Hey Woofa’s,

I have been watching Episodes of The Supervet for a while now, and always thought Noel Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick Referrals was brilliant.

So it’s a no brainer for me (being the book nerd that I am) that I would jump at the chance to read his autobiography – Becoming The Supervet!

While watching the Supervet I’ve always wondered what made Noel do what he does.  It’s beyond what I’ve known vets to do.

For example, the first episode I ever came across was a cat whose front paw was all bent over, yet he kept wanting to go out and explore, which in turn made his paw red raw and pretty much useless.

Long story short, Noel put him under, took off the offending paw, made a new one for him, hammered and screwed it in place inside the existing bone in hope that the skin would grow over it like it was his natural paw.

I remember thinking, they don’t even do that for humans (I don’t think)!!  It was truly amazing!

So as I said, when his book came out I couldn’t wait to read it and I wasn’t disappointed at all.

SHAPING THE SUPERVET!

Noel was brought up on an Irish farm with a workaholic father and a mother who had his other siblings to take care of.

He had an experience as a young boy of 11, it was his turn to look after birthing the lambs.  Long story short, after excruciating hours of helping the sheep birth this lamb while stuck in the bog, it passed away.   Then another came along and was alive for a short while before also passing away.

A young broken and shattered Noel vowed then and there (to God) that he would do all he could to help the animals.

As a kid Noel shares with us his imagination in the form of Vetman and the Red Breasted Robin, who would fly with him all over the world helping to heal animals.

He was always mystified about how their own Farm Vet always knew just what to do!

Sadly we find out that Noel’s schooling in the rural two teacher school of Barnashrone was not the exact schooling one needs to become a vet.  Noel had to study his heart out to become where he is today.

As a young boy Noel shares his love of comic books and at 11 he discovers the Six Million Dollar Man, who has bionic implants that give him superhuman strength.

We also learn of Noel’s Uncle Paul who’s leg was amputated in a motor bike accident and was replaced by a wooden one.

They went out fishing one extremely hot day and Uncle Paul had to remove his leg, one of which Noel had never seen before.

Noel mentions how this moment is etched in his mind forever.

‘His stump looked like someone had taken a hammer to a side of bacon and bludgeoned it.  It was horrible, smelly, scabby and oozy.  The ill-fitting socket of his wooden leg had rubbed and chafed his poor stump.  I was stunned.  It was truly awful’, pg 48.

We also discover that Noel had a knack for building things.

BECOMING THE SUPERVET!

Noel openly shares with his readers about how he was bullied day in and day out all throughout his high school life.  We also learn his ways of coping with the bullies.

One thing that can’t be ignored is Noel’s study and work ethic, it goes above and way way beyond anyone I can think of.

He makes no secret how hard he had to study to get where he is today and still does.

His dedication to the animals way surpasses anything else in his life, including himself.  He talks of failed relationships purely because he puts the animals first and his passion to help them.

Another thing that is very very clear in the book is Noel’s passion (almost his DNA) to combine animal and human medicines.

‘ It has been my dream that the existing dichotomy between humans and veterinary medicine might be addressed by building a platform where human and veterinary medical professionals, researchers and scientists learn from each other, and where animals that need solutions who, in other circumstances, might be put to sleep, may go on, instead to live longer and happier lives.  This in turn informs progress in medical science in a way that might help every species, pg 354-355’

He has started an Humanimal Trust charity for this purpose, he describes it as his life’s purpose and his legacy.

A BIT MORE ON THE SUPERVET!

Blood, sweat, tears, passion, dedication, sacrifice, drive are a few reasons why this man has gotten to where he is today.

There is no doubt in my mind he will achieve his goals because he doesn’t give up.

Noel shares many stories of his journey thus far, way too many to mention here.

My copy of the book is flagged by post-its because there are many life lessons we as readers can learn from him.

‘Don’t allow what you think of yourself to stop you chasing your dream’….

‘All you need is a reason big enough’….

‘Everything is impossible until it happens’…..

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

I could go on and on and on about this book and about this man but if you are an animal lover, you’ve just got to read it.

If you’re not a reader then I recommend you watch the TV Series, The Supervet.

The animals and animal lovers of this world need more humans like this one.

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – WHAT YOU THINK OF THE SUPERVET?

Cheers