The Vet at Noah's Ark

Stories of Survival from an Inner-City Animal Hospital

By: Dr. Doug Mader, Dr. Kevin T. Fitzgerald - foreword

Narrated by: Jamie Renell

Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

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 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."

©2022 Dr. Doug Mader (P)2023 Tantor

This book is fantastic!

This book was awesome. Warm, funny and full of stories of pets and their owners. In all my years of having an Audible susbscription this is the only book I've ever pre-ordered because I always second guess everything but this choice was spot on. I hope that Dr. Mader does a part 2 because one is definitely not enough. I loved that it wasn't just cats and dogs since there are tons of cat and dog non fiction books out there already and not nearly enough small animal ones.

Dr. Mader is the mother Theresa of Veterinarians

What a beautifully written, amazing story of a man who puts other people first always treats everybody the same whether they are homeless or famous movie stars. This book was so inspiring. I am going to suggest it to everyone I know, especially those who have animals. I have had eight golden retrievers and currently have a Siberian husky and I know the importance of having a good veterinarian. I had one that was almost as good as Dr. Doug but nobody comes close to his empathy and devotion.