One of the world's most horrendous forms of animal exploitation is China's lucrative collection of bear bile for traditional medicine. Bears' abdomens are opened to collect bile on a regular basis, which causes chronic infection and liver disease. The animals are kept in small iron crates that are so cramped they cannot even stand up their entire lives. The confinement causes skeletal and other deformities.

Many of these bears die young, while others suffer for decades. There are an estimated 100 large-scale farms, which are legal in China, with the largest holding over a thousand bears.

Trade between countries continues to be condoned where there is human slavery and other violations of human rights, inhumane treatment of animals and destruction of wildlife habitat, and environmental pollution. Without broader harmonization of bioethical standards, "free" trade and the current tariff wars ignore the core issues of ethics and sustainability.

The consequences of such ethical blindness are increasingly evident on almost every continent today and are epitomized by the suffering of these bears. An abomination indeed, and a shame on China.

To learn how you can help stop this practice, visit animalsasia.org.

DEAR DR. FOX: I adopted a 5-year-old rat terrier mix last September, and potty-training has been difficult. She had not had an accident for about a month until the other night, when she urinated on my lap. I apparently missed her signals. Still, why would a dog urinate on her human? What steps should I take to make sure this doesn't happen again? -- C.B., Raleigh, North Carolina

DEAR C.B.: Good for you for adopting a dog in need of a forever-home. But what a surprise you must have had when she urinated on your lap! If this happens again -- before you check in with the vet -- do not punish her in any way. Quietly clean it up.

She could have cystitis, inflammation and possibly infection of the bladder or other urinary tract problems. Some dogs, especially after being spayed, have weaker sphincter control and will leak urine on occasion. Intermittent treatment for the latter condition with diethylstilbestrol, a replacement hormone, is generally most effective, but some veterinarians have reservations about this drug. In my experience with this hormone-replacement therapy, long-term use for this condition is not necessary, thus reducing possible harmful side effects.

But first, a full wellness examination is called for, and your veterinarian can help you find a solution. It is possible that she really needed to go out to urinate, and as soon as she relaxed on your lap the pressure of her full bladder was too much for her. So she may have no evident medical issues after all!

RESEARCHERS MEASURE LEVELS OF TRACE METALS IN DRY DOG FOODS

Researchers at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine found aluminum, chromium and molybdenum in commercial dry dog foods at higher concentrations than would typically be consumed by a person. Though researchers say the levels appear to be safe, the elements can cause health problems at high levels, and more research is needed. (From American Veterinarian, Dec. 24.)

(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.)

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.)