Pets and the City
This week Michelle Fern is joined by Dr. Amy Attas - pet expert and founder of City Pets, and author of the new book, Pets and the City: True Tales of a Manhattan House Call Veterinarian. Drawing from her extensive career spanning over three decades as a house call veterinarian in New York City, Dr. Attas takes readers from Park Avenue to the city projects, sharing the shocking, sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, life-affirming experiences she has faced through her storied career, treating the cats and dogs for more than 700,000 Manhattan families. A fascinating book and an interview you won’t want to miss!
Listen to Episode #240 Now:
BIO:
Dr. Amy Attas is the founder of City Pets, a premier veterinary medical house call practice for dogs and cats living or working in or visiting Manhattan.
Dr. Attas is a graduate of Barnard College; holds both a VMD and a MA in Animal Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania; and completed her Internship in Medicine and Surgery at the prestigious Animal Medical Center in Manhattan. Additionally, she sits on the Board of her alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine; is a Trustee of the EcoHealth Alliance, one of the world’s premier conservation and health organizations; and is a member of the President’s Council and is an active fundraiser for the Global Health Program of the Wildlife Conservation Society, along with many other animal-related charities.
The Veterinary Medical Association of the City of New York has awarded Dr. Attas both its Merit Award and the Award for Outstanding Service to Veterinary Medicine. She served over a decade on the Veterinary Medical Association’s Executive Board, including as the Association’s designated Liaison to the New York City government. She also served as a founding member of the President’s Science Advisory Board at Barnard College.
Amy grew up in New York. She shares a home with her husband Stephen Shapiro and their rescued pugs, Winston and Cleopatra, and she makes every effort to enjoy the many cultural events New York has to offer, from opera and theater to the New York Rangers.
She is most proud of the care and compassion she brings to her practice of veterinary medicine.
Transcript:
00:00:01.860 --> 00:00:03.460
Announcer: This is Pet Life Radio.
00:00:03.860 --> 00:00:05.000
Announcer: Let's talk pets.
00:00:24.860 --> 00:00:27.600
Michelle Fern: Hello, cat lovers, welcome to Cattitude.
00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:29.620
Michelle Fern: I'm your show host, Michelle Fern.
00:00:29.900 --> 00:00:33.380
Michelle Fern: And wow, this is a show you are not gonna wanna miss.
00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:37.560
Michelle Fern: I don't even know how to tell you how amazed I was at reading this book.
00:00:37.620 --> 00:00:46.700
Michelle Fern: I have the author with us today, and this is a book about pets that is unbelievably fascinating and just incredible.
00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:49.160
Michelle Fern: Stay tuned, and we'll be right back.
00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:56.440
Michelle Fern: Hey, Michelle Fern here, and you know, saving cats is near and dear to my heart.
00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:02.180
Michelle Fern: Did you know that there is an estimated 70 to 100 million free roaming cats in the United States?
00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:05.600
Michelle Fern: And without spay neuter, that number will keep growing.
00:01:05.780 --> 00:01:12.320
Michelle Fern: Not only does spay neuter mainly reduce the community cat population, but it also keeps cats healthier.
00:01:12.580 --> 00:01:18.540
Michelle Fern: Scooter, the neutered cat, is on a mission to give cats an extra life by making it hip to be sniffed.
00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:23.780
Michelle Fern: Visit his website, givethemten.org, to help pioneer a better world for cats.
00:01:23.960 --> 00:01:27.720
Michelle Fern: That's give them, spelled out, T-E-N, dot org.
00:01:30.100 --> 00:01:33.220
Announcer: Let's Talk Pets on petliferadio.com.
00:01:44.290 --> 00:01:45.390
Michelle Fern: Welcome back, everyone.
00:01:45.430 --> 00:01:48.490
Michelle Fern: I'd like to welcome author and veterinarian, Dr.
00:01:48.550 --> 00:01:53.830
Michelle Fern: Amy Attas, who just recently wrote the book, Pets and the City.
00:01:53.910 --> 00:01:54.750
Michelle Fern: Welcome, Dr.
00:01:54.750 --> 00:01:55.110
Michelle Fern: Amy.
00:01:55.290 --> 00:01:56.050
Dr. Amy Attas: Thank you, Michelle.
00:01:56.070 --> 00:01:57.150
Dr. Amy Attas: I'm delighted to be here.
00:01:57.350 --> 00:01:59.190
Michelle Fern: I am so glad to have you on.
00:01:59.590 --> 00:02:04.230
Michelle Fern: I read a lot, and I read a lot of pet books, and I was riveted.
00:02:04.330 --> 00:02:09.590
Michelle Fern: The full title is Pets and the City, True Tales of Manhattan House Call Veterinarian.
