DEAR READERS: All who care about our shared planet are suffering varying degrees of despair and disbelief about current events. Take, for instance, the COP30 climate summit scheduled for November in Belem, Brazil. Ironically and nonsensically, a massive highway is under construction -- through protected Amazon rainforest -- to accommodate the estimated 50,000 attendees.

Then we have the executive branch of the United States government, which is opening millions of protected acres in Alaska, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to mining and drilling for oil and gas. This is being opposed by Indigenous peoples and environmental protection organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The Environmental Protection Agency, which plays a vital role in public health, is being dismantled. The Department of the Interior has moved to free the mining and petrochemical industries from any legal liability for polluting the environment and killing wildlife.

In March, a North Dakota jury found environmental advocacy group Greenpeace liable for defamation and ordered it to pay more than $660 million in damages to the Texas-based Energy Transfer oil company. The lawsuit stemmed from Greenpeace's role in the 2016-17 protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline -- one of the largest protests against fossil fuels in U.S. history. "Greenpeace, which vowed to appeal, said last month it could be forced into bankruptcy because of the case, ending over 50 years of activism," reported the BBC. (Full story: BBC.com, March 19)

Clearly, our justice system is out of phase with reality in its dedication to serve corporate interests, regardless of the risks and harmful consequences.

In defense of this new status quo of unbridled harm to the natural environment and everything in it -- and to discredit the validity of rising public concern -- the term "Trump derangement syndrome" has been coined. This is a derogatory phrase used to dismiss criticism of, and negative reactions to, President Trump’s statements and political actions.

But when we frame our perceptions objectively, as per my new book “One Health: Veterinary, Ethical and Environmental Perspectives,” we bear witness to the empathy deficit disorder in this administration. This deficit is evidenced in how it treats all immigrants as criminals; how it fires public servants, who had been serving the common good, from federal agencies; and how it strips legal protections from wildlife, including endangered species.

Elon Musk’s response to all this was to say, in a podcast interview, “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy. ... They’re exploiting a bug in Western civilization, which is the empathy response.”

America can surely regain its diplomatic role as a global peacemaker, rather than engaging in disruptive trade wars and siphoning public funds -- needed for social services and environmental protection and restoration -- into the military-industrial complex. It is tragic that so many countries are investing trillions of dollars into weapons of defense and mass destruction rather than uniting to save the planet and humanity.

Those of us who care must bear witness to this ethical and spiritual corruption in America. This is a critical time for humankind to evolve, spiritually and empathically, for the benefit of generations to come, or else risk burdening them with the ravages of climate change, suffering and extinction. The core principle of equalitarianism, of treating each other and all living beings with respect and compassion, is the ethos of a truly democratic society.

EMPATHIC MICE: MORE COMPASSIONATE THAN SOME PEOPLE

Mice have been observed rendering a form of first aid. As summarized on Nature.com:

"Mice that find another mouse unconscious will attempt to resuscitate it in a similar manner to people giving first aid. Researchers found that if a mouse encountered an anaesthetized friend, it would begin a grooming routine focused on the head. If that didn’t rouse their companion, the rescuer began to bite around the mouth and pull at their tongue. This behavior was more forceful in mice that had spent more time with the unconscious individual, and resulted in a quicker recovery time." (See full study: "Reviving-like prosocial behavior in response to unconscious or dead conspecifics in rodents" by Wenjian Sun et al., published in Science, February 2025.)

So think twice before using a glue trap to catch a mouse in your home! My cat Fanny caught one in my kitchen recently, holding it unharmed between her paws so I was able to grab the mouse in a towel and take it outside.

(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 see the following post from veterinarian Dr. Bob Goldstein via EarthAnimal.com:

"Recently, there have been reports in several European countries of dogs developing 'Werewolf Syndrome.' While not a recognized medical condition, it causes neurological symptoms such as aggression, excessive barking and agitation, howling, restlessness, excessive chewing and even more serious symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. When grouped together, these symptoms align with the category of inflammation affecting the brain and nervous system.

"In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising pet parents to immediately stop giving these (rawhide) products to their pets and to closely monitor them for any unusual behavior or neurological symptoms (see food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/precautionary-advice-issued-to-pet-owners-on-dog-chews-linked-to-illness). More specifically, the FSA is urging consumers to stop purchasing Barkoo and Chrisco rawhide products, which are available online. Additionally, if a dog exhibits any concerning symptoms, the FSA strongly recommends seeking prompt veterinary care.

"The category of rawhide chews and treats has long been a topic of controversy due to the processes involved in their production. Rawhide chews are a byproduct of the leather industry, where a cow’s skin is split -- the upper layer is used for leather, while the lower layer is processed into dog chews. However, the methods used to store, process and preserve rawhide are widely debated, particularly concerning the use of chemicals such as formaldehyde and bleach, which have raised concerns about the impact of rawhide chews on a dog's health.

"The most popular advantage of rawhide chews is their long-lasting nature, which helps exercise a dog’s teeth and gums while also reducing boredom. However, the potential side effects, along with the risks of choking and intestinal blockages, require careful consideration."

