All Dogs Go to Kevin

by Jessica Vogelsang

All Dogs Go to Kevin is a humorous and touching memoir that will appeal to anyone who has ever loved an animal or lost hours in James Herriot's classic veterinary stories. You can't always count on people, but you can always count on your dog. No one knows that better than veterinarian Jessica Vogelsang. With the help of three dogs, Jessica is buoyed through adolescence, veterinary school, and the early years of motherhood. Taffy, the fearsome Lhasa; Emmett, the devil-may-care Golden; and Kekoa, the neurotic senior Labrador, are always by her side, educating her in empathy and understanding for all the oddballs and misfits who come through the vet clinic doors. Also beside her is Kevin, a human friend who lives with the joie de vivre most people only dream of having. From the clueless canine who inadvertently reveals a boyfriend's wandering ways to the companion who sees through a new mother's smiling facade, Jessica's stories from the clinic and life show how her love for canines lifts her up and grounds her, too. Above all, this book reminds us, with gentle humor and honesty, why we put up with the pee on the carpet, the chewed-up shoes, and the late-night trips to the because the animals we love so much can, in fact, change our lives.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Dogs, Memoir, Audiobook, Biography, Biography Memoir

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2015

About the author

Jessica Vogelsang grew up loving two things: books and dogs. After spending four years of high school buried in the bowels of the journalism classroom, her father convinced her to pursue a medical degree instead. After realizing that humans are grosser than dogs, Dr. Vogelsang compromised and went to vet school.

Unable to resist the urge to write, Dr. V began pawcurious.com in 2009 as an outlet for writing about her work with animals. Pawcurious is recognized as one of the first and most widely read animal blogs, and Dr. V has since gone on to write for websites such as Vetstreet, dvm360, pet360, and Petfinder.

Dr. Vogelsang's debut memoir, All Dogs Go to Kevin, will be released July 2015 by Grand Central Publishing.

When she's not writing, Dr. V is providing hospice care in San Diego with Paws into Grace, hanging out with her hubby and 2 kids, walking the Golden, and vacuuming. Always vacuuming.

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This probably goes without saying but: Must Love Dogs! To love this book!

Dr. Vogelsang takes us through the story of her life and how big a role each of these 3 dogs played in her life. As you can imagine, several funny things happen. Those of us who have lived with dogs know that there are always laughs to be had when living with such a creature. Also as you can imagine, tears are shed as well. Dogs simply don’t have enough time with us and we are never ready for that time to end.

“We teach our dogs to ‘stay,’ but they never do.”

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often read dog memoirs... because, well, you always know what happens to the dog-- and I can't handle it! But this lovely, uplifting book made me think about the life and death of pets in a different way. Too, I could relate to the author's personal journey into her career as a vet, balancing theoretical knowledge from her coursework with practical wisdom gained on the job. Librarianship is like that too-- we learn a lot from library school, but there's so much more to the profession that simply can't be taught in a classroom.

I feel like I can't do this book justice in a review... if you're an animal lover, or you enjoy reading about someone dedicated to making a difference through their work, or you're looking for a funny and touching read, or all of the above... I recommend!

[Kristen Seymour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's one for the introverts, and the people who have felt way too awkward, the animal lovers and the ones who put up with us. It's for vets and vet students, dog owners (past and present), people with empathy and those looking for a little perspective and also anyone who's loved and lost. And while there are parts that are funny, it's touching enough that it should come with a recommendation of grabbing a tissue or two.

I've been looking forward to this book ever since Dr. V announced it was really happening, and when it finally arrived, I got a little nervous -- even though I've always loved her writing (and, in fact, I was a fan of her writing before I ever met her, and now, knowing her, I appreciate it even more), but what if the book wasn't everything I hoped it would be?

There was no reason to worry. I laughed, I cried, I learned a little, and at the end, I snuggled my dogs an awful lot. Oh, and I read it in one sitting because I could not put it down. I tried. I failed. So I just kept reading.

