The Vet at Noah's Ark: Stories of Survival from an Inner-City Animal Hospital Spiral-Bound | July 12, 2022
Dr. Doug Mader, Dr. Kevin T. Fitzgerald (Foreword by)
The Vet at Noah's Ark: Stories of Survival from an Inner-City Animal Hospital
From renowned veterinarian Dr. Doug Mader comes a stirring account of his fight to protect his animal patients and human staff amid the dangerous realities of inner-city life and the Los Angeles riots—and a celebration of the remarkable human-animal bond.
The life of a veterinarian is challenging: keeping up with advances in medical care, making difficult decisions about people’s beloved companions, and, in Dr. Doug Mader’s case, navigating the social unrest in Los Angeles in the early 1990s. As one of the few exotic animal experts in California, he was just as likely to be treating a lion as a house cat.
The Vet at Noah's Ark: Stories of Survival from an Inner-City Animal Hospital follows Dr. Mader and his staff over the course of a year at Noah's Ark Veterinary Hospital, an inner-city LA area veterinary hospital where Dr. Mader treats not only dogs and cats, but also emus, skunks, snakes, foxes, monkeys, and a host of other exotic animals. This real life drama is set against the backdrop of the trial of four police officers in the Rodney King case, as well as the violent aftermath following their acquittal.
This is a book about survival, both of the pets that Dr. Mader and his staff try to save on a daily basis, as well as the staff themselves. Living in the harsh reality of the city, surrounded by gangs, drugs, violence, traffic, smog, and deadly riots, they must overcome and rise above, for their own survival and that of the animals who need them. This awe-inspiring account is told through Dr. Mader's riveting storytelling—as Carl Hiaasen writes, "Doug is fearless and dedicated," and "a damn good storyteller."
“James Herriot set high standards for veterinarians sharing their personal journeys, but this memoir by veterinarian Mader holds its own. . . . Verdict: An engrossing read for animal lovers.” —Library Journal
“Dogs, cats, emus, skunks, snakes, foxes, and monkeys: All are welcome at Noah’s Ark Veterinary Hospital in inner city LA, where the book recounts the daily travails of Dr. Mader and staff during a single year. . . . Required reading.” —New York Post
“James Herriot set high standards with his incredible storytelling prowess a half century ago. For the first time in over 50 years, American veterinarian Dr. Doug Mader has matched the task. . . . Prepare to shed a tear or two, but most of all, be ready to celebrate the magic of the human-animal bond.” —Key West Citizen
“Doug is so fearless and dedicated. He’s also a damn good storyteller, as readers of this memoir will find out.”
—Carl Hiaasen, New York Times best-selling author of Bad Monkey, Skinny Dip, and Squeeze Me
“Prepare to be moved and to even shed a tear or two as you meet an unforgettable parade of characters: mice, tortoises, parrots, snakes, emus, and the odd ferret. Through it all, Dr. Mader’s love for and devotion to his patients, and his quirky staff who become family, provide hilarity and heartbreak—and proof of the unbreakable human-animal bond.”
—Melissa Jo Peltier, executive producer of Dog Whisperer and New York Times best-selling coauthor of Cesar’s Way, How to Raise the Perfect Dog, and Be The Pack Leader
“Dr. Mader does a fantastic job representing the life of a passionate and devoted veterinarian. You will laugh, cry, and be captivated as he navigates uncertainty and risk with courage and dedication.”
—Dr. Linda Bender, author of Animal Wisdom: Learning from the Spiritual Lives of Animals
“Of course veterinarians love animals, but the best veterinarians love people as well. Doug Mader’s understanding and love of all life comes across in this solid read.”
—Dr. Kevin T. Fitzgerald, veterinarian on Animal Planet’s Emergency Vets and E-Vet Interns
“Dr. Mader’s storytelling is as amazing as the patients he treats. The Vet at Noah's Ark is not only a great story, but also lets the reader walk in his shoes as he struggles with the daily challenges of operating a busy animal hospital, all while navigating the dangers of living and working in the inner city.”
—Dr. Sally Haddock, The Making of a Woman Vet
“If your soul is tired or you’re burned out from doom-n-gloom books and just want to read a modern day James Harriet sequel, this book is for you.” —Dr. Karen Becker, New York Times bestselling author of The Forever Dog
Dr. Doug Mader is a triple board-certified veterinary specialist and has been a veterinarian for over three decades. He is an internationally recognized speaker, has written three best-selling medical textbooks and numerous book chapters and scientific publications, and has had long-standing pet columns in the Long Beach Press Telegram, Reptiles magazine, and the Key West Citizen. Dr. Mader is the recipient of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Award, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Achievement Award, and the Fred L. Frye Lifetime Achievement Award for Veterinary Medicine, and is a seven-time winner of the North American Veterinary Community Speaker of the Year award and a four-time winner of the Western Veterinary Conference Educator of the Year award. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine in the UK. Dr. Mader practiced in California for many years, but today lives and works in the Florida Keys.