DEAR READERS: Democratic U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Amy Klobuchar have introduced a bill, misleadingly named the "Northern Great Lakes Wolf Recovery Act," that would delist wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. If passed, wolves in this region would lose federal protections and be subject to wolf hunting as written into law in these states. Previous wolf hunts in the upper Midwest have had devastating impacts on wolves.
Please contact your federal legislators, President Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and demand continued federal protections for all wolves. For letter-sending details, go to HowlingForWolves.org.
Some years ago, Klobuchar called for the opening of the Minnesota wolf hunt to be named after her. Now there is scientific documentation that provides more proof on what we have long known: Legal wolf-killing through public hunts leads to uncontrollable illegal wolf-killing. On average, for the period during and after the initiation of wolf hunting seasons, human causes were linked to 35.8% of deaths among the entire wolf population each year, with natural mortality being responsible for 7.6% of the deaths. (See "Human-caused wolf mortality persists for years after discontinuation of hunting" by R.T. Oliynyk, Scientific Reports, July 8.)
Wolves play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, indirectly contributing to our own health, as I detail here: drfoxonehealth.com/post/wolves-and-human-well-being-ecological-public-health-concerns.
DEAR DR. FOX: A friend of mine rescued a purebred dog, Joey, who was born with a stunted left foreleg. She took Joey to a vet, who recommended amputation. She paid $1,800 for the surgery, after which the wound opened back up. She took Joey back for resuturing and was charged $400 for that.
She took Joey home. Blood kept oozing from the wound, then clots, then more blood. Joey's gums became white, and my friend raced him to the ER vet. Joey was on death's door. He was given multiple transfusions, and he survived. I just saw him today. He looks great.
She paid an additional $8,000 at the ER vet. She asked that vet if the primary surgeon had screwed up. He would not commit, but he made comments that indicated he thought so. What is your opinion, and what steps should my friend take? -- L.H., Cleveland, Ohio
DEAR L.H.: In my professional opinion, the veterinary hospital and surgeon responsible for the amputation of this dog's deformed leg should pay for all post-surgical complications, which were evidently the result of an ineffectual amputation, including closure of major blood vessels, the results of which almost cost the dog's life and cost the owner financially and emotionally.
Filing a detailed complaint with the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board would be prudent and could help prevent future such occurrences at this veterinary hospital. You can download the Ohio veterinary complaint form from the OVMLB website. Disciplinary action includes requiring the vet to take courses, charging fines and/or suspending or revoking their veterinary license.
PROTECT ANIMALS FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE
From the American Veterinary Medical Association:
"As irritating as smoke can be to people, it can cause health problems for animals as well. Smoke from wildfires and other large blazes affects pets, horses, livestock and wildlife. If you can see or feel the effects of smoke yourself, you also should take precautions to keep your animals -- both pets and livestock -- safe."
The AVMA provides tips and resources at avma.org/resources/pet-owners/emergencycare/wildfire-smoke-and-animals.
ZOONOTIC DISEASES: NOT ONLY A FOREIGN PROBLEM
Industrial agriculture, the exotic pet trade, fur farming and live animal markets in the U.S. pose significant risks for zoonotic disease spillover events, and the U.S. lacks a comprehensive strategy for mitigating the danger, according to a report from experts at Harvard Law School and New York University. An estimated 25 million birds pass through some 130 live markets just in the Northeast every year, and there is evidence of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza at live bird markets, and that swine flu spilled over to people at live animal markets in the past, the report says. (Full story: New York Times, July 6)
(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.)