DEAR READERS: In my doctoral dissertation in ethology/animal behavior, I documented the emotional states and behavior of wolves and other wild canids (as published in my book "The Behavior of Wolves, Dogs and Related Canids"). We humans share many of these behaviors and emotions, including caregiving, empathy, protectiveness, affection, playfulness, curiosity, fear, anxiety and depression. So how can we continue to be indifferent to other species who share similar emotional intelligence and degrees of sentience?

This disconnect of empathy is rooted in ignorance, rationalization and denial so that the trapping, snaring, shooting, poisoning and caging of wolves, coyotes and foxes continue. Wildlife-killing contests (visit projectcoyote.org for details) should be outlawed in the U.S., just as dogfighting and cockfighting are. The capture and trade of wildlife and animal products -- nationally and internationally, legal and illegal -- must end for humane, environmental and public health reasons. It is surely time to find alternatives to killing animals for food, biomedical research and selective "harvesting" by recreational hunters under the guise of "wildlife management."

English philosopher Richard Ryder attributes such wanton cruelty to "speciesism," which shares the same root of psychopathy with racism and sexism. Without respect and empathy for all life, the rule of law will remain arbitrary, capricious and self-serving. All creatures have intrinsic value and interests, and also extrinsic ecological value. Dr. Jonathan Balcombe underscores this in his book "Super Fly": "Whatever justified angst and antipathy we may feel for certain flies, we can simultaneously cultivate respect, even reverence, for their essential place in the world."

In his award-winning book "What a Fish Knows," Balcombe leaves no doubt that fish have feelings. Efforts to protect them and their aquatic habitats are being promoted by nonprofit organizations like Fish Feel (fishfeel.org). On the basis of several scientific studies, the U.K. government is extending coverage under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill to include cephalopods and decapods.

As a species we are, I believe, evolving into more compassionate and responsible planetary stewards, thanks in part to advances in scientific knowledge of animal sentience and their ecological services. The newsletter Sentient Media Communications is an invaluable resource for all involved in advancing animal protection around the world. For more, go sentientmedia.org/newsletter.

DEAR DR. FOX: We recently rescued a stray cat who came to our door. My husband and I are convinced she is our Muffin, who died about 10 years ago, come back to us. She is a look-alike tabby and behaves just like Muffin, even choosing Muffin's favorite spots in our home to nap. She cuddles like her and enjoys the same games and treats.

My grandmother says this is reincarnation. What is your opinion? -- J.K., Trenton, New Jersey

DEAR J.K.: I keep an open mind on this issue. Some people, such as the theosophists, believe animals have a group soul or spirit. An animal's soul may evolve when loved by humans. Some Buddhist sects call for kindness to all creatures because they could have been our mothers in our past lives. In Bhutan, dogs are treated with great respect because the next incarnation of their souls or spirits could be in human form. Hinduism embraces reincarnation, but some believe (wrongly, in my opinion) that people who behave badly in this life may "descend" into some "lower" animal form in the next life.

Regardless of reincarnation being true or not, it is incumbent on all of us to treat every living being, plant and animal, with due respect and compassion. I believe my own research into the behavior of wolves, dogs and other animals has made me a better person.

Decades of research spearheaded by the late Dr. Ian Stevenson found evidence of reincarnation in children talking about past-life experiences. For details, see the University of Virginia's School of Medicine, Division of Perceptual Studies' book "Before: Children's Memories of Previous Lives" by Dr. Jim Tucker.

We cannot talk with other species to explore this realm, but I find that the idea of reincarnation provides an element of hope that there is much more to life than we perceive. We are part of the great mystery. We are all part of the One Life -- eternal, immortal -- but our individual lives are transient and mortal, so we must make the best of it! Millions of people enjoy emotional and spiritual communion with nature and with animals. But this is mere self-indulgence when not translated into compassionate action to protect, restore, rescue and cherish. This calls for taking a personal moral inventory of our lifestyles and consumer habits, reducing our carbon footprint and making choices to become more humane planetary stewards.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: My cat, Pepper, was euthanized due to ingestion of rat poison. She appeared to me after death: I made eye contact with her, then she disappeared.

This was different from just imagining seeing her; it was eye contact. She has also jumped up on the bed, and I've felt it move from the imprint of her weight. I also heard her jump up onto the table. The time when I saw her, she had a full fur coat, which was especially remarkable because all her life, she had a skin irritation and licked off part of her fur.

I've never read any of your books, but I found your website after searching for an answer to this question: Does your pet's spirit stay with you, or does it stay in the last place they lived? Regardless, life after death is real; there is a spirit realm.

Just thought you would like to know that the spirit of my cat is very much still attached to me. I'm hoping she stays with me and our spirits are always connected, even though she's no longer here in the flesh. -- S.T., Westholme, British Columbia

DEAR S.T.: Many thanks for having the courage to share an experience that many might call delusional, a figment of your imagination or a product of grief, conditioned perceptions and expectations. On the contrary, as I document in my book "Cat Body, Cat Mind" (and also in "Dog Body, Dog Mind"), our animal companions sometimes return to us after they have died.

Confirmation comes when two people experience the animal's presence simultaneously, and also when a surviving animal in the home responds to the manifestation. These manifestations may be drawn by those who mourn and end when the mourning ceases, so the spirit of the deceased is free to move on. But I do have one instance of what I call place-fixation, where a couple both felt a cat repeatedly jump on their bed. The couple had never owned a cat, but one had indeed lived in the house they had bought.

