DEAR READERS: Anyone who still consumes bacon, pork or other pig products needs to think twice, especially if they have, and love, a dog or cat -- whose emotional intelligence is equivalent to a pig’s. People who have kept pigs as companions applaud their intelligence, curiosity, cleanliness, affection and playfulness.

By popular vote in California, state mandate Proposition 12 has been set to refuse imports of any pig products from other states where pigs are kept under the inhumane conditions that are standard practice on most hog factory farms.

From a post on Meatingplace.com entitled "Pork producers react to proposed Farm Bill": “The release of the latest version of a Farm Bill did not impress the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) because the proposed legislation did not address California’s Proposition 12 mandate, which became law this year. The pork industry association expressed 'deep disappointment' that the proposed legislation released by U.S. Senate Democrats does not include 'a solution' to Prop 12, NPPC said in a statement."

The text of the latest Farm Bill proposal came from Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat and the chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and differs from the version released in May by the Republican-led House Committee on Agriculture. The House version had addressed the NPPC’s concerns, the group said.

Citing USDA data, NPPC noted that the adoption of Prop 12 has resulted in a 41% price increase for pork products in California since it became law. The organization is calling for both chambers of Congress to “swiftly consider and pass” a Farm Bill that includes a Prop 12 “fix.”

It is likely that the Republicans will go hog wild with their pork politics, having their bacon and sausage regardless of the rights and interests of these highly sentient beings. The mistreatment of pigs for monetary reasons is a sad reflection on the state of our humanity and economy.

The consumption of pigs from factory farms is morally reprehensible. A marketing system based on pork-belly futures is unsustainable and has catastrophic consequences. It contributes to the climate crisis and to the decline in public health, especially since hog factory farms are epicenters of potentially pandemic strains of the influenza virus and a major source of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Reducing pork production will be a challenge, considering the consumer demand for pig parts (such as ears and snouts as "treats" for dogs, which I advise against for health reasons) and the fact that the U.S. exports pork to China. According to data from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S. exported approximately $1.24 billion worth of pork to China in 2023.

For more on this issue, see my 2011 book, “Healing Animals and the Vision of One Health.”

DEAR DR. FOX: I am writing to you because one of your recent columns mentioned the fact that there is a rise in cancer among young people. My son, at age 24, passed away last year from osteosarcoma.

He was a healthy young adult with a promising future ahead. He was diagnosed right after graduating from engineering college. It is very sad that none of the treatments he suffered through worked.

A few months later, his young cat passed away. I hope they are together somewhere now. -- S.P., Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR S. P.: My condolences to you; what an ordeal you and your son went through.

I think many families are going through this kind of tragedy with diseases that we have unwittingly created by our lack of regard for environmental protection. We have contaminated the water and food chains with a plethora of chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic and/or endocrine disruptors. I believe this is compounded by nonionizing radiation and electromagnetic fields from electronic devices and telecommunication systems. The most vulnerable are likely those who happen to be genetically susceptible to these environmental contaminants.

As I have emphasized repeatedly in my column, cancer is a multifactor, pluricausal disease in most instances. Integrating all the evidence -- genetic susceptibility notwithstanding -- points to its anthropogenic causation: a disease of modern civilization.

Again, my sympathy goes out to you and all who knew and loved your son. His passing, and that of so many others, indicates the need for a call to action backed by sound science and political leadership -- the latter not aligned with the petrochemical, pharmaceutical and highly processed food industries. My forthcoming book, “One Health: Veterinary, Ethical and Environmental Perspectives,” addresses these issues and what we can all do as consumers and parents for health’s sake and for Earth’s sake.

(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: We are becoming mindful of our collective carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, but as society moves to increasing dependence on technology for data storage, as well as the development of artificial intelligence, constraints and caps are called for.

"According to a Guardian analysis," reports Isabel O'Brien, "from 2020 to 2022 the real emissions from the 'in-house' or company-owned data centers of Google, Microsoft, Meta and Apple are probably about 662% -- or 7.62 times -- higher than officially reported. Amazon is the largest emitter of the big five tech companies by a mile -- the emissions of the second-largest emitter, Apple, were less than half of Amazon’s in 2022." (Full story: The Guardian, Sept. 15)

The escalating amount of water needed to cool these data centers, in addition to their energy use, is now raising concerns, especially in regions of high water demand from agriculture and cities.

Nature.com reports: "Tech giants Amazon, Google and Microsoft have all recently announced plans to support nuclear power generation as part of efforts to become carbon-neutral. Amazon and Google’s plans involve companies that are pioneering the design of 'small modular reactors,' while Microsoft will support the restart of a decommissioned 835-megawatt reactor in Pennsylvania. These plans come as the energy requirement of data centers supporting artificial intelligence skyrocket. Sourcing geothermal energy is also being developed, which is a promising initiative."

The U.N.'s International Monetary Fund reports: "Crypto mining and data centers now account for 2% of global electricity use and nearly 1% of global emissions, and their footprint is growing."