While "All Dogs Go to Kevin" is certainly geared toward dog lovers and people with some interest in the veterinary field, there's FAR more to it than that. As Vogelsang shares the story of her life, she relates each part to one of three dogs, but it's not like you're only seeing things through the dogs' eyes. She also shares funny, touching, and cringe-worthy stories about: family, childhood, school, moving across the country, feeling like an outcast, vet school, working in a clinic, patients (and their owners, both good and bad), pregnancy, depression, love, and, of course, the kind of friend you're lucky to meet once in a lifetime, Kevin.

By the end, I might not have exactly been motivated to go to veterinary school (due to the fact that I avoid people even more than Dr. V), but I was incredibly inspired to show additional kindness, both to the people I meet and the animals I have the opportunity to love and help in my own way.

Now, I mentioned that I know the author, but I want to be clear that this did NOT influence my review. Truthfully, if I hadn't liked it, I probably wouldn't have written a review, but I certainly wouldn't have written a glowing one. I'm already thinking of all the people in my life who would enjoy it and can't wait for the official release, because this is one just about everybody should read.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir of a dedicated, introverted, animal loving Veterinarian. This was an uplifting book showing the positives of pet ownership.

Dr. Jessica Vogelsang begins her story as a young introverted girl who's parents think that getting her a dog will help her to meet people. It doesn't really. As she struggles to determine what she wants to do with her life, she decides on Vet School. She is worried about having to euthanize animals though. The book deals with her professional life as well as her personal life. We meet her friends (Kevin), her two children, she talks about her post-partum depression and her family. The professional side had laughs, some tears and a comaraderie developed in the vet practice. She talks about the on-the-job training that goes on, as well the cost and sometimes disrespect that goes along with the job. Of course you can't read a book about animals without some deaths along the way. When she has to explain the death of the family dog to her young children, her youngest misunderstands Heaven to be Kevin. This misunderstanding plays an important role in how she eventually perceives death of a pet. This is a book that I really can't explain, you just have to read it. I went through a gamut of emotions while reading and listening to this one. If you are an animal lover, you will enjoy this book. I recommend it.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼]

I'm going to begin by vocalizing my extreme annoyance. Someone at Publisher's Weekly and some reviewer at Amazon 'made me' select this book by making a tantalizing comparison between it and James Herriot's books.

I think by mentioning Herriot most people would assume that this would mean that the tone and approach to the material would be somewhat the same. I'm here to tell you that it is not similar. In fact I found the only similarity to be that dogs were mentioned. And I can only assume that the people who 'saw' a similarity hadn't read Herriot's books or else could no longer recall them clearly.


What we have with Dr. Vogelsang's book is an interesting autobiography that revolves around wonderful dogs. I think many dog lovers probably perceive of their lives in the context of dogs they have loved and learned from. What most of us can't do is open up the world of veterinary school. And, in fact, this was probably my favorite part of the book.

Not that I didn't enjoy the stories that came out her actual veterinary practice, but the insight into her years of education I found personally fascinating.

This is nice quick read. There are some tear-jerk moments --at least for me there were -- but generally the whole book was upbeat.

~review copy provided by NG

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am day 4 on a five day cross country trip. I had a lot of fun reading parts of the book to my son who was driving. And there is a lot of great stories told well.
I wondered a bit at the beginning when she switched from med school to vet school because she thought it would be less work. Then a sentence where she said she didn't realize the emotions she would have to deal with. But it turned into a great book written well. I would recommend it.
Kleenex is needed at some parts, but even those parts are insightful.

[Linda Poitevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I read it: I've decided I need to expand my reading repertoire, and so I've started purchasing Kobo's "daily deals" when I'm looking for a new book. It helped that the description for All Dogs Go to Kevin billed the read as something that would appeal to fans of James Herriot's veterinary series, a long-time favourite of mine.

What I liked about it As a dog person myself, I loved Vogelsang's heartwarming observations about the canines that had been part of her family. Her love for and commitment to these animals is obvious, and she tells their stories with humour and respect. I also enjoyed the client stories woven into the book. Vogelsang has an easy, approachable writing style that is indeed reminiscent of Herriot.

