As people have been welcoming in 2019, there is a pervasive aura of trepidation in many circles. The new year will be challenging on many fronts, concerning animal welfare and environmental protection, both too often sacrificed for short-term profits and short-lived jobs. But we can all do something in the communities and states where we live and work.

For instance, I live in Minnesota, where more people are raising concerns about mining and water quality, the environmental effects of expanding animal feed-crop production, and our shrinking and ever-more-polluted lakes and rivers. To these issues we can add chronic wasting disease in deer and the rising incidence of Lyme and other insect-borne diseases in humans. All these issues are indicative of ecological, environmental and socio-economic dystopias.

Perhaps the core issue of jobs and productivity versus conservation and sustainability will be closer to resolution with 20/20 vision in 2020. Planetary CPR is urgently needed -- the resuscitation of our planet Earth through conservation, protection and restoration. Such CPR is part of the nascent One Health Initiative embraced by many veterinary and public health professionals. For more information on this movement, go to onehealthinitiative.com.

DEAR DR. FOX: My son has serious health problems, so I have had his 4-year-old rescue cat, Tippy, for two months. She never comes out of her room. She is terrified of anyone other than my son, and he had great difficulty getting her into a carrier to bring her to me.

She has a combination of dry, hard stools and soft, messy stools. Is there a medication that would calm her enough to help get her to a veterinarian?

I worry about what to do if I can't keep her. I wouldn't trust a so-called "no kill" facility, and it is very doubtful that my son would ever be able to take her back. -- C.K., St. Louis

DEAR C.K.: I am sorry to hear about your son and hope all turns out for the best for him. But good for you for taking in this rescued cat.

Feral cats, when not properly socialized earlier in life with humans, do come around eventually, but not in all instances. As you say, the cat eventually lost her fear of your son but is now afraid of you.

My wife and I are dealing with a similar situation with the latest feral cat we have rescued and brought into our home. She is fearful of me because I was the one who caught her outdoors this cold winter. (She was released by the Animal Humane Society to fend for herself.) These survival instincts of self-protection, fear-avoidance and predatory behavior will take time to subdue; the best you can do is give her a quiet place to make her refuge. Keep the litter box close and feed her four small meals of moist, grain-free canned cat food like Halo or Wellness. Call her name repeatedly before setting the food down where she can see it from her safe place.

Our rescued cat does come when called for food and pirouettes in a solicitous display, but hisses when I try to touch her. Contact may take weeks. The rule with cats is to let them come to you. In the evenings, ours will play a little with a tuft of feathers tied to a string on a cane, which you may later want to try.

Accept that you have a reclusive, fearful little soul; it took six months for another one of our rescued cats to allow me to touch him, and when that happened, it was like a dam breaking. He became a devoted companion.

Take stool samples in to the vet to check for possible parasites. If medication is needed, hide it in food the cat really enjoys, such as canned sardines or meaty baby food.

Get a cat-carrying crate and put a soft towel inside it and another towel draped over it. Put the crate near where she likes to hide. She may come to see this as her "den," making it easier to get her to a veterinarian when the occasion arises -- especially if she goes inside to hide when she's afraid.

(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 DrFoxVet.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: My sister has a typical Parson Russell terrier that barks at everything, is high-energy and excitable, and, worst of all, cannot tolerate any dog in the house and is overly protective of my sister. If anyone goes near her, the dog growls and tries to bite.

A potential problem: Her adult son and his Jack Russell terrier are moving in with her. His dog is sweet, friendly, and doesn't mind other dogs or people.

What can be done to allow the two dogs to cohabit the house, without one dog killing the other one? -- J.S. Arlington, Virginia

DEAR J.S.: The most successful way for two dogs to get along well is to have them meet on neutral territory, as though they were going on separate walks.

Have both dogs leashed and let them investigate each other, going through the canine rituals of sniffing and making eye contact for just as long as there are no signs of dominance-aggression, and then walk away in separate directions. Dogs restrained by a leash can be more aggressive, so the next step is to meet up again, ideally later that day, on neutral territory where the dogs have never been before, such as a neighbor's enclosed yard, a fenced-in dog park or a tennis court. Let go of the leashes but keep them on in case the dogs need to be pulled apart.

Sweet-talk the dogs. Because they are terriers, get them to chase some balls or other toys, which should help set a playful mood while they are together. Then pick up their leashes and give them treats, standing or sitting close together. Employing the services of a dog handler whom your local animal shelter or veterinarian recommends might help the process go more smoothly.

After playtime, walk them together for a while, repeatedly switching dogs. Then walk home together, or drive home in separate vehicles. Let the unfamiliar dog into the home first to get oriented, making sure separate feeding and drinking areas have been set up beforehand. Then bring in the resident dog, keeping the leash on in case he needs to be pulled away from the other one. It is essential that all people involved remain calm and have lots of treats to give to the dogs. Playing soft music may also help them feel relaxed.

