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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."
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."
392 pages, Hardcover
Published July 12, 2022
35 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 28, 2025
“Treating pets is easy, it’s when you factor in the human component that things get complicated”
Shout out to the (shall not be named) pet food company that gave vet students this book for free, it was amazing to read! Should be required reading for anyone who wants to complain about the veterinary industry, it sheds light on so many of the issues with the profession, clearly dating back years and really makes you feel all the emotions they’re feeling. Not to mention looking at the social and political issues going on in the early 90s, that I didn’t know anything about before reading. Overall a great read I would recommend to anyone!
Shout out to the (shall not be named) pet food company that gave vet students this book for free, it was amazing to read! Should be required reading for anyone who wants to complain about the veterinary industry, it sheds light on so many of the issues with the profession, clearly dating back years and really makes you feel all the emotions they’re feeling. Not to mention looking at the social and political issues going on in the early 90s, that I didn’t know anything about before reading. Overall a great read I would recommend to anyone!
March 7, 2025
After writing my review for another book, I’ve realized this book also gave me a hangover. A very emotional one.
Dr. Mader covers a year of his hospital while he studies for his specialty boards. All while the Rodney King trials and LA riots are going on.
This book had me feeling so many emotions, I laughed and shared stories with my coworkers. There were also points where I either slammed the book down in anger or considered throwing it, and moments that just left me speechless, and nearly in tears.
If you’re in VetMed, I highly recommend this book. Not in VetMed? It’s still an educational read that will give you insight to what your veterinary professional does everyday.
Do tread lightly if you pick up this book, has there is a bit of content that can be triggering.
Dr. Mader covers a year of his hospital while he studies for his specialty boards. All while the Rodney King trials and LA riots are going on.
This book had me feeling so many emotions, I laughed and shared stories with my coworkers. There were also points where I either slammed the book down in anger or considered throwing it, and moments that just left me speechless, and nearly in tears.
If you’re in VetMed, I highly recommend this book. Not in VetMed? It’s still an educational read that will give you insight to what your veterinary professional does everyday.
Do tread lightly if you pick up this book, has there is a bit of content that can be triggering.
August 21, 2022
An in-depth diary of what happens an inner city vets office. Who knew vets deal with so many different species… ok I admit I was thinking just cats and dogs… also the doctor had to contend with social factors such as the LA riots… this is an eye opening read. If you’re an animal lover, the insights are eye opening. Shout out to Carl Hiassen for recommending this book. I would have missed it otherwise.
June 18, 2025
Physical book (owned). I could NOT put this book down! I tend to steer away from veterinary memoirs, as it feels too much like work most of the time, but I received a complimentary copy at a recent veterinary meeting and randomly opened to a page (p. 77). As soon as I started reading, I was like, "WHAT??!" and kept going.There is never a dull moment in this book. You cannot make this stuff up!!
Warning: there is a fair amount of violence.
Warning: there is a fair amount of violence.
February 28, 2023
Dispatches from the front line of a inner city vet over the course of a very important year for Los Angeles with the Rodney King riots. Dr. Mader relates stories of staff, pets and their owners anchored with thoughts about the practice itself. Stabbings, rioting and hookers add an extra depth to what could have been the typical heartwarming vet tale. I tore tjrough the book in less than 24 hours. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2022
A phenomenal book. Very funny, very true to life. What an interesting career and an delightful snapshot of a year. I was addicted to this book.
January 17, 2025
4.5 stars
This is essentially a modern-day All Creatures Great and Small, set in inner-city Los Angeles in the 1990s. I had never heard of Doug Mader before this, and now I think of him as one of the best of the best veterinarians there is.
I really loved the stories of veterinary hospital life and was so touched by so many of the stories. There were some really emotionally wrenching stories that brought me to tears, particularly towards the end of the year that is chronicled in the book.
"First patient: emergency. Dog hit by car. Severe injuries. Dog died. Owner screamed at us because we couldn't save her pet. Emotion: failure.
First room of the day: old man with a dying cat, his last link to his deceased wife. Euthanasia. Emotion: sadness.
Four feet away, forty-five seconds later: an excited family with their new puppy. Emotion: jubilation.
Return to the first room: jerk owner with mildly injured, easily treatable kitten. Owner too cheap to pay for medical care. Owner wants to kill it. Emotion: anger.
