A very enjoyable memoir by a vet, it is set in central London in the busy years of the early seventies and the animals are mostly cats and dogs - companion animals. There are some forays into more exotic creatures as these were sold by Harrods and other up-market pet stockists. There are plenty of touches of humour in all these episodes.
Bruce Fogle was a newly qualified Canadian vet when he began to get as much practical experience as he could. His glimpses of houses, jobs and people are fascinating. He begins to move in quite elevated circles as he meets celebrities and aristocrats in his work. He also courts the actress Julia Foster and so makes friendships in theatrical circles.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect is following Bruce Fogle's very honest account of how he, only gradually, was led to believe that pets have emotions and all mammals feel pain. As a consequence he was a leader in the movement to bring more compassionate care to his vet practice and to use better diagnostics and more humane treatments.
Bruce Fogle was a newly qualified Canadian vet when he began to get as much practical experience as he could. His glimpses of houses, jobs and people are fascinating. He begins to move in quite elevated circles as he meets celebrities and aristocrats in his work. He also courts the actress Julia Foster and so makes friendships in theatrical circles.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect is following Bruce Fogle's very honest account of how he, only gradually, was led to believe that pets have emotions and all mammals feel pain. As a consequence he was a leader in the movement to bring more compassionate care to his vet practice and to use better diagnostics and more humane treatments.