DR. FOX HERE: Regarding the symptoms Goldstein mentions, I suspect possible cadmium poisoning. Many countries -- including China, by far the biggest producer of cattle hides -- use trivalent chromium salts, vegetable tannins, synthetic tanning agents, aluminum sulfate and various additives to tan hides. Rawhide dog chews are processed with chemicals like sodium sulfide, lime, chromium salts, bleach and hydrogen peroxide to preserve them and enhance their flavor, and traces may remain even after washing.

FRESH WATER DAILY FOR PETS

An often-neglected part of responsible companion animal care is the daily provision of fresh drinking water, ideally filtered and purified. I use a ZeroWater filter for my municipal tap water, which is sourced from the agriculture-polluted Mississippi River.

Water bowls should be cleaned out daily to remove the bacterial biofilm that develops within hours of animals drinking and putting bacteria and food particles from their mouths into the water. Many dogs and cats are taken to emergency veterinary clinics, at significant cost, because of diarrhea caused by bacterial infection. Providing purified water in clean bowls daily could help reduce this health crisis. For more details, go to: drfoxonehealth.com/post/pure-water-for-cats-and-dogs-and-all.

Regarding fluoridated water, I agree with R.F. Kennedy Jr. that adding fluoride to municipal drinking water needs close review (as I posted years ago: drfoxonehealth.com/post/fluoride-in-pet-food-a-serious-health-risk-for-both-dogs-and-cats). I part company with him regarding vaccinations, especially against measles, which should be mandatory for children going to school -- just as vaccinations for a related virus, distemper, should be mandatory for all puppies to create a community or “herd” immunity. Unvaccinated human and canine survivors of such infections can have permanent neurologic and other health problems.

But I join him again on the issue of "azo dyes" and other chemical coloring agents being added to foods, against which I railed in my book “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat & Dog Foods,” co-authored with two other veterinarians.

There are alternatives. In an online statement, food additive company Oterra says, "By leveraging natural pigments like turmeric, Hansen sweet potato, etc., brands can create visually appealing, stable, and regulatory-compliant products that meet pet owners’ growing expectations.” (For details, go to: oterra.com/application/pet-food.)

Another benefit to plant-based dyes: easier carpet cleaning when pets vomit! Synthetic chemical coloring agents, some of which are carcinogenic, often leave permanent stains.

(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: Colossal Biosciences Inc., a genetic engineering company aiming to "de-extinct" the woolly mammoth, the dodo and other animals, recently unveiled its so-called "woolly mice." These mice harbor a mix of mutations modeled on characteristics of woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius), as well as changes known to alter hair growth in mice. The company claims that the animal is a breakthrough in its quest to bring back woolly mammoths by genetically modifying Asian elephants, the mammoth’s closest living relative, while giving lip service to animal welfare concerns and implying this work could benefit biodiversity recovery.

In my opinion, this techno-triumphalism may be well-intended, but it is irrelevant to the real challenge of protecting and restoring the natural biodiversity remaining on this planet. The resurrection of extinct species is a waste of time and money.

I am writing this while a troop of wild turkeys are eating the grains I had put out for the squirrels and small birds. I am in awe of these large, colorful descendants of theropods: a group of meat-eating dinosaurs that includes Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor.

We humans "share a common ape ancestor with chimpanzees," reports the Smithsonian's Human Origins website. "It lived between 8 (million) and 6 million years ago. ... All apes and monkeys share a more distant relative, which lived about 25 million years ago." Humans share around 99% of their genes with chimpanzees, making chimpanzees our closest living genetic relatives. Exploiting them in biomedical research must end.

Our mistreatment and continued exploitation of other animals -- our relations, all of them -- is spiritually and ethically untenable.

PLAYING GOD AND SEEING GOD IN ALL

Animals have always held me in awe and wonder. Ever since childhood, I have felt that animals were what I would now call theophanies -- appearances of God. At the time, I had no word to express what I felt in the presence of creatures great and small, as well as the various plants and trees that allowed me to climb them.

Ecologist Rene Dubos expressed similar ideas in his 1972 book, “A God Within.” But the mythology of modern civilization -- taken from Genesis 1:26-28, where God instructs humans to “have dominion” over creation -- has led to the domination, genocide and slavery of Indigenous peoples; the exploitation and annihilation of animals; and the desecration of nature under the pioneer spirit of “manifest destiny.” Now we have genetic engineering companies promising to resurrect extinct species -- as an act of contrition? -- while pigs are engineered to save human lives as organ donors.

Is it not time for us to stop trying to play God, and instead awaken and care for all our planetary relations?

Those who applauded President Trump’s address before Congress on March 4, where he invoked his “American Dream” based on the Project 2025 script, might change their perception after reading Thomas Berry’s 1988 book, “The Dream of the Earth.” Until we re-sanctify nature, we will never be secure. The natural world is a living community, not a resource to exploit, and animals were not created just for our use.

A REPORT FOR EDUCATORS

This insightful survey may be a valuable resource for educators and parents who want to help this young generation focus, get involved and have agency -- rather than dwell in anxiety and despair -- about climate change, environmental and animal protection. See "The Attitudes of Generation Z Towards Animals and the Environment" here: faunalytics.org/exploring-gen-zs-attitudes-towards-animals-and-the-environment.

For health care professionals and others seeking scientific documentation of our challenges and solutions, see my book “One Health: Veterinary, Ethical and Environmental Perspectives.” It was reviewed here: psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/202502/healing-our-connections-with-animals-nature-and-one-another.

(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.)