Four feet away: loving couple with cancer-stricken family pet. Money no object, but unable to help the old dog. Euthanasia. Emotion: helplessness.
I leaned against Wok's broad shoulders. He was strong and always there for me. Emotion: love."
Read this is if you love stories of humanity at its best in the midst of humanity at its worst. Read this if you love heartwarming tales of animal companions. Read this if you want to experience a life perspective different from your own. Read this if you wanted to be a veterinarian as a kid.
This is essentially a modern-day All Creatures Great and Small, set in inner-city Los Angeles in the 1990s. I had never heard of Doug Mader before this, and now I think of him as one of the best of the best veterinarians there is.
I really loved the stories of veterinary hospital life and was so touched by so many of the stories. There were some really emotionally wrenching stories that brought me to tears, particularly towards the end of the year that is chronicled in the book.
"First patient: emergency. Dog hit by car. Severe injuries. Dog died. Owner screamed at us because we couldn't save her pet. Emotion: failure.
First room of the day: old man with a dying cat, his last link to his deceased wife. Euthanasia. Emotion: sadness.
Four feet away, forty-five seconds later: an excited family with their new puppy. Emotion: jubilation.
Return to the first room: jerk owner with mildly injured, easily treatable kitten. Owner too cheap to pay for medical care. Owner wants to kill it. Emotion: anger.
Four feet away: loving couple with cancer-stricken family pet. Money no object, but unable to help the old dog. Euthanasia. Emotion: helplessness.
I leaned against Wok's broad shoulders. He was strong and always there for me. Emotion: love."
Read this is if you love stories of humanity at its best in the midst of humanity at its worst. Read this if you love heartwarming tales of animal companions. Read this if you want to experience a life perspective different from your own. Read this if you wanted to be a veterinarian as a kid.
April 25, 2025
one of the best books I've ever read. animal lovers, aspiring vet med professionals, and pet owners alike will love this book!
July 14, 2022
I received a review copy of this from the publisher/author through Edelweiss+. I am an animal lover and was interested in learning more from a vet's perspective... and Dr. Mader had a practice in a rather challenging area. From the description, you'll know that this takes place over a year's time in "the early 1990s" - 1991 to 1992 to narrow that down. That was 30 years ago! The first questions that came to mind were: Does he have an eidetic memory? (If so, a subtheme throughout this book shouldn't have been a problem!) Was he a prolific journaler? Given the pace and schedule of what we learn here, I don't see how he had time. Or, did he write this long ago and only now is publishing it? A clue to that answer is in the text. (I highlighted that bit and made a note, but I'll leave it to the reader to discover.)
As also seen in the description, this is not just a story of Mader and his patients, but a people story as well. His staff, his patients' "parents", some of the neighbors, and the "externs" - veterinary students who spend a month working in the field, his field, with him. Dr. Mader is a veterinarian, and a caring human, and that comes through: "My job can be an emotional rollercoaster. There was the high of sending Mikey [a paralyzed monkey] home with happy, compliant owners, followed by the gut punch of the phone call with Dodo’s [an emu chick] owner, who was too impatient to listen to my advice, and now her cute little bird was dead. She didn’t mention the name of the exotic specialist who had done the surgery, but I had a good idea who it was. His ego was so large that I could see him jumping at the opportunity to show off." He had a best friend named Wok (his dog) who we learn about, and care about, with whom he shares recaps of his days. He does talk about his wife, but in that year covered, she's almost always working an opposite schedule in a (people) hospital.
This will tug the heartstrings, and there will be joys. Enjoy.
A selection of outtakes:
[on untaught skills] The largest, and hardest, part of a veterinarian’s job is interacting with the pet’s owners, a skill not well taught in veterinary school
{I have never stopped being amazed at what critical skills for any profession are not taught.
[on specialization] There are strict guidelines and qualifications that must be met before a veterinarian can even apply to take a specialty board examination. In essence, you have to pre-apply to see if you are qualified to actually sit for the exam.
{Not unlike other professions. I am a licensed professional engineer. The application process alone is daunting.}
[a disturbing practice] Before I left for the day I stopped by the operatory to check in on Cliff. He was just finishing a declaw procedure on a young kitten and was putting bandages on the front feet. I noticed the removed claws on the surgery table, scooped them up, and tossed them in the trash.