What I didn't like: At times the book felt a tad disjointed, with bits of stories thrown in and then left, never fully woven in or finished. This should have been something addressed at the editorial stage, in my opinion, and it led to moments of frustration for me as I paged back and forth on my Kobo to see if I'd missed something somewhere (I hadn't).

Final thoughts: Having gone in expecting Herriot, I was initially a little disappointed not to have more anecdotes from the veterinary side of things...once I let go of those expectations, however, I began to enjoy Vogelsang's own voice and the insights into her life. This was, after all, a memoir and not a job history. By the end, I wished it was longer -- which is always a sign of a good book. :) In short, I wholeheartedly recommend the book, especially if you're a lover of dogs . Oh, but do make sure you have the tissues handy. You'll definitely need them!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this a three. This is about a woman veterinarian. her first years as a Vet and the animal patients she treated.Part of the book is also about her own three dogs she has owned over the years. This was okay. I just wished she talked more about her dogs.

[Rebecca Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. Even the sad parts were well done

[Shari]

I won a copy on Goodreads!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a good dog story. This one has it all - the humor and the tears. Written by a vet, it combines the story of her own dogs with her patients. Beautifully written.

[Donna Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In New England, there’s always a certain amount of confusion reserved for a person who doesn’t like lobster.” Having spent the last 36 summers in Cape Cod…not once eating lobster…I can attest to this. But I continue to love the ocean, even without eating lobster.

This book is not actually about dogs, but it is about the doctors who care for them. Most people do not realize that vets go to four years of college and then fours years of veterinary school, plus internships. They are REAL doctors.

‘Some of us just thrive best when we are working in service of others,” whether people or animals.

There is also extensive coverage of the author/Doctor/Jessica’s pregnancy and postpartum depression, child-rearing, and all the other aspects of a busy woman, mother, doctor, author.

Finding out the reason for the book title, of course, made me cry. Kevin is the true hero of this book.

“The pain of the loss is the price we have to pay for all the wonder we accumulate building up to it.”

[Raina H · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an animal lover and veterinary professional, I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. That being said, if you are going to listen make sure you have some tissues readily available as I was straight up ugly crying in my car driving home from work (with my dog in the backseat of course).

[DeB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, thoughtful, wise, funny, insightful - yes, those adjectives describe All Dogs Go to Kevin quite succinctly. Jessica Vogelsang has written a warm and touching memoir about the dogs in her life, her journey to becoming a veterinarian, and the many people and dogs who were part of a career as varied as the individuals themselves. A self-described Nerd, highly intelligent and of a very logical mind, she did not find public school a comfortable scene and the grumpy family Lhasa Apso dog, Taffy was her closest companion. The anecdotes told of veterinary school are delightful and compelling as are Jessica's recounting of her expanding family, dogs and growing experience in a veterinary practice. Pet owners forgive dogs of many unforeseen calamities, and many end up needing medical care because of them.

I was presented with a perspective that I had never considered.

"You'd think that since veterinarians deal with more death and grief than most other professionals we would get some sort of basic counselling in how to help owners handle grief, but that didn't happen..."

The writing flows beautifully and smoothly. Personal experiences from the past are pared lovingly with the pathos of sorrowing pet owners and contemplation on the lives of her own beloved dogs as well.

"Most of us live our lives trying to balance the scales between what we give and what we get, but wind up squarely on the 'taker' side of things. It's human nature to take things, to accumulate. If we fail to replenish the energy we dole out, like all finite resources, the well eventually runs out when there is simply nothing more to give. Maybe this is why dogs don't live as long as we do. They give so generously of themselves every waking moment, depleting their reserves a little more each day. It exhausts the soul."

For dog lovers, I highly recommend this gentle and loving memoir. It filled up my soul.

[Ellen the Herbivore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dogs are a huge part of my life. I’ve come to know hundreds of them in the last 25 years as a foster, shelter volunteer, dog walker, and adopter.

