DEAR READERS: The closure and defunding of several federal agencies -- organizations dedicated to human welfare at home and abroad; children’s health and education; and consumer, environmental and wildlife protections -- are being heralded by some as the start of an American “golden age.”

Much suffering in this world can be rectified by egalitarianism and obedience to the golden rule of treating others as we would have them treat us. However, this new age of mammon represents an inversion of the golden rule: In this version, those who have the gold make the rules. It is spiritually corrupt and ethically untenable, and it is a turning point in determining the quality of life for future generations, human and nonhuman.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely, leading to an evident lack of empathy and compassion and destroying the democratic principles embedded in the U.S. Constitution. Some feel that a constitutional crisis is looming as nationalistic isolationism escalates under right-wing nihilism and a rising autocracy.

The term “woke,” originally referring to an awakening of conscience regarding race relations, is now being used in a broader context as a term of ridicule in the cesspool of American politics. Those of us who are “woke” -- that is, concerned about racism, sexism and speciesism, calling for environmental protection and equal justice for all sentient beings -- are being dismissed by the powerful elite. The current executive dismantling of various federal agencies -- in particular, the Environmental Protection Agency, which is so essential for the protection of nature, wildlife and public health -- is evidence enough.

These executive actions call for a spiritual revival of empathy, compassion, justice and the rule of law to prevent the extinction of civil society and, inevitably, democratic governance and freedom for all. All who care must rise in the name of peace and justice for all sentient beings.

MAN GETS 475-YEAR SENTENCE FOR DOGFIGHTING RING

There is still some hope for our justice system. A Georgia jury convicted Vincent Lemark Burrell, 57, of multiple charges of dogfighting and animal cruelty, and a judge sentenced him to 475 years in prison. Authorities rescued 107 dogs, mostly pit bulls, from Burrell’s property near Atlanta, many of which were emaciated and bore signs of abuse. “The average person doesn’t realize how prevalent dogfighting still is,” said Paulding County Chief Marshal Trevor Hess. (Full story: National Public Radio, Feb. 4)

HSUS TO CHANGE ITS NAME TO AVOID MORE CONFUSION

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is changing its name to Humane World for Animals, although organization officials insist that its work will not change. The 70-year-old animal rights and welfare nonprofit has been criticized because it does not operate any pet shelters, despite receiving about $170 million in donations annually. HSUS also has been questioned about possibly misleading donors who believed the organization financially supported local humane societies. A 2023 poll found that 64% of pet shelter operators believe the name confusion led to fewer donations to their local operations, according to the Washington Times.

(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: While the below information may be depressing, it is also a call to action at state and federal levels. We must improve wildlife protection and habitat conservation and restoration.

From The Guardian, Jan. 29: "Genetic diversity in animals and plants has declined globally over the past three decades, an analysis of more than 600 species has found. The research, published in the journal Nature, found declines in two-thirds of the populations studied, but noted that urgent conservation efforts could halt or even reverse genetic diversity losses."

Promising remedies include protecting and expanding natural habitats, connecting isolated populations and introducing new individuals. See the full study: "Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss" by Robyn Shaw et al., published in Nature, Jan. 29.

MINNESOTA’S WHITE-TAIL DEER, HUNTERS AND WOLVES

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in 2011, “the total annual economic impact of hunting in Minnesota exceeded $725 million, and more than 85% of hunters in Minnesota hunt deer. There are more than 500,000 deer hunters in Minnesota, which means that about 1 out of every 10 Minnesotans hunt deer each year. The 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation estimated that more than 1.5 million people spent $621 million to observe, feed or photograph wildlife in Minnesota during 2011.”

Likewise, hearing, observing and photographing wolves is a major income-generator in states where there are still wolves. Reporter Dennis Anderson, in his recent article “Wolves more likely to be delisted under Trump,” asserts that “wolves have gained a lot of friends in recent decades, making politics, not biology or policy integrity, the major force driving their management.”