{Please tell me this was not normal, though I do know it was not uncommon. Declawing a cat is cruel and has psychological impacts to the poor victims. (And that this story was not an isolated incident sadly tells me my answer.)}
[on snakes] After the python’s three months at NAVH, the staff had all grown fond of it, and we had mixed feelings about seeing it go home. The lesson to be learned from this case was that if it is a reptile, never give up! They are amazingly resilient, and if given the chance, they survive. After all, they are living reminders of the dinosaur era.
{We had a 5 1/2 foot long corn snake who survived smoke inhalation from a fire at our house when our didn't.}
[on dealing with reporting] I had learned years earlier how to speak in sound bites. That way, an editor or producer couldn’t take parts of a longer sentence, cut them, and then piece them together to end up with a statement completely differently than what I’d intended.
{This is good advice. I learned to keep things short, but not as well as this.}
[on living/working at Rodney King ground zero - bravery comes not only on a battlefield] Maria came into the conference room, where several of us had gathered to watch the news. After she sat down she pulled a pistol out of her waistband and set it on the table next to Lisa’s coffee mug. We all looked at her. There was something perverse about a near-term pregnant woman carrying a gun below her expanding belly. What a contrast—one a sign of new life, the other, death. “What?” Maria frowned. “Is it loaded?” I asked. I hate guns.
{I'm with Dr. Mader. Yep. Hate guns.}
As also seen in the description, this is not just a story of Mader and his patients, but a people story as well. His staff, his patients' "parents", some of the neighbors, and the "externs" - veterinary students who spend a month working in the field, his field, with him. Dr. Mader is a veterinarian, and a caring human, and that comes through: "My job can be an emotional rollercoaster. There was the high of sending Mikey [a paralyzed monkey] home with happy, compliant owners, followed by the gut punch of the phone call with Dodo’s [an emu chick] owner, who was too impatient to listen to my advice, and now her cute little bird was dead. She didn’t mention the name of the exotic specialist who had done the surgery, but I had a good idea who it was. His ego was so large that I could see him jumping at the opportunity to show off." He had a best friend named Wok (his dog) who we learn about, and care about, with whom he shares recaps of his days. He does talk about his wife, but in that year covered, she's almost always working an opposite schedule in a (people) hospital.
This will tug the heartstrings, and there will be joys. Enjoy.
A selection of outtakes:
[on untaught skills] The largest, and hardest, part of a veterinarian’s job is interacting with the pet’s owners, a skill not well taught in veterinary school
{I have never stopped being amazed at what critical skills for any profession are not taught.
[on specialization] There are strict guidelines and qualifications that must be met before a veterinarian can even apply to take a specialty board examination. In essence, you have to pre-apply to see if you are qualified to actually sit for the exam.
{Not unlike other professions. I am a licensed professional engineer. The application process alone is daunting.}
[a disturbing practice] Before I left for the day I stopped by the operatory to check in on Cliff. He was just finishing a declaw procedure on a young kitten and was putting bandages on the front feet. I noticed the removed claws on the surgery table, scooped them up, and tossed them in the trash.
{Please tell me this was not normal, though I do know it was not uncommon. Declawing a cat is cruel and has psychological impacts to the poor victims. (And that this story was not an isolated incident sadly tells me my answer.)}
[on snakes] After the python’s three months at NAVH, the staff had all grown fond of it, and we had mixed feelings about seeing it go home. The lesson to be learned from this case was that if it is a reptile, never give up! They are amazingly resilient, and if given the chance, they survive. After all, they are living reminders of the dinosaur era.
{We had a 5 1/2 foot long corn snake who survived smoke inhalation from a fire at our house when our didn't.}
[on dealing with reporting] I had learned years earlier how to speak in sound bites. That way, an editor or producer couldn’t take parts of a longer sentence, cut them, and then piece them together to end up with a statement completely differently than what I’d intended.
{This is good advice. I learned to keep things short, but not as well as this.}
[on living/working at Rodney King ground zero - bravery comes not only on a battlefield] Maria came into the conference room, where several of us had gathered to watch the news. After she sat down she pulled a pistol out of her waistband and set it on the table next to Lisa’s coffee mug. We all looked at her. There was something perverse about a near-term pregnant woman carrying a gun below her expanding belly. What a contrast—one a sign of new life, the other, death. “What?” Maria frowned. “Is it loaded?” I asked. I hate guns.