As a consequence of climate change and escalating energy demands from these sectors, homeowners pay more to cool and warm their houses, and for home insurance.

WILDFIRE SMOKE POSES SERIOUS RISKS TO PETS, LIVESTOCK

Wildfire smoke poses significant health risks to pets, causing issues such as coughing, eye irritation and breathing difficulties, says Dr. Sandra Faeh, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Particularly vulnerable are animals that already have a cardiovascular or respiratory condition, brachycephalic breeds, birds, and young and senior pets of all types.

All pet and livestock owners in areas affected by wildfire smoke should watch for coughing, gagging or difficulty breathing, and they should keep animals indoors, use air purifiers, limit outdoor exercise time and have an evacuation plan in place. (Full story: NorthJersey.com, Nov. 10)

As for humans, the health implications of wildfire smoke exposure can range from elevated susceptibility to asthma and viral infections, to increased risk of heart attacks, cognitive impairment and dementia.

PESTICIDES CONTAMINATE WATERS WHERE DOGS PLAY, SWIM

Imidacloprid and fipronil, two pesticides that treat and prevent flea and tick infestations in pets, have been found -- at levels that can harm invertebrates -- in ponds where dogs swim, according to a study in Science of the Total Environment. “Dog owners can play an important part in reducing the overall impact on the water that dogs enjoy by checking if they really need to use these products,” says veterinarian and study author Lauren Yoder. (Full story: TechnologyNetworks.com, Oct. 8)

(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: This Animal Doctor column covers some human health and well-being issues, especially those affecting children, because humans are animals, too. One important such topic is children's use of smartphones in schools.

The research is clear: Smartphones undermine attention, learning, relationships and belonging. Even if every school prohibits children's access to social media while at school, that will not significantly reduce the adverse impact to their brains; their social, emotional and cognitive development; and their learning ability. For more details, see Jon Haidt’s essay here: www.afterbabel.com/p/phone-free-schools.

Another issue of concern for today's children is “climate change anxiety” or “eco-anxiety,” which the American Psychological Association recognizes as a significant mental health concern in children. As they become aware of the effects of climate change, many kids feel fear, hopelessness and distress about the future of the planet. This may drive them to seek escape via social media -- which creates other issues, as noted above. To help relieve these feelings in young children, I recommend the book "Small Steps, Big Change" by Annemarie Cool, illustrated by James Jones. It is an uplifting picture book filled with simple tips for building a better world for the future. Every family should have a copy!

Another concern for pets and young people alike: The rates of obesity and weight-related diseases are rising in both pets and children in the U.S. This has many factors, including genetics, sedentarism, ultra-processed foods and, possibly, microplastics and various other food contaminants disrupting the gut microbiome. Healthful, whole-food diets and physical activity are the best preventives for everyone, human or not!

A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR BATS -- AND A WARNING FOR US ALL

Researchers are studying the fungi and bacteria on the wings of bats in Lillooet, British Columbia, because bats in that region have shown no signs of infection from the devastating white-nose syndrome that has nearly wiped out other North American bat populations. The research may lead to a probiotic cocktail that helps bats resist the devastating disease. A previously developed probiotic mix has shown promise at test sites in Washington state and British Columbia. (Full story: Phys.org, Oct. 23)

Bats help us in many ways -- from consuming insects that can carry diseases and decimate crops, to fertilizing the forests. (They also fertilize the agave plants that give us tequila -- no bats, no tequila!) But bats are declining everywhere from loss of habitat, malnutrition (from insecticides eliminating their food sources) and immune system impairment from pesticides. The latter makes them susceptible to diseases, especially white-nose syndrome.

International conventions on protecting biodiversity will amount to nothing without prohibiting the use of agrichemical poisons. Every government should support farmers transitioning to ecologically sound, regenerative and sustainable organic farming practices. This would improve public health and reduce the high incidence of cancer and birth defects in the populace and protect aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.

DEAR DR. FOX: There is a lot of research being conducted now on the sentience of insects. I’ve done some reading and attended a few talks on the subject. While there is a wide spectrum of opinion on this, in my naive view, there is a difference between using black soldier fly larvae as a protein source and using crickets. I believe crickets are quite possibly sentient. -- P.S., San Francisco

DEAR P.S.: I appreciate your concern over whether insect farming, which is expanding worldwide, is humane. Humans have been eating wild insects as a sustainable source of various nutrients since we first evolved. As for our companion animals, many cats (and some dogs) will chase and eat bugs found in the home. I advise stopping them from going after spiders, since some are venomous; these should be caught and released outdoors.

Black soldier fly larvae provide nutritious fatty acids and proteins, and can be humanely killed, in my opinion, by lowering the temperature. They are a good nutrient supplement for humans and companion animals.

Adult crickets are obviously sentient -- try to catch one! -- and their primary nutrient value is chitin. An alternative source is chitin-rich dried, powdered mushrooms, which I have mentioned in a recent column.

For consumers who choose to consume farmed insects, whatever the insect larvae and adults are fed should be organically certified and tested for heavy metals and other contaminants.

(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.)