DEAR DR. FOX: I am glad you mentioned the Maori call to the U.N. to give personhood to whales. More details have been reported that may interest your readers. Whales and dolphins have been officially recognized as “legal persons” in a new treaty formed by Pacific Indigenous leaders from the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Tonga. For details go to "Whales and dolphins now have legal personhood in the Pacific -- but one treaty won’t be enough to protect them" (theconversation.com). Thanks for being a voice for the animals. -- B.K., Washington, D.C.

DEAR B.K.: This additional information is appreciated. It is a symbolic and spiritual initiative that should become the norm for peoples around the world with the passage of laws to protect all endangered species on land and in the waters with the same punishments as levied in cases of homicide.

Western governments were slow to respond to historical atrocities against targeted groups of people. They have been similarly slow to respond to the warnings of the climate crisis provided by scientists in the 1980s and to the spreading decimation, indeed holocaust, of the animal kingdom.

The eco-terrorism of extractive, destructive and polluting industries and corporate and colonial tyranny must be opposed with the same determination as we have against terrorism, genocide and war.

There is no “evil” in nature, the killing of prey by predators, parasitism and diseases being integral to the balance, biodiversity maintenance and functional integrity of ecosystems. But the evil in human nature arises from the epigenetic influences of beliefs on our cognition and behavior, especially those linked with racism and speciesism, coupled with the arrogance of anthropocentrism.

For a good read on this issue, see Lockwood, R. 2023. Anthropomorphism and Anthropocentrism in the Anthropocene, Fine, A., Mueller, M., Ng Z., Beck, A. and Peralta, J. (Eds); "The Routledge International Handbook of Human Animal Interactions and Anthrozoology," Routledge Press.

I do not think it is fear-mongering misinformation to assert that we are on the precipice of evolution or extinction, and that our fate is up to the collective will of humankind to become humane and display bioethical altruism. Forensic psychiatry and forensic ecology and climatology are as intertwined as are the climate and species-extinction crises.

DECLARATION OF ANIMAL CONSCIOUSNESS

I am heartened by a coalition of scientists publishing a declaration that there is “a realistic possibility of conscious experience” in all vertebrates and in many invertebrates, such as octopuses and insects. The group focuses on sentience -- an aspect of consciousness often defined as being able to have subjective experiences -- pointing to research suggesting that octopuses feel pain and that bees show play behavior. “When there is a realistic possibility of conscious experience in an animal, it is irresponsible to ignore that possibility in decisions affecting that animal,” says the declaration. Reference: The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness.

DEAR DR. FOX: I'm sure you know about the governor shooting her dog in South Dakota, and she said the law allows it and she follows the law. But the law doesn't require it. In fact, she should have done more to work with the dog and get help. If all else fails, then maybe euthanize it. But shoot it? So cruel!

My stepfather was left with a miniature schnauzer about age 14 after my mother died, and the dog was piddling on the dining room or kitchen floor, so he euthanized it. I wish he would have worked with the dog or gotten advice from the vet or given it to me. He didn't like pets anyway. He gave me the cat, who lived to 17, and I would have worked with the dog. -- D.L., Maryland Heights, Missouri

DEAR D.L.: This action by a would-be Trump vice president, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, has received a lot of media attention. And so it should. Apparently, this was a 14-month-old wire-haired pointer "working" dog kept for hunting, but it showed some aggressive behavior and killed a neighbor’s chickens. Rather than adopting it out or consulting an animal behaviorist, Noem treated the dog as an object of property, simply putting an end to the young dog's life.

I find this objectification objectionable, and it parallels that of men who treat women as objects and even as their possessions.

I sympathize with you having such a stepfather.