{I'm with Dr. Mader. Yep. Hate guns.}
October 10, 2022
This was great. I laughed and I cried through the book. As a biology undergrad student looking to go to vet school, I found myself calling out what I thought was wrong with each case, and I loved that about this book. 10/10
October 3, 2022
I received this book from a friend who knew I would enjoy it, and I did. So many stories, so much love.
September 26, 2022
My first choice of books are true stories about animals, animal rescue and animal medicine so I was so excited to read this book. I did really enjoy it but I couldn’t make sense of the fact that it took place in the 1980’s and was just written in the 2020’s. That’s such a big time span so when you read about people owning monkeys, emus, labs that test on animals, etc, it’s not easy to relate. Also every many stories seemed to wrap up perfectly while others appeared to be a bit embellished …which doesn’t seem realistic however I did still enjoy the book.
September 18, 2022
Written in Dr. Mader's voice, this book gives you an up close look into life of a veterinarian practicing his trade in a difficult place during a difficult time. It is heartwarming, funny and will, at times, bring you to tears. As a long time fan of James Herriot and a wanna be veterinarian, the stories and insights shared in this book offer a true glimpse of life as a veterinarian and the difficult choices they have to make every day. I loved getting know the quirky clients and the wonderfully diverse staff employed by Dr. Mader. I was inspired by his positive outlook and trusting nature and his willingness to give everyone a chance to prove themselves, no matter who they are, where they come from or what they look like. The challenges faced by Dr. Mader during the aftermath of the Rodney King trial in LA were really scary, but the closeness of his staff and the kindness and compassion they all shared with their patients (talking about the owners here, the animals always received top notch care) was exceptional. Highly recommend this book for everyone, not just animal lovers!
July 11, 2022
When Dr. Doug Mader and his longtime friend Willy decide they have enough of working for someone else they decide to start a vet's office or find one to takeover. They think they have found their dream office that ends up near the inter-city of Los Angeles from the authors description the place is a dump but they it will work and so becomes Noah's Ark Veterinary Hospital. There are a few story lines to follow in this book. Doctor Doug while working on all kinds of animals but specializes in exotic animals, he seems to be very good in this field as one-story line is different adventures when he goes out of town to the many conferences and conventions to talk about his work on exotics. There is quite a cast of people who work in this practice with many involving those who are doing their Externships. There are quite a variety of cases that come into this office with some being repeat customers. The location of this facility is another story to follow with this being in the inter-city during the time of the incident of Rodeny King and the riots and other incidents that seem to take part in places that are not the best neighborhoods. Dr Doug is also preparing to take what is called the Companion Animal Practice Specialty Exam while he tries time to meet with his wife which seems near impossible just to vent to about the problems of his day which he ends up venting most to his best buddy his dog. With all of this he has many hats besides being a vet, he is a Business Manager, Counselor, Problems that arise from operating a veterinary hospital and overseeing staff. This is many great stories with a few that may even bring a tear to your eye. I definitely recommend this book.
June 23, 2022
I received an ARC version of this book from the publisher. The author, Dr. Doug Mader, is a veterinarian hat specializes in exotic animals and purchased a practice, renamed Noah's Ark, with a partner in inner city Los Angeles. The book is basically a year in the life of Dr. Mader, and each chapter is a month made noteworthy by having a new extern join the practice every month. The books seems like an urban All Creatures Great and Small.
The stories regarding the animals seem typical for this type of book (not a bad thing) but include a lot of non-typical pets such as snakes, reptiles, and tortoises. The owners, not surprisingly, are often a big part of each anecdote. Very interesting details about local animal clubs, especially regarding underground ferret meetups (their owners, not the ferrets). It's illegal to own a ferret as a pet in California, but not to treat one. The book has a recurring villain in another vet that provides a good comparison to Dr. Mader.
So what makes this book special is the counterpart running through the book of the stories of the staff, neighbors, and animal owners. The timeframe of the events in the book was during the Rodney King beating, trial, and subsequent riots. Survival stories in the most literal sense include the people at least as much as the animals. There are some truly poignant incidents which are told without the author getting on a soapbox.
