Becoming The Supervet
by
Noel Fitzpatrick
If the question ” Who would be your perfect fantasy dinner party guest?” ever came up who would you choose?
My number one fantasy dinner guest would be Noel Fitzpatrick, otherwise known as The Supervet.
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick is a world-renowned neuro-orthopaedic veterinary surgeon, the founder of Fitzpatrick Referrals in Surrey, and the star of the hit Channel 4 television show The Supervet, now in its twelfth series. Globally recognised for his innovative surgical solutions for animals, Noel has developed dozens of new techniques, including several world-firsts, that have provided hope where none seemed possible to provide quality of life for his patients
What it doesn’t say in the above biography is what an incredibly kind, compassionate man Noel is. He is extremely, clever, humble and really, really loves animals!
I was so excited to read this book via NetGalley and it exceeded my expectations by a mile.
Here is the description and my review.
Description
THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER.
A powerful, heart-warming and inspiring memoir from the UK’s most famous and beloved vet, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick – star of the Channel 4 series The Supervet.
Growing up on the family farm in Ballyfin, Ireland, Noel’s childhood was spent tending to the cattle and sheep, the hay and silage, the tractors and land, his beloved sheepdog Pirate providing solace from the bullies that plagued him at school. It was this bond with Pirate, and a fateful night spent desperately trying to save a newborn lamb, that inspired Noel to enter the world of veterinary science – and set him on the path to becoming The Supervet.
Now, in this long-awaited memoir, Noel recounts this often-surprising journey that sees him leaving behind a farm animal practice in rural Ireland to set up Fitzpatrick Referrals in Surrey, one of the most advanced small animal specialist centres in the world. We meet the animals that paved the way, from calving cows and corralling bullocks to talkative parrots and bionic cats and dogs.
Noel has listened to the many lessons that the animals in his care have taught him, and especially the times he has shared with his beloved Keira, the scruffy Border Terrier who has been by Noel’s side as he’s dealt with the unbelievable highs and crushing lows of his extraordinary career.
As heart-warming and life-affirming as the TV show with which he made his name, Listening to the Animals is a story of love, hope and compassion, and about rejoicing in the bond between humans and animals that makes us the very best we can be.
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My Review of Becoming The Supervet by Noel Fitzpatrick
The book starts with Noel Fitzpatrick recalling how he used to get up at two o’clock in the morning as a ten year to go off into the fields during lambing time. It was 1978 at his family’s farm in Ballyfin, Republic of Ireland. He tells of his fathers’ fiercely strong work ethic and how he educated him in every aspect of farming.
Noel remembers extreme bullying at school and how incredibly hard he had to work to qualify as a vet. Later chapters reflect on his total dedication to veterinary medicine, masterminding pioneering surgical techniques and a belief that there should be one medicine for both humans and animals.
The Supervet is a humble, compassionate and immensely endearing man. His story shows that with grit and determination anything can be achieved. We, as pet owners, are so lucky to have someone with a heart and brain the size of Noels and many, many animals are alive today because he never gave up on them.
This is a quote from the book which I particularly related to, it refers to Keira, Noel’s Border Terrier who can be seen on the front cover of the book.
‘I know I feel calmer, more peaceful, more loved, more supported and have experienced more solidarity with Keira than I have sometimes with human relationships’