This politicization of ethics, compassion and respect for wolves and other wildlife is lamentable, as is wildlife “management” being based on commercial considerations rather than on sound ecological science. According to the nonprofit Faunalytics, wild mammals now make up just 4% of Earth's total mammal biomass. Farmed animals make up 60%, and humans, 34%.

The prevailing attitude toward wildlife, exemplified by the sanitized language of “harvesting,” is a sad reflection of a state of mind that sees the natural world as a source of exploitable resources. Such a mindset completely disregards animal sentience and the intrinsic and ecological value of wolves, as well as other predators that humans continue to annihilate. Such disregard has contributed to climate change and the accelerated loss of biodiversity around the world.

Better “management” of our own species is long overdue, along with a revision of our values and appetites.

HIGH CONTAMINANT LEVELS FOUND IN COMMON GAME BIRDS

Contaminants such as organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances were found in every sample tested from five species of commonly hunted waterfowl in the northeast Atlantic Flyway. American black ducks, green-winged teal and mallards had higher levels of contamination than Canada geese or wood ducks. The findings highlight the importance of protecting high-quality habitats, and suggest that current consumption advisories may need updating. (Full story: news.cornell.edu, Jan. 23)

MONARCH BUTTERFLY TALLY CLOSE TO RECORD LOW

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation reports a 96% decline in numbers of monarch butterflies between 2023 and 2024 -- a 30-year low. The decline is attributable to a combination of pesticides, drought and wildfires, plus the loss of habitat for milkweed, the host plant for monarch caterpillars.

(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: The information and opinions that I publish in this nationally syndicated column are always based on sound, factual scientific and/or medical evidence, which I cite. As my sources for news and other information, I rely on my local newspaper, unbiased TV channels such as PBS and the BBC, and the websites of nonprofits and professional organizations.

I am not alone in being deeply concerned that millions of people now rely on social media platforms for their “news” while local papers become extinct. People tend to believe what they read on their screens, backed up by photos that may have been modified or outright fabricated.

This rising reliance on the internet has brought on the decline of fact-checking and encouraged the spread of misinformation and disinformation. It foments conspiracy theories and hate speech. Disinformation leads to distrust of established institutions and government agencies, and misinformation to confusion, conflict and violence.

The remedy is simple: Get off social media platforms. But the addictive and ego-gratifying elements of social media get people hooked, beginning in childhood, and the adverse health consequences are now being quantified. Still, the effort must be made. The divisive, anti-democratic use of social media platforms, many owned by billionaires and manipulated by “influencers” for political and commercial purposes, is a warning for all.

AUTHORITARIAN U.S. REGIME SILENCING SCIENCE

Below is an excerpt from a New York Times article entitled “Trump Killed a Major Report on Nature. They’re Trying to Publish It Anyway” by Catrin Einhorn.

“The draft was almost ready for submission, due in less than a month. More than 150 scientists and other experts had collectively spent thousands of hours working on the report, a first-of-its-kind assessment of nature across the United States. But President Trump ended the effort, started under the Biden administration, by executive order. So, on Jan. 30, the project’s director, an environmental scientist named Phil Levin, sent an email telling members of his team that their work had been discontinued. ...

"Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is declining faster than at any time in human history, according to a landmark global scientific assessment. The National Nature Assessment was intended to provide a much more robust picture of the state of play for the United States, the authors said.” (Full story: NYTimes.com, Feb. 10)

It is blatantly clear that the Trump administration sees wildlife and biodiversity conservation as an obstacle to the fossil fuel industry and its documented legacy of contributing to the climate and extinction crises. I see this opposition to science as another example of bio-fascism -- part of the nihilistic, anti-democratic path of post-Constitutional governance of the United States of America.

This current administration’s gutting of the Environmental Protection Agency, and its dismantling of USAID and other federal agencies that serve the common good, is evidence of its total disregard for public health and well-being. The connections between our own health, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation and restoration are not recognized. In fact, they are being broken apart. This essential unity has long been recognized by health experts, as I document in my new book, "One Health: Veterinary, Ethical and Environmental Perspectives."

(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.)