The book was very readable, and is strongly recommended, and NOT just for pet owners. (I hope that Dr. Mader and his wife eventually got to spend more time together).
The stories regarding the animals seem typical for this type of book (not a bad thing) but include a lot of non-typical pets such as snakes, reptiles, and tortoises. The owners, not surprisingly, are often a big part of each anecdote. Very interesting details about local animal clubs, especially regarding underground ferret meetups (their owners, not the ferrets). It's illegal to own a ferret as a pet in California, but not to treat one. The book has a recurring villain in another vet that provides a good comparison to Dr. Mader.
So what makes this book special is the counterpart running through the book of the stories of the staff, neighbors, and animal owners. The timeframe of the events in the book was during the Rodney King beating, trial, and subsequent riots. Survival stories in the most literal sense include the people at least as much as the animals. There are some truly poignant incidents which are told without the author getting on a soapbox.
The book was very readable, and is strongly recommended, and NOT just for pet owners. (I hope that Dr. Mader and his wife eventually got to spend more time together).
September 11, 2023
Amazing. Dr. Mader writes so well, and this was an easy read, which is great for a vet student who has little time to read. This book is absolutely focused on the people and the interactions between the staff/clients/characters Mader and his team met throughout the year. This is not a technical book (although Mader has written plenty of those, several of his textbooks adorn my shelves), it's just a fun read about the drama of being a veterinarian. Will be sharing my copy with all my fellow vet students.
August 11, 2022
A modern retelling of James Herriots’ All Creatures Great and Small (one of my favorite books!), only in an urban setting in the 1980s/1990s with a unique cast of characters, human and animal alike. Great storytelling and perspective from a vet who clearly loves interacting with people as much as he enjoys treating his animal patients.
November 3, 2022
The Vet at Noah’s Ark is an interesting read. I mean, who would ever think that, in a book about a veterinarian, one would find murder, hookers, stabbings, riots, drugs and cute little animals in horrific medical emergencies. Well, the last one is probably pretty standard but the rest was surprising. But, lo and behold, all of these things appear within these pages. Dr. Doug Mader is a vet who, along with a partner, opened an office in inner-city L.A. in the early 90’s that caters to snakes, alligators, ferrets and other exotic fauna in addition to the regular parade of dogs and cats. The Vet at Noah’s Ark covers one year in the life of Dr. Mader and his staff, who navigate their way through pet emergencies and all of the aforementioned action that one finds in a city like Los Angeles.
I have to say that the book surprised me with how engaging it is. I found myself really liking a lot of the characters (who’s names have all been changed to protect the author from lawsuits, I’m sure) and wanting to know more about them. Dr. Mader’s work family is actually a fairly amusing and likeable cast of characters. Of course, when you start caring about people, the inevitable negative turns in their lives will hit you and get you down. Fortunately, the book, despite having some gut-wrenching moments, is overall an uplifting and positive experience. Also, as is the case with anything involving animals (or people) in a medical setting, some of them aren’t going to make it. This is tough when you like animals far more than people as I do.
If there is one complaint I have about The Vet at Noah’s Ark, it’s the disjointed way Dr. Mader tells his tale. Chapters are very long and often jump around from topic to topic without any kind of division. So, you will be reading about a crazy lady and her pet lizard and then, without warning, you’re in a deli getting a sandwich with Dr. Mader and his extern for a few paragraphs and you’re reading about taking care of a monkey. This doesn’t ruin the book by any means, but Dr. Mader probably could have benefited from a good editor to clean things up and tell the tale more smoothly. Of course, I’m reading an advance copy, so maybe that will happen, but I’m thinking it’s probably going to be close to the finished product. Either way, I’d still recommend giving it a read. It’s an interesting book that’s quite funny in places and endearing in other. I’ll say it’s a solid 3.5, but since that isn’t an option, I’ll round up to 4 because I did enjoy it. Thanks very much to Apollo Publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.