EMPATHY FOR ANIMALS

I found a letter to me from the late Dr. Konrad Lorenz, Nobel Prize laureate and one of the founders of ethology, the science of animal behavior, dated Jan. 30, 1988. After congratulating me on the foreword I had written for the book "Man and Wolf" by Dr. Harry Frank, in which I underscored the need for empathy, he closed his letter with this statement:

“I think that empathy is just the right word to describe the state of mind while being in contact with an animal; a relationship that implies a profound respect but no preconceived expectations. Your friend, Konrad.”

We especially need more empathic people in positions of public service and in situations involving animal handling and law enforcement.

(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: I am sure you have read about the Wyoming wolf incident that took place in April. What is your opinion about it? -- P.S., San Francisco

DEAR P.S.: This event confirms that psychopaths are being ignored by our legal system and in the communities and states in which they live.

For readers who are unfamiliar with the incident, here is a summary from Project Coyote (projectcoyote.org):

"Images and videos were published that showed a helpless and clearly injured yearling wolf lying on the floor of a bar in Daniel, Wyoming, with her mouth taped shut, patrons laughing in the background, as Cody Roberts (the man responsible for the incident) jokes about the cruelty. Earlier that day, Roberts ran this wolf over with a snowmobile -- a practice referred to as wolf 'whacking,' which remains perfectly legal in the state of Wyoming. ... The only crime (Roberts) was charged with was a $250 fine for possession of a live wolf."

This confirms what I term the "empathy deficit disorder," which civil society needs to address. (See: drfoxonehealth.com/post/animal-insensitivity-syndrome-recognition-prevention.) This man should have been prosecuted for felony animal cruelty, but he is in one of several states where wolf killing is condoned and officially licensed.

Animal cruelty, in-family violence and sexual violence are connected. A study published in January analyzed 27 previous studies on domestic abuse, as well as 15 papers on sex offenders, and identified four dominant themes: "1. animal abuse as an indicator of domestic abuse; 2. childhood animal abuse as a signal of other problems within a household; 3. animal abuse as an indicator of more severe domestic abuse; and 4. the inclusion of pet abuse as a unique form of domestic abuse."

The authors wrote that these literature compilations "highlighted gaps in risk assessment, risk management, and the lack of identification and training in this neglected area of the service system prevention and response." (See the full study: "Exploring the linkages between animal abuse, domestic abuse, and sexual offending: A scoping review" by Kristin Diemer et al., published in Health & Social Care in the Community, January 2024.)

I call on all municipalities and those concerned about animal, child and elder abuse and neglect, as well as sexual violence, to visit the nationallinkcoalition.org -- and donate! The National Resource Center on the Link between Animal Abuse and Human Violence is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary, collaborative initiative to increase awareness and address public policy, programs and research. It seeks to stop the cycle of violence that often affects multiple family members, and which can spill over to violence in schools.

As reported in a previous column, Minnesota is poised to create an Office of Animal Protection under its Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in the Department of Public Safety, which will provide oversight, training and resources in this area (see MNOAP.org). Similarly, in Vermont, a Division of Animal Welfare has been proposed, which would fall under the Department of Public Safety.

Ann Olson with Minnesota-based Animal Folks is working on legislation to address the connections between animal cruelty and neglect and family violence. She tells me that the group has been researching other states to see who is doing what for the enforcement of animal cruelty laws.

In terms of state participation, the oversight, funding and duties of the enforcement of animal cruelty laws vary considerably across the nation. Some animal cruelty offices or programs are led by state agencies; some efforts are strictly local; some programs are directed or assisted by nonprofit organizations; some entities focus on welfare (regulatory) issues as well as criminal law; some states have prioritized prosecution and veterinary forensics as well as human welfare and victim services. Some larger cities and counties are addressing animal cruelty through enhanced training and other resources, such as New York City working with the ASPCA.