PETS AT HOME MAY REDUCE CHILDREN'S ALLERGY RISK

Children who have pet cats or dogs when they are 6 months to 12 months old have a lower risk of developing asthma, eczema and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis later on, compared with their pet-less peers, researchers reported in PLOS One.

Researchers in Sweden found that allergy risk was inversely related to the number of pets that children had. Researcher Bill Hesselmar said the findings support the hygiene hypothesis that exposure to allergens builds immunity. (From The New York Times, Dec. 19.)

PUTTING AN END TO STORES SELLING PUPS AND KITTENS

British residents who want a puppy or kitten will need to work through a breeder or adoption center after a ban on third-party sales through puppy mills and pet stores goes into effect. (From the Associated Press, Dec. 24.)

While this is good news for the United Kingdom, the business-first ethos that precedes ethics and humane concerns is a hard nut to crack in the United States. In my opinion, this stops America from being "great," especially with regard to puppy and kitten mills, and pet store marketeers.

(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 DrFoxVet.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 14-year-old male rescue cat and have had him for 10 years. Recently, when I am asleep or get up to use the bathroom, he has started to violently attack and bite me. Sometimes when I am sound asleep, he bites my face, legs and arms.

I am wondering why he is doing this. My retired husband, who is always home, may be away for a while. Could the cat be mad that he is gone? Also, are cat bites as bad as dog bites? Should I be seeking medical treatment for them? -- B.L., Fairfield, Connecticut

DEAR B.L.: Your very disturbed cat needs to be put in a carrier and taken to a veterinarian immediately for a full evaluation. That is, if he is not simply biting you gently to get your undivided attention for petting or play. You may need help doing this, so call your nearest veterinary hospital and discuss the situation with people there.

I am not clear from your communication if the cat suddenly began reacting this way when your husband left you alone with him. If so, the cat may have bonded with him and is now fearful in his absence. Surely, he has a strong bond of affection for you after all these years, so I suspect, considering his age, this could be a sign of dementia or another physical condition causing fear or anxiety.

Has the cat been allowed outdoors? If so, the worst-case scenario is rabies. In that case, the cat should be quarantined for observation rather than killed to determine if his brain has the virus, which you may develop if any of his bites penetrated your skin. When was your cat's last anti-rabies vaccination?

A rabies surveillance in the United States published last month in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that of the 21,187 cats submitted for rabies testing in 2017, 276 (1.3 percent) were confirmed rabid, a 7.4 percent increase from 2016. Most cats were infected with a rabies strain carried by raccoons, while a few others were infected with the strain carried by skunks.

Most infections reported in humans come from bites by infected bats, raccoons and dogs. If your skin has been broken, you should go to the hospital for treatment.

Good luck and keep me posted.

DEAR DR. FOX: My son's dog, Charlie, a 5-year-old golden retriever, attacks my daughter and me when we visit. He will come over to us all of a sudden and start "humping." My son yells at Charlie when he does this and makes him stay in his cage.

Charlie does not do this with those who live with him, only visitors. I am 83 years old and handicapped. I use a walker and am afraid of being knocked over and hurt. Any advice would be appreciated. -- H.S., Boynton Beach, Florida

DEAR H.S.: Yelling at a dog who is excited when there are visitors and then putting him in a cage is no solution. This will only increase his anxiety and general excitement, which should have been nipped in the bud at an early age with proper socialization and education. Like most young dogs, Charlie should have been taught how to behave around visitors and exercise self-control.

I am sure you feel like you are being attacked, but this is normal, playful, non-aggressive canine behavior, which will wane once he gets over the excitement of your arrival and that of other visitors. Your son should not yell and cage Charlie, but at least make an effort to leash-train him to sit and stay, and to have him restrained on the leash when visitors come, until his excitement subsides. Such over-arousal makes me wonder how much attention, physical activity and stimulation Charlie gets on a regular basis. If he is confined much of the time, then that issue needs to be addressed.

Alternatively, he could be a "perpetual puppy" who wants to play with exciting new people whenever the opportunity arises. This can be blamed on both genetics and overly permissive treatment when he was a pup, where he never learned to respect boundaries and to not jump up or engage in playful humping. This can also have an element of social dominance or sexual arousal in some dogs; a certified canine behavioral therapist could help your son achieve better control of Charlie.

FEEDING CATS PROPERLY

Serious health and behavioral problems can arise when cats living in one-cat or multiple-cat homes are not fed with an understanding of how to minimize stress and overeating while still getting adequate nutrition.

These are all-too-common issues, an understanding of which is essential for optimal feline well-being. The American Association of Feline Practitioners has produced a consensus statement and excellent brochure on this subject. Cat caregivers and veterinarians alike will find this material most informative, and it may help many cats enjoy better lives. Go to catvets.com/howtofeedcats.

(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 DrFoxVet.net.)