Television presenter Jenna Bush Hager and her temporary co-host Andy Cohen found themselves at the centre of an animal welfare discussion this week after their on-air comments about a mouse problem attracted the attention of a major charity.
The On-Air Dilemma That Caught Peta's Attention
During Monday's broadcast of Today with Jenna & Friends, the mother-of-three revealed she was dealing with an unwelcome rodent issue at her family home. She explained that her pet cats were frequently 'playing' with the mice but not dispatching them.
In response, Cohen, a Bravo TV producer, offered immediate solutions. He suggested using 'sticky things' and hiring 'an exterminator' to resolve the pest situation. This conventional advice, however, did not go unnoticed by animal rights advocates.
A Swift and Educational Response from Peta
Returning to the show on Tuesday, the pair disclosed that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) had reached out to both of them via email. The charity intervened to offer alternative, cruelty-free methods for managing the vermin.
Andy Cohen, 57, acknowledged the charity's input on air. 'They did have some good points, which are that the sticky things are actually very… the animals suffer,' he stated. He then relayed Peta's practical advice, telling Bush Hager, 'Plug the holes in your house.'
Bush Hager, 44, confirmed she had also received the email and admitted, 'I was up all night thinking about where the holes in my house are.' Cohen continued to elaborate on Peta's recommendations, which included securing all food, including pet food and leftovers from her children, in airtight containers.
The conversation took a light-hearted turn when Cohen questioned whether her home might be a 'little filthy,' a suggestion Bush Hager vehemently denied. 'No, it is not!' she snapped back, defending her cleaning habits as a form of stress relief.
Why Peta Opposes Traditional Pest Control Methods
Peta's stance on this issue is clear and publicly available. The organisation states that glue traps and poisons are not only futile but also extremely cruel. Animals caught in glue traps can suffer for days before dying, and poisons pose significant risks to humans, companion animals, and non-target wildlife.
Furthermore, the charity argues that lethal methods are counterproductive. Killing rodents leads to a spike in the food supply, which causes accelerated breeding among survivors, ultimately increasing the population problem in the long run.
The feline companions at the heart of the story belong to Bush Hager's two daughters. Her 12-year-old, Mila, cares for a cat named Maisie Moo, while her 10-year-old, Poppy, looks after a cat called Mango. Bush Hager and her husband, Henry Hager, are also parents to a six-year-old son, Hal.