Existing state structures include:

-- Colorado: Bureau of Animal Protection under the Department of Agriculture

-- Connecticut: Animal Control Unit under the Department of Agriculture

-- Delaware: Office of Animal Welfare under the Department of Health and Human Services

-- Florida: Animal Abuse Unit under the Office of the State Attorney

-- Maine: Animal Welfare Program under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

-- Virginia: Animal Law Unit under the Attorney General’s Office

(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: The news that insurance companies will not cover the cost of Ozempic for people using the drug to lose weight is a major concern, since obesity can lead to serious health issues -- including diabetes, for which Ozempic is primarily intended. The FDA has approved Ozempic only for those who have diabetes.

According to the CDC, 41.9% of U.S. adults had obesity from 2017 to March 2020, which was an increase from 30.5% in 2000. We clearly have an obesity epidemic in the U.S., as do many countries, in humans as well as in cats and dogs. Diabetes, too, is worryingly common in dogs and cats, especially those fed cheap, high-carbohydrate kibble. (For details, see my book, co-authored with two other veterinarians, “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Food.”)

What we have learned from our animal companions on this issue is not to consume highly processed convenience foods, many of which are obesogenic and diabetogenic, but rather whole foods, ideally USDA Organically Certified. People should also avoid beverages high in sugar and “empty” calories.

Establishing a health-promoting gut microbiome with whole foods, prebiotics and probiotics will improve the bacterial population in our digestive systems and those of our animal companions. Our microbiomes play essential roles in digestion and overall health and well-being. Plant-based diets for humans and dogs are showing greater health benefits than conventional, meat-based diets, probably because of improved microbiome diversity. Some beneficial bacteria break down dietary fiber into nutritious short-chain fatty acids, while others produce serotonin, the deficiency of which is linked to depression.

In sum, there would be no need for highly advertised and profitable drugs like Ozempic if consumers were better educated, especially in childhood at school, about good nutrition and food sourcing/preparation -- which would also benefit the animals they keep and feed.

I voiced concerns some time ago about Pfizer’s weight loss drug for dogs, Slentrol (dirlotapide). It blocks the absorption of dietary fat (which may not be the primary cause of obesity in dogs in the first place -- rather, it is likely a high consumption of carbohydrates and a lack of exercise), and could therefore prevent the uptake of fat-soluble vitamins and other nutrients, with detrimental health consequences. Risks to humans taking this drug to lose weight are discussed in the study “Dirlotapide, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved first-in-class obesity drug for dogs -- Will humans be next?” by David Klonoff, published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, May 2007.

DEAR DR. FOX: What is your opinion of this article, headlined "Top Study: Carbon Emissions CANNOT Cause 'Global Warming'"? (source: slaynews.com) -- R.E., Washington, D.C.

DEAR R.E.: In my opinion, it is partially right. I say “partially” because the authors say nothing about the acidification of rainwater by the carbon dioxide-saturated atmosphere and its harmful consequences, nor do they make mention of methane and nitrous oxide, which trap heat. Given those omissions, this limited article descends to the level of disinformation.

The warming of the oceans is feeding more intense storms and tornadoes. The jet stream and Atlantic deep current are becoming erratic, and when combined with a high-moisture-content lower atmosphere, there are more intense rains in some areas and droughts in others. Catastrophic flooding is becoming more frequent in many parts of the world, while unrelenting droughts occur in others. Both kill many people and animals, and lead to famine for millions.

Without the collective will of nations to address pollution and the climate crisis, the ultimate biological corrective of massive human depopulation -- compounded by war -- will be inevitable.

ANOTHER STATE BANS DECLAWING OF CATS

A Virginia law prohibiting veterinarians from declawing cats (with some exceptions) is set to take effect in July. Instances in which the procedure would be allowed include recurring infections or injuries of claws, nail beds or toe bones that put the animal’s health at risk. (Full story: WGHP-TV, High Point, North Carolina; April 17)

The routine declawing of cats should be prohibited in all states, and veterinarians need to step up and educate cat owners. Cats need their claws! They use them for purposes of self-grooming, stretching and scent-marking. It is up to cat owners to accommodate their scratching needs in their homes. For more details, see my article here: drfoxonehealth.com/post/declawing-cats.

(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.)