In my opinion, this all relates to the power of love and our being part of one stupendous whole. It is the great mystery, or mysterium tremendum, which animals and nature can reveal to us in a myriad of ways.

DEAR DR. FOX: I'd like to share with you a truly unusual encounter with a passerby dog last week.

I saw a young couple walking with a medium-sized Lab mix, black with white paws, on the other side of the road. When my turn arrived to cross the road, the couple was walking away. Their dog, however, was calmly looking at me with so much eagerness, and he decided to wait for me -- still very calm and well-behaved. The couple kept commanding him to walk, but instead he chose to lie down and wait for me. He was fixed on me with so much attention, like we had known each other from another life.

I said to the dog from a certain distance, "Hello, have we met before?" He immediately approached me, calmly and politely, and looked at me in such a tender, sweet way -- just like your own dog will look at his master. I bent down and he smelled me. (I know you won't approve of doing that these days, but I felt the urge to approach this dog. He seemed trustworthy.)

When I approached him, the gal said that he was friendly but rambunctious, at only 1 year old. But this dog was not rambunctious at that moment: He was like a mature, well-behaved dog, who just wanted to communicate something to me. His eyes were "talking" to me, and he just didn't want to go away. He kept smelling me and looking at me. Sadly, I had to take the initiative to just let him go and say goodbye.

I couldn't get this experience out of my mind, wondering what it could mean. -- M.S., Washington, D.C.

DEAR M.S.: Your story is most touching. From my experience, I am convinced that animals can give us some insights about reincarnation, past-life memories and the recognition of spiritual kinship. But not all of us are gifted, like you, with an open heart and mind to receive such blessings. For some of the insights I have gained in this domain, notably evidence of life-after-life visitations by deceased animals to their human companions, visit my website (drfoxonehealth.com/tags/spiritual-issues).

I welcome readers to share with me their spiritual experiences with animals wild and domesticated. Beings other than human can indeed inspire us and become our healers and teachers.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: Please indulge me in reading this adaptation of a speech from William Shakespeare's "Hamlet":

"To be, or not to be (masked, vaccinated and socially distanced)? That is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (from COVID-19 variants) or to take arms against a sea of troubles (by rolling up our sleeves and taking the shots) and, by opposing, end them?"

If we do genuinely care about our families, and all other people, then we will all take the advice of medical scientists and epidemiologists and get vaccinated. This will also protect over 100 mammalian species in zoos we may visit, where all animal caretakers should be vaccinated to protect susceptible captives like tigers, lions, leopards and gorillas.

Deer are also vulnerable: We have infected white-tailed deer and they, along with other infected wildlife species, may come back and infect us with new variants of this coronavirus, which could be even deadlier and more contagious. Some scientists have proposed that the omicron variant came from mice, who got the virus from humans. Fur farm workers have infected mink, who in turn infected them, and escapees from these facilities even infected wild mink. Animal caretakers in horse, cattle and pig facilities should be vaccinated to reduce the possibility of the coronavirus jumping to these mammalian species.

People with COVID-19 have infected their cats and dogs, who can develop heart disease from the virus but, fortunately, rarely die. Even hamsters and pet ferrets can be infected. While zoos are now vaccinating susceptible species, this is not called for with companion animals; rather, any pet owners who test positive should wear masks in their homes and minimize contact with their animals until testing negative.

No vaccinations are risk-free, but any risks are generally outweighed by the benefits. All good physicians and veterinarians consider these risks and avoid "carpet bombing" the immune system with multiple vaccines against different diseases all given at the same time.

The less that we exploit animals for food and other products, and for the international "exotic" pet trade, the better -- that will reduce the chances of coronavirus and other zoonotic diseases decimating the human population and global economy. For more details, visit https://drfoxonehealth.com/post/what-corona-virus-is-telling-us-a-holistic-veterinary-and-one-health-view/

I wish all readers a safe and sane New Year and enjoy the peace of mind that comes when we care for others, human and nonhuman.

ONLINE PUPPY SCAMS PROLIFERATING, BBB SAYS

The Better Business Bureau says online pet scams proliferate during the holiday season. Learning to spot a scam can prevent disappointment and financial loss. Anyone who has purchased or adopted a puppy from an online seller, only to find the pup isn't as advertised, should nevertheless continue working with their veterinarian to vaccinate and keep the animal in good health, writes Dr. John de Jong, past-president of the AVMA. (Full story: WSOC-TV, Charlotte, North Carolina, Dec. 9)

GRASSROOTS EFFORTS TO END CAT TNR

Local wildlife advocates and cat lovers alike can get overwhelmed when facing national organizations that promote TNR (trap-neuter-release). The Urban Wildlife Podcast recently featured an episode on this topic. From the episode's description: "Tulsans for Public Safety shows how one community has organized on a grassroots level to promote sound policy for unowned cats."

Listen at urbanwildlifecast.com.

For more assistance in countering arguments from TNR advocates, watch this video from the American Bird Conservancy. It may help people in your community understand the need to put an end to TNR, which puts neutered cats back outdoors to decimate local wildlife and spread communicable diseases. Link: youtube.com/embed/kejgi3p6-9E?rel=0

HORSE INFLUENZA ALERT

Horses appear to have been a significant reservoir for influenza A viruses until the early 20th century, when their population began declining amid industrialization, researchers reported in the journal Viruses. The researchers said their findings underscore the importance of vaccination and surveillance of animals to protect public health. (Full story: Horsetalk New Zealand, Nov. 10)

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)