I have to say that the book surprised me with how engaging it is. I found myself really liking a lot of the characters (who’s names have all been changed to protect the author from lawsuits, I’m sure) and wanting to know more about them. Dr. Mader’s work family is actually a fairly amusing and likeable cast of characters. Of course, when you start caring about people, the inevitable negative turns in their lives will hit you and get you down. Fortunately, the book, despite having some gut-wrenching moments, is overall an uplifting and positive experience. Also, as is the case with anything involving animals (or people) in a medical setting, some of them aren’t going to make it. This is tough when you like animals far more than people as I do.
If there is one complaint I have about The Vet at Noah’s Ark, it’s the disjointed way Dr. Mader tells his tale. Chapters are very long and often jump around from topic to topic without any kind of division. So, you will be reading about a crazy lady and her pet lizard and then, without warning, you’re in a deli getting a sandwich with Dr. Mader and his extern for a few paragraphs and you’re reading about taking care of a monkey. This doesn’t ruin the book by any means, but Dr. Mader probably could have benefited from a good editor to clean things up and tell the tale more smoothly. Of course, I’m reading an advance copy, so maybe that will happen, but I’m thinking it’s probably going to be close to the finished product. Either way, I’d still recommend giving it a read. It’s an interesting book that’s quite funny in places and endearing in other. I’ll say it’s a solid 3.5, but since that isn’t an option, I’ll round up to 4 because I did enjoy it. Thanks very much to Apollo Publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.
February 12, 2024
I am at a loss for words. This book had such an impact on me that I sobbed and cheered along with the characters in the novel every time a major event in the story occurred. Dr. Doug Mader has such a beautifully pure heart. You can truly see that he’s in this profession because he loves not only the animals he works with but he also empathizes with the people tied to his patients. I was shocked to read that at several points in the story, he even reduced his prices or didn’t charge people at all in certain instances depending on how drastic the situation was. I became attached to not only Dr. Doug Mader, but to his entire staff at the NAVH throughout the course of this story. I also enjoyed getting to know the student interns who came and went at the clinic. I loved reading about everybody’s backgrounds and how it tied to their current profession or volunteer work in veterinary medicine. There is a quote in this novel that will always stick with me, and it’s on page 170 to 171 where Dr. Mader says this about his beloved dog, Wok: “It didn’t matter that I was a person and he wasn’t. Our tacit communication crossed species. Sometimes the best conversations between friends were the words never spoken.” Truer words have never been spoken. This quote along with many other occurrences in this novel brought genuine tears to my eyes. Dr. Mader’s tenacity to keep improving as a veterinarian despite all the happenings in this novel is truly admirable. I was ecstatic when I read about his accomplishment at the end. He deserves it. Thank you for sharing your story, Dr. Mader. It has touched my heart as well as the hearts of many others who have read The Vet at Noah’s Ark!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2025
3.5 stars
This was an interesting, enjoyable tale of an urban vet's adventures. The writing is pretty straightforward, but if you like stories of veterinarians, you'll probably like this. Note though that there are some heartbreaking cases of animals and people and a few animal cruelty incidents. (There is also one nonchalant mention of another vet declawing a cat.)
This is a memoir by vet Doug Mader, who bought a vet clinic with his business partner in a dangerous part of Los Angeles during the turbulent 1990s. This is a book as much about human nature — including the clients, the staff, the rotating vet student roster and the clinic's neighbors — as it is about animal cases. As a vet in a poor part of the city, Mader gets clients who struggle financially but will do anything for their animals. It's also a story about class — because Mader is one of the few local vets to treat exotic pets, his clientele is mixed with the very poor and the very rich, as rich pet owners make a special visit to his clinic for their reptiles, birds, monkeys and ferrets.
The writing can be a little stilted and the dialogue a bit cheesy, which I will forgive. There's no way that Mader remembers full conversations from the 1990s, forcing him to recreate the dialogue and I know it's not exact, coming across unnatural at times. But the time period elevates the storytelling, particularly if you remember 1990s Los Angeles. This brought local perspectives of the Rodney King beating and verdict, the LA riots and more. Vet story fan? This is a good addition to that niche genre.
This was an interesting, enjoyable tale of an urban vet's adventures. The writing is pretty straightforward, but if you like stories of veterinarians, you'll probably like this. Note though that there are some heartbreaking cases of animals and people and a few animal cruelty incidents. (There is also one nonchalant mention of another vet declawing a cat.)
This is a memoir by vet Doug Mader, who bought a vet clinic with his business partner in a dangerous part of Los Angeles during the turbulent 1990s. This is a book as much about human nature — including the clients, the staff, the rotating vet student roster and the clinic's neighbors — as it is about animal cases. As a vet in a poor part of the city, Mader gets clients who struggle financially but will do anything for their animals. It's also a story about class — because Mader is one of the few local vets to treat exotic pets, his clientele is mixed with the very poor and the very rich, as rich pet owners make a special visit to his clinic for their reptiles, birds, monkeys and ferrets.
The writing can be a little stilted and the dialogue a bit cheesy, which I will forgive. There's no way that Mader remembers full conversations from the 1990s, forcing him to recreate the dialogue and I know it's not exact, coming across unnatural at times. But the time period elevates the storytelling, particularly if you remember 1990s Los Angeles. This brought local perspectives of the Rodney King beating and verdict, the LA riots and more. Vet story fan? This is a good addition to that niche genre.
July 21, 2024
I enjoyed this memoir from an LA vet describing a year of practice while studying, dealing with riots from the Rodney King case, and the type of interesting people LA is thought of here in the Midwest. There are very rich and very poor owners, movie stars and pro athletes. This is an adult memoir as it has some violence, some animals do die, drugs come into play a few times, and a hooker (Harriet) works the corner by the clinic, so I would not recommend this book to children or as a family read. The author is gifted and I laughed many times. I cried when Powder, a guinea pig owned by a drug dealer, and Harriet's kitten died.
Things to be aware of: animals do die and it's painful (I got really angry several times), vegan philosophy almost kills two animals, drugs including buying and selling and a stollen bird, alcohol, language, government corruption, a cop friend who sometimes helps him out and he hints he may do nonlegal things for animals every once in a while for the right person - like descent skunks, woman fights cops, lots of hurt animals, a scene or two with lots of blood, he helps a black family fleeing the riots and other positive interracial interactions, other people do stereotype, but he tries not to and admits when he is wrong, LGBTQ+ lots of representation. It's been a few weeks since I finished, so I probably missed a few things...
Things to be aware of: animals do die and it's painful (I got really angry several times), vegan philosophy almost kills two animals, drugs including buying and selling and a stollen bird, alcohol, language, government corruption, a cop friend who sometimes helps him out and he hints he may do nonlegal things for animals every once in a while for the right person - like descent skunks, woman fights cops, lots of hurt animals, a scene or two with lots of blood, he helps a black family fleeing the riots and other positive interracial interactions, other people do stereotype, but he tries not to and admits when he is wrong, LGBTQ+ lots of representation. It's been a few weeks since I finished, so I probably missed a few things...
May 24, 2023
This was an outstanding book and one I truly enjoyed. I loved the vignettes of Mader's everyday practice and the wide assortment of pets and problems that come through his doors. An unexpected part of the book though was Mader's first hand experiences of Rodney King beatings and the unrest and violence that followed that event and how it spilled over into his personal and professional life.
Mader writes very well and the stories were extremely compelling. Apparently there is an earlier book and I am planning to search for it to read asap.
As in all medical/veterinary practices, the stories are as varied as the patients: heart-warming, often comedic and sometimes tragic but endlessly interesting. I noticed this on the new book shelf of our library while browsing and it was a terrific find!
Mader writes very well and the stories were extremely compelling. Apparently there is an earlier book and I am planning to search for it to read asap.
As in all medical/veterinary practices, the stories are as varied as the patients: heart-warming, often comedic and sometimes tragic but endlessly interesting. I noticed this on the new book shelf of our library while browsing and it was a terrific find!
December 18, 2024
This book really opened my eyes to the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of being a veterinarian. I'm trying to become one and this book really showed me the thought process behind just running a clinic. I didn't realize how versatile being a veterinarian was and the unique clients you can have. I loved reading about how he dealt with things that weren't even involving animals, like human conflict and lost and even the LA riots. I also liked how he didn't just show the fun of being one but the stressful and hard decisions that you have to make for the betterment of your patient and for their owner. I want to become a kind-hearted vet like Dr. Mader, as this book has really inspired me that the career I picked was a good one.