00:02:09.810 --> 00:02:11.990
Michelle Fern: And you're also the founder of City Pets.
00:02:12.450 --> 00:02:14.930
Michelle Fern: So can you give us a little background about yourself?
00:02:15.270 --> 00:02:15.650
Dr. Amy Attas: Sure.
00:02:15.810 --> 00:02:18.910
Dr. Amy Attas: So as you mentioned, I'm a dog and cat veterinarian.
00:02:19.150 --> 00:02:21.010
Dr. Amy Attas: I practice in Manhattan.
00:02:21.610 --> 00:02:26.130
Dr. Amy Attas: And about three decades ago, I started a veterinary house call practice.
00:02:26.510 --> 00:02:28.670
Dr. Amy Attas: And that was really a novelty at that time.
00:02:28.690 --> 00:02:30.530
Dr. Amy Attas: Most people said you should get a real job.
00:02:30.550 --> 00:02:31.710
Dr. Amy Attas: This is never gonna work.
00:02:31.710 --> 00:02:40.390
Dr. Amy Attas: But I had the presence to think of a way that animals would be more comfortable and a way that I could deliver veterinary care at home.
00:02:40.910 --> 00:02:48.090
Dr. Amy Attas: And so I've been doing that for dogs and cats in New York for the past 30 some odd years and absolutely loving it.
00:02:48.650 --> 00:02:52.750
Michelle Fern: And you have had a lot of great stories and we'll get into some of that.
00:02:53.250 --> 00:02:57.070
Michelle Fern: But what made you decide to write Pets in the City?
00:02:57.450 --> 00:03:01.690
Dr. Amy Attas: So I've been writing this book in my head ever since I can remember.
00:03:02.130 --> 00:03:08.290
Dr. Amy Attas: And it really started with me coming home every day and saying to my husband, you will not believe what happened today.
00:03:08.610 --> 00:03:11.010
Dr. Amy Attas: And you know how you always think, I'll remember this forever.
00:03:11.090 --> 00:03:14.750
Dr. Amy Attas: And then the next day I was like, what was that really interesting story I wanted to remember?
00:03:15.150 --> 00:03:17.850
Dr. Amy Attas: So I realized I needed to write these things down.
00:03:18.170 --> 00:03:19.450
Dr. Amy Attas: And I don't write the whole story.
00:03:19.470 --> 00:03:24.490
Dr. Amy Attas: Sometimes just a sentence is all I need to capture the essence of what happened.
00:03:24.890 --> 00:03:27.290
Dr. Amy Attas: And then eventually it all comes back to me.
00:03:27.750 --> 00:03:40.750
Dr. Amy Attas: So after decades of doing this, I realized I've had so many amazing stories and I didn't wanna write a book of, oh, I was a little girl, I wanted to be a vet and then I went to vet school and then I got my first job and then I got my second job, et cetera.
00:03:41.090 --> 00:03:47.530
Dr. Amy Attas: I realized that things that happened in my experiences often went together into certain themes.
00:03:47.930 --> 00:03:57.850
Dr. Amy Attas: And I thought that was a much more interesting way of telling the story because even though I'm the only character that goes from the beginning to the end, it's not a book about me.
00:03:58.370 --> 00:04:02.830
Dr. Amy Attas: It's a book about the animals who I will refer to as my patients.
00:04:03.290 --> 00:04:06.950
Dr. Amy Attas: It's a book about the people who I refer to as my clients.
00:04:07.370 --> 00:04:18.710
Dr. Amy Attas: And because I'm going around Manhattan all day long in the back seat of a car, meeting doorman, dealing with traffic, crazy things that happen going in and out of buildings, the book is about Manhattan.
00:04:19.010 --> 00:04:30.090
Dr. Amy Attas: So it's really about those three things that turn it into a really interesting tale of the experiences I've had in my decades of being a New York City House Call practitioner.
00:04:30.630 --> 00:04:33.030
Michelle Fern: What an eloquent way to describe it.
00:04:33.450 --> 00:04:41.710
Michelle Fern: And you have a quite witty sense of humor which, you know, if you're a House Call Veteran in Manhattan, I think that's a necessity.
00:04:41.990 --> 00:04:46.690
Dr. Amy Attas: You know, I joke about the fact that oftentimes I'm invisible to my clients.
00:04:46.710 --> 00:04:48.130
Dr. Amy Attas: And again, clients are the humans.
00:04:48.150 --> 00:04:50.110
Dr. Amy Attas: I'm never invisible to my patients.
00:04:50.530 --> 00:04:54.890
Dr. Amy Attas: They're, you know, just like any other vet, my patients are a little afraid of me.
00:04:54.910 --> 00:05:03.050
Dr. Amy Attas: But as I explained to people, especially the cats, they're going to dislike me a lot less than they dislike the vet in the animal hospital.
