DEAR READERS: Nature.com published an item on March 13 entitled, “Killer whales have menopause. Now scientists think they know why.” Comparing data on toothed whale species that do, and do not, experi... more
DEAR READERS: Living in Minnesota, where we usually have plenty of snow (but certainly not during this climate-changed winter), a popular outdoor recreational activity is to ride on a sled pulled by a... more
DEAR DR. FOX: Our family recently lost our 16-year-old cat, Blinky. This is hard enough on its own, but made harder because one of our other cats, Ford, saw Blinky as a surrogate parent.... more
DEAR READERS: Minnesota journalist Brandon Ferdig, in his article “The wolf debate and modern America” (Star Tribune, March 2), clearly presents how the wolf has become a symbol of a divided nation. S... more
After spot-on application, imidacloprid and fipronil spread over the surface of the skin, where they are incorporated into the superficial epidermis and sebaceous glands, and slowly released via hair ... more
It is evident to me, as author of several articles and books on bioethics, that the Alabama Supreme Court ruling of personhood for in vitro fertilized (IVF) human eggs, classifying these frozen embryo... more
DEAR READERS: Small dogs with long snouts have the longest life expectancy of pure breeds, while flat-faced dogs have the shortest, and small breeds are generally longer-lived than large, according to... more
DEAR READERS: I have long advised cat owners not to give tuna fish to their cats because the mercury could poison them and cause brain damage. Levels of mercury in the atmosphere have fallen dramatica... more
DEAR READERS: All hunters should read this opinion column, written by several wildlife scientists and published in the Vail (Colorado) Daily on Feb. 14: "When mountain lion hunters assume a need to ki... more
DEAR READERS: Allow me to draw your attention to a new book, set to be published April 23, entitled "Our Kindred Creatures: How Americans Came To Feel the Way They Do About Animals."... more
DEAR READERS: The procedure of onychectomy, commonly called declawing, must be put to a stop unless absolutely medically necessary. From PETA.org:... more
DEAR READERS: Perhaps some geologists, climatologists and other environmental scientists can explain why there are so many catastrophic weather events around the world. I theorize that an increase in ... more
DEAR DR. FOX: I read one of your articles after researching an experience I just had with my dog. Long story short, I had two older huskies who both died around Christmas, two weeks apart. The first o... more
DEAR READERS: Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Koen Margodt have written a piece entitled "Essay on Factory Farms: Reasons For Adopting a Plant-Based Diet." Please read the description of the piece below:... more
DEAR DR. FOX: Thank you for your article about the effects of overconsumption on our environment and on all living beings. I agree wholeheartedly that we need to do more to reduce these negative impac... more
DEAR DR. FOX: I read your recent column, where a reader disagreed with your stance on cat TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, release). However, you did not say what your alternative is to releasing unadop... more
DEAR READERS: Animals catching diseases from humans, called reverse zoonoses, affects species around the world. These include mussels contaminated with the hepatitis A virus; cheetahs that contract in... more
DEAR READERS: Ever since the invention of the flush toilet, we humans have violated one of the basic rules of ecology: the proper recycling and treatment of fecal waste by composting/fermentation to d... more
About one-third of all food produced globally is going to waste, an absurd situation in the face of growing world hunger, related in large part to defective supply chains and storage -- and now aggrav... more
DEAR READERS: On Dec. 22, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed critical legislation (A.2917/S.4099) ending wildlife killing contests for coyotes, foxes, bobcats, squirrels, raccoons, crows and other species... more
DEAR READERS: All dog owners and trainers should read this research article by Sarah Krichbaum, et al: “No bones about it: The effect of chewing on cognition in dogs,” published in Applied Animal Beha... more
DEAR DR. FOX: I am a deer hunter, and I agree with you that the wolves should be protected. They keep the deer herds healthy, killing the sick and the old.... more
DEAR READERS: When my wife and I would talk in front of our dog Kota, we had to spell out certain words -- such as "out," "down," "stay," "treat" and "bedtime" -- to keep her from responding. Kota is ... more
DEAR DR. FOX: I am in the process of preparing my will and want to list some organizations that are doing good work in animal rescue and conservation. Can you please give me some to consider? -- K.L.P... more
DEAR DR. FOX: I disagree with your frequent statement that TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, release) is not effective. Cat overpopulation is a problem brought on by humans not spaying and neutering thei... more
DEAR READERS: I send you my best wishes for this new year, along with the letter below. I hope it will inspire a sense of awe and wonder about the universe in which we live, and about the spiritual di... more
DEAR READERS: The Endangered Species Act is now in its 50th year. While it has been assailed by those who see such federal protections as a barrier to their variously destructive interests, there is a... more
DEAR READERS: A December article by Bloomberg News reporter Shelly Hagan, “Texas Oil Heir’s Work is Advancing Biotech,” details the establishment of a startup company funded by the legacy of a Texas o... more
DEAR READERS: The cloning of pets has moved from science fiction to reality. People can take a beloved dog or cat to the veterinarian for a routine health check and have a few cells removed, which are... more