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The Vet from the Urban Jungle: Dogs, Cats, Dinosaurs, Dragons, and Drive-Bys
Not yet published
Expected 15 Dec 26The Vet from the Urban Jungle follows a talented team of professionals dedicated to promoting and protecting the human-animal bond, even in the most dangerous circumstances.
Emergency surgeries. Exotic animals. Owners ranging from neighborhood regulars to Hollywood stars. At one of Los Angeles’s busiest veterinary hospitals, no two cases are alike, and even a routine appointment can quickly become a crisis.
Blending memoir with the immediacy of a fast-paced medical drama, Dr. Douglas Mader chronicles one eventful year at Noah’s Ark Veterinary Hospital in the inner-city. The many patients include beloved household pets, exotic species, and wildlife, each presenting distinct challenges and requiring quick judgment, technical skill, and compassion.
Through these cases, Dr. Mader offers a candid look at the pressures, risks, difficult decisions, and unexpected rewards that define veterinary medicine. The result is an absorbing account of the people who devote their lives to promoting and prolonging the ever powerful human animal bond.
Emergency surgeries. Exotic animals. Owners ranging from neighborhood regulars to Hollywood stars. At one of Los Angeles’s busiest veterinary hospitals, no two cases are alike, and even a routine appointment can quickly become a crisis.
Blending memoir with the immediacy of a fast-paced medical drama, Dr. Douglas Mader chronicles one eventful year at Noah’s Ark Veterinary Hospital in the inner-city. The many patients include beloved household pets, exotic species, and wildlife, each presenting distinct challenges and requiring quick judgment, technical skill, and compassion.
Through these cases, Dr. Mader offers a candid look at the pressures, risks, difficult decisions, and unexpected rewards that define veterinary medicine. The result is an absorbing account of the people who devote their lives to promoting and prolonging the ever powerful human animal bond.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication December 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a story this practice and main character from Los Angeles, Dr. Mader, has to share ! If you think your Vet has an easy money paying job you are wrong. There is so much happening, emergencies, exotic species, senior pets, crazy owners, crazy lawsuits and lawyers on call. Did I mention crazy owners ? California has a Stupidity Law that does not make things easier for practices there. There were so complete nightmare humans and even a couple Vet students in the group. It was a good read it was fascinating to see all the behind the scenes real life work and drama.
There were some spots that I didn’t like or felt they should even be in the book. I was uncomfortable with the way he kept talking and describing the very attractive, fit beautiful women that came into his practice. It took me out of the practice, the book and felt creepy.
There were some spots that I didn’t like or felt they should even be in the book. I was uncomfortable with the way he kept talking and describing the very attractive, fit beautiful women that came into his practice. It took me out of the practice, the book and felt creepy.
September 25, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy. All opinions are my own.
Wow, what a charming book. Pet owners and animal lovers will surely enjoy this one. I truly didn’t think I could appreciate veterinarians even more, but somehow this book brought my appreciation for them to a whole new level. It is such a treat to have Dr. Mader take us behind the curtain and offer us these rare glimpses of his life as a vet in LA in the 90s. It is very well written, striking a balance of informative and accessible, witty and poignant. The stories just flow naturally, and it reads like being told a story by an old friend. I feel as if I was right there living through the good, the bad, and the ugly right there with the team of Noah’s Arc. It’s a beautiful tribute to the bond between humans and animals, as well as the people who dedicate their life to keeping this bond alive.
Wow, what a charming book. Pet owners and animal lovers will surely enjoy this one. I truly didn’t think I could appreciate veterinarians even more, but somehow this book brought my appreciation for them to a whole new level. It is such a treat to have Dr. Mader take us behind the curtain and offer us these rare glimpses of his life as a vet in LA in the 90s. It is very well written, striking a balance of informative and accessible, witty and poignant. The stories just flow naturally, and it reads like being told a story by an old friend. I feel as if I was right there living through the good, the bad, and the ugly right there with the team of Noah’s Arc. It’s a beautiful tribute to the bond between humans and animals, as well as the people who dedicate their life to keeping this bond alive.
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September 20, 2026The Vet from the Urban Jungle offers a behind the scenes look at veterinary medicine through one eventful year at a busy inner city veterinary hospital in Los Angeles. Dr. Douglas Mader brings together emergency surgeries, exotic animals, wildlife, celebrity clients, and unexpected crises to show the demanding reality behind caring for animals in high pressure situations.
The memoir format gives the book an engaging human dimension, while the variety of cases keeps the story moving beyond conventional veterinary experiences. At its heart, the book celebrates the people who work to protect the human animal bond, revealing the judgment, technical skill, compassion, risks, and rewards that come with the profession.
The memoir format gives the book an engaging human dimension, while the variety of cases keeps the story moving beyond conventional veterinary experiences. At its heart, the book celebrates the people who work to protect the human animal bond, revealing the judgment, technical skill, compassion, risks, and rewards that come with the profession.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews