Animal Hospital

by Stephen Sawicki

An account of a year the author spent inside Angell Memorial Animal Hospital

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction

252 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 1997

Reviews

[Sarah Ewald · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author spent a year in the life of Angell Memorial in Boston following the staff and animal patients. He spent time with the staff learning about their foibles and pet peeves (no pun intended) and their hopes for patients and the hospital's future.
I had started this book a while back, and as I am wont to do, I set it aside midway through. I am easily distracted by other books, and sometimes, as with the case of books about animals, there comes an incident or two that brings out the tears. That was the case when I picked it up again at chapter 22 with the case of a staff member's dog who didn't make it.

Warts and all are revealed in this book, as staff are people and not perfect, and the hospital's finances were always issues that threatened its existence. Written in 1996, Angell Memorial is still operating, at least by my internet search in 2024.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, realistic look at life in a busy, well-respected emergency and specialty hospital. It's interesting to hear the perspective of a non-veterinarian!

[Aspasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1996, this book profiles the history of Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston and the various staff members who work there.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed thru most of it. More about the hospital politics and staff than animals. Most of the staff seemed very hardened, cold and unlikeable, at least to me.