectors

Sellers on eBay face charge-back risks when using PayPal

Synopsis: Three months after Lisa Wright sold a $1,250 Louis Vuitton bag on eBay, she was left with nothing: No bag, no money. That's because after the buyer disputed the charges with her credit card company, PayPal took took the money back from Wright's account. According to PayPal and credit card company rules, buyers who dispute charges may never have to return the merchandise. After being contacted by the AJC, PayPal refunded the money to Wright. But her case serves as a cautionary tale for the millions who sell items in online auctions. Battle over bag: Seller loses out in online sale

Peanut farming practices may hold clue to two outbreaks

Synopsis: Salmonella with a unique genetic fingerprint is providing an intriguing clue to federal investigators trying to find out how it got into products at Georgia peanut processing plants 73 miles and two years apart. The fingerprint, which caused an outbreak in 2006-07, has recently been identified in some peanut butter made last year at Peanut Corporation of America's plant in Blakely, Ga. This is raising questions about whether greater efforts are needed on peanut farms to reduce bacterial contamination, even though peanuts aren't intended to be eaten raw. Salmonella's 'fingerprint' could be clue to its source