July 26, 2025
More than halfway through I was beginning to think that this was the perfect veterinarian memoir for me because nothing really bad ever happened. Which is, of course, impossible and unrealistic. But truly—the worst things that happened involved a jerk lecturer who dissed the author at a conference; moneys throwing feces; and a woman wanting a sedative for her pet iguana so she could sneak it into Australia in her bra.
But it’s too real and it’s set in L.A., and worse yet, eventually hits the time of the Rodney King riots. A horrid time. And there are also a couple of sad animal stories.
But for all the reality, it’s a very positive book and I recommend it completely. Too bad there’s not a sequel.
But it’s too real and it’s set in L.A., and worse yet, eventually hits the time of the Rodney King riots. A horrid time. And there are also a couple of sad animal stories.
But for all the reality, it’s a very positive book and I recommend it completely. Too bad there’s not a sequel.
January 26, 2023
Honestly this book does a good job on showing how they treat exotic animals and how to get to the place of being a veterinarian. But it doesn’t show the outside life or nearly as much stress and what the veterinarian was going through. I do like how it explains the surgeries in detail enough that you can picture what’s going on but not in to much detail where you feel grossed out. I like how you can understand how the animals owners feel when they bring their pet in or when something happens to the animal. One other downside is that it doesn’t show how the vet got to the place he was in the book, more of how he is going forward in schooling and training vet techs.
November 16, 2023
This is an entertaining look into the world of a small and exotic animal veterinarian. Yes, there are lots of amusing stories of weird and wonderful pets that Dr. Mader has treated, but what makes the book tick is the setting in Southern California at a time of great social upheaval. The raw reality of the tough life in LA during the race riots, the hookers on the corner, the gritty staff, all make the stories come alive. It is rare to get such a clearly written glimpse into this world, and you grown to admire the veterinarian and his staff for the great work they do in touch circumstances. The honest of the work is refreshing, and I was hooked until the last page.
December 19, 2023
Mader's memoir of his experiences working in inner-city Los Angeles is an engaging and fascinating glimpse into a veterinarian's world. This is not the average veterinary clinic. Mader's patients include a wide array of exotic species, and the quirky animal owners and clinic staff members are equally interesting. These stories - some humorous, others heart-breaking - highlight the strength of the human-animal bond, and the turmoil of the inner city makes a compelling stage on which the drama plays out. Mader's compassion for his patients and their human caretakers shines through, making for a moving read.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
March 6, 2024
As a Veterinarian myself, the son of a Veterinarian, and an avid reader, I consider myself somewhat of an aficionado in this genre, and I absolutely loved this book. It’s perhaps the best I’ve read other than for James Herriot himself. While inner city Los Angeles during the Rodney King riots is about as far as you can get from the Yorkshire Dales, this book had the same sort of feel as James Herriot. I hated for it to end. My only complaint was that it was sprinkled with the F word, while these were in quoting people, and I’m sure were accurate depictions of the conversations, I would have preferred to have it sanitized somewhat.
July 10, 2024
This was an interesting fun read about an LA inner city veterinary practice against the backdrop of the Rodney King trial. While I've read/watched a number of books/movies about inner city schools, I've never given much thought to what an inner city veterinary practice might look like. It seems if one thing, it's never boring! Dr. Mader and his crew took care of all kinds of animals, from everyday family pets to the more exotic. Monkeys and snakes and turtles - oh my! The animal stories were full of adventure and grit, but the understructure of the relationship Dr. Mader had with his staff tied it all together. Great read.
September 21, 2024
It is an amazing story.
I gave it minus one star bc he did NOT have to share the story of the ass hat that shot his dog in the back of his truck on the street in front of the vet’s office - in detail. It’s been months and months since I finished this book and the thought of that poor girl - who was already in pain from a broken leg - didn’t deserve what she suffered at the egotistical willful stubbornness of her dumbass owner.
Hey…if that dude ever breaks his leg, can we shoot him in the back of his truck in the street?
I gave it minus one star bc he did NOT have to share the story of the ass hat that shot his dog in the back of his truck on the street in front of the vet’s office - in detail. It’s been months and months since I finished this book and the thought of that poor girl - who was already in pain from a broken leg - didn’t deserve what she suffered at the egotistical willful stubbornness of her dumbass owner.
Hey…if that dude ever breaks his leg, can we shoot him in the back of his truck in the street?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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