But I’ve mostly given up on books about them. It’s really tough to explain why a particular creature is so interesting and lovable, especially when you don’t have the benefit of quotable conversations. “Me and my dog” books therefore usually wind up with the same tired tropes (dogs are better than humans; dogs are so loving; dogs are naughty but we love them anyway…).

So I wouldn’t have picked up this book but for the fact that I recognized Dr. Vogelsang’s name from some excellent columns she wrote for Pawcurious. I’m glad I did. Though the title refers to three dogs she had at home, the more interesting parts are about her veterinary patients and about what it’s like to start out in veterinary practice. She has a wonderfully honest and kind approach. I was especially fascinated by her account of dealing with morning sickness while seeing patients.

Maybe the difference from other authors is that she did not grow up as an “animal person?” That may have made her more objective.

I know she has gone into home hospice work for animals, and I hope she will write a book about that, too.

[MAP · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just realized that most “pet” books I really enjoy are ones written by people who are already authors - journalists, novelists, essayists, etc. Jessica Vogelsang (a veterinarian), while a competent writer, doesn’t have the spark that creates that vivid image so necessary in a book like this. Because of that, the stories seem disjointed and the themes a little cold. Not a terrible book, but there are a LOT of “dog” books out there, and this one isn’t a must read. And again with my biggest pet peeve - WHY is there a group reading guide at the back of this book??

Also, there was much less Kevin in the book than the title promised.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Dr. Jessica didn't dwell on any one part of her story and told enough great stories from her practice and from her own dogs that were heartwarming, heartbreaking and absolutely relatable if you own dogs. It was a quick read and I loved reading about her journey. I would like to tell her that my dogs have never been overweight and get very little people food;) I have heard and read many stories of impossible clients, just plain a-hole clients and clients that can't afford treatment, and she definitely had stories to tell about all of them. Very enjoyable.

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book, a pretty standard Veterinary memoir. Good writing, likable author, some funny stories. Obligatory sad dying dog stories, nothing as memorable as a James Herriot story, but they tug on the heartstrings enough as expected. The husband seems a bit annoying and I don’t love the humor of “my husband isn’t a pet person but I wore him down!” Was hoping to learn more about her experiences as a hospice vet, as that’s a rarer subgenre, but these were pretty standard dog-centered GP tales. Would definitely read a sequel about hospice care though. The parts about veterinary school were relatable and it was funny hearing about the sorry state of UC Davis VMTH at the time—it has certainly changed since she was a student!

[Koren · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can probably surmise by the title of the book that the dogs die. Which makes sense when you read the bio of the author who went on to become a vet who does in-home hospice treatment for dogs. She starts with her childhood and then going to vet school and later working at a vet clinic and telling some interesting cases she worked with. Along the way, she tells about her own dogs lives and the ending of their lives, but doesn't get overly emotional, trying to milk as many tears as possible from the reader. This was an interesting book. I always thought working in a vet clinic would be great if you like animals, but I learned that it can be very stressful.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most dog memoirs are sad...this one is not. I think you should like animals, especially dogs to read it.
This is the author's story of starting vet school and her life with dogs. I liked reading about her first day of work especially. I enjoyed her descriptions of the pet owners.
I'm not sure how I came across this book, but I'm so glad I did.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has so much heart. The author treats grief, depression, and life changes with a lot of compassion. It set me on a few crying spells. 
As someone who has benefit from the comfort of at home euthanasia for their pet, I'm touched to know Dr. Vogelsang has gone into animal hospice care. It takes a calling. 
The audiobook is read by the author. 

[Shelly Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Jessica for making me laugh and cry on an airplane. The passengers around me think I'm a nut, but I'm headed home to hug my dogs and it's clear you know how I feel. A delightful, enjoyable, funny, and sweet read. Loved every minute of it.

[Leanne Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you loved a dog? Have you felt the loss of that beloved pet? Would you never trade it for anything. Walk through this veterinarian’s life and the three dogs who left their mark on her. If you love your dog, you must read it. It will help you when you, too, say goodbye. And it will help you say Hello again to the next one. (A special must read if you’ve owned any type of retriever).

[Anastasiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir falls into the same category as Lab Girl or Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory, the "Cool job you'd like to learn more about" category.

This was a fast, at times entertaining read. I loved learning about the vet school environment, the job searching, the day-to-day minutia of a veterinary practice. I even kind of enjoyed reading about the author's personal experiences with animals. What I didn't enjoy all that much was the rest of the cast of the book. I could tell that Dr. V was trying to toe the line between keeping the memoir interesting and wanting to make it more personal and intimate. The result is a rather large cast of family and friends, most of whom we don't really get to know and thus understand or care about. Honestly, I would have preferred more chapters on the author's inner world, maybe her changing attitudes and how she matured within the profession. There are a few hints of these insights here and there, and it was quite enjoyable to follow.

Overall, a nice read about the culture and atmosphere of the vet world.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

See full review at Shellyback books

Initially attracted by the cover I literally picked this book up out of curiosity. Saying this book is about dogs is selling it seriously short. It is a treasure.

I am not normally attracted to autobiographical works, but needed have worried. I was hooked from page one and laughing before the end of the first chapter. This fly on the wall account is an extremely well written book and is a pleasure to read, better than most fiction I have read recently.

Dr V like James Herriot before her leads us on a journey through her life starting in adolescence and sharing far more than amusing veterinary tales.

What I liked about this book its openness, honesty and warmth. The events felt so real that It made me both laugh and cry.
Looking forward to and hoping for a sequel.

I was lucky and received a pre-release review copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book that I can recommend, anyone who has ever had or desired a dog will love it as I did.

[J.J. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every page of Jessica Vogelsang's new book about her dogs and how much they've meant to her from childhood to her adult life as a vet. She is a gifted storyteller with a unique voice. At times funny, psychoanalytical, and profound, she shares intimate scenes that show her love for her pets and their love for her. Her treatment of postpartum depression after her firstborn child is sensitive and the role her dog plays in bringing her back to an active life is heart warming. Her acceptance of death is beautifully narrated. And best of all, she shows how an older adopted dog came to love her family in the last years of the pet's life. After finishing, I could only hope that the story isn't over, and Dr. Vogesang continues to write about her adventures with her dear ones from the animal kingdom.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, and can’t wait for my daughter who is in pre-veterinary studies to read it.

While it is a book about being a veterinarian, it’s also so much more. It’s about the struggle to reach a goal, the issues of being a female professional, and also such a real look at first time motherhood. I also loved how supportive but real her spouse is.

I read the whole thing in one night.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. V captures the gentle spirit of the retrievers in her book; I found myself smiling at her descriptions of their behavior/mannerisms, as they reminded me of my own goldens. Her journey to vet school, practicing as a vet, and finally to pet hospice is extremely interesting - at times very funny, and other times, tearful. She has a fantastic writing style. I knew it was going to be a good book at the start when Taffy was "pooping rainbows". Her honesty at her learning curve as a vet is refreshing and makes a pet owner realize that we really do expect vets to be the miracle worker. Highly recommend to all pet owners.

[Kimiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It was filled with great insights into what vets encounter and what they might go through becoming one. I loved that she talks a lot about regular things you might take for granted in your own dog. But after reading this I will try to live with the same philosophy she eventually goes by at the end of the book. The pain of the loss is the price we have to pay for all the wonder we accumulate building up to it. As well as instead of fearing and dreading the moment we say goodbye, treasure the moment we have now. If you own a dog, plan on owning one, or have owned one in the past, you should read this book.

[Phyllis Krall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart warming journey of a veterinarian and the three dogs that have impacted her life. Jessica Vogelsang uses the experiences with her dogs to help her in veterinary school and later on in an animal clinic. She always relied on her dogs to teach her how to deal with both her patients and their owners.
The author used humor and honesty to provide a most enjoyable read. You will laugh and shed some tears reading about the dogs that come into Dr. Vogelsang's life. This book is a great gift for all dog lovers and I know I will be reading it again!!