00:05:03.070 --> 00:05:09.010
Dr. Amy Attas: Because all the things you have to do to go to the animal hospital don't occur when someone's making a house call to you.
00:05:09.430 --> 00:05:11.470
Dr. Amy Attas: Cats don't have to go in cat carriers.
00:05:11.490 --> 00:05:13.310
Dr. Amy Attas: They don't have to go in the backseat of the car.
00:05:13.330 --> 00:05:15.670
Dr. Amy Attas: They don't have to sit in the waiting room with a barking dog.
00:05:16.070 --> 00:05:18.130
Dr. Amy Attas: So they're much, much calmer at home.
00:05:18.430 --> 00:05:21.710
Dr. Amy Attas: But I'm still going to poke and prod them and stick them with needles.
00:05:21.730 --> 00:05:23.910
Dr. Amy Attas: So ultimately, I'm not their favorite person.
00:05:24.210 --> 00:05:28.670
Dr. Amy Attas: But again, in the scheme of things, I'm not as bad as I could be in a hospital.
00:05:28.870 --> 00:05:30.070
Michelle Fern: That kind of leads into it.
00:05:30.090 --> 00:05:36.570
Michelle Fern: I was going to ask you, how is the House Call Veterinarian different than a standard veterinarian?
00:05:36.590 --> 00:05:37.670
Michelle Fern: I get it for cats.
00:05:37.770 --> 00:05:45.230
Michelle Fern: And that's a godsend for cats, because cats and carriers, sometimes I've had to cancel appointments because I couldn't get my cat in the carrier.
00:05:45.610 --> 00:05:49.670
Michelle Fern: And I have all the tricks, but still it's mission impossible at times.
00:05:49.890 --> 00:05:55.050
Dr. Amy Attas: Even I've been stumped finding a cat when I know they're in the apartment and we just look everywhere.
00:05:55.170 --> 00:05:57.830
Dr. Amy Attas: Eventually we find them, but it does take a lot of time.
00:05:58.050 --> 00:05:58.390
Michelle Fern: Yes.
00:05:58.410 --> 00:06:05.590
Michelle Fern: So you even have a couple of stories in here, just in dealing with your drivers, getting the right driver in Manhattan.
00:06:05.750 --> 00:06:08.430
Michelle Fern: But give us a little bit of a taste of what it's like.
00:06:08.590 --> 00:06:12.910
Michelle Fern: You know, us as pet parents, we know what it's like going to the veterinarian with our pet, not fun.
00:06:12.930 --> 00:06:14.970
Michelle Fern: I live in a very warm place.
00:06:15.130 --> 00:06:20.010
Michelle Fern: I hate taking my, when I had my dog, hated taking him to the vet when it was warm out.
00:06:20.030 --> 00:06:21.850
Michelle Fern: It was just uncomfortable.
00:06:22.010 --> 00:06:27.730
Michelle Fern: And you know, it's never a pleasant experience going to the vet, except if it's just annual shots, then it's not so bad.
00:06:28.290 --> 00:06:31.930
Michelle Fern: But House Call brings a whole other realm to it.
00:06:32.230 --> 00:06:34.930
Michelle Fern: So what are some of the differences we wouldn't expect?
00:06:35.250 --> 00:06:41.590
Dr. Amy Attas: So I like to explain to people that I can do on House Call, pretty much anything that a veterinarian can do in the exam room.
00:06:41.810 --> 00:06:43.430
Dr. Amy Attas: I can do the physical exam.
00:06:43.450 --> 00:06:46.530
Dr. Amy Attas: I can take blood, I can take urine, I can vaccinate.
00:06:46.870 --> 00:06:49.870
Dr. Amy Attas: We can do, I can do an EKG, I can do an ultrasound.
00:06:49.890 --> 00:06:53.170
Dr. Amy Attas: I can do any of those things in a client's home.
00:06:53.610 --> 00:06:59.910
Dr. Amy Attas: What I can't do is take an X-ray or do anything that requires anesthesia or surgery.
00:06:59.930 --> 00:07:02.950
Dr. Amy Attas: So those things are done in the regular animal hospital.
00:07:03.210 --> 00:07:07.210
Dr. Amy Attas: There's no compromise to the quality of care because we're coming to your home.
00:07:07.610 --> 00:07:10.970
Dr. Amy Attas: What we do bring is the convenience.
00:07:11.330 --> 00:07:15.930
Dr. Amy Attas: Oftentimes for my established clients, they're not even home for my visit.
00:07:16.270 --> 00:07:23.450
Dr. Amy Attas: If they have a very important day at work and their dog or cat doesn't feel well, their doorman can let us in because of course this is Manhattan.
00:07:23.470 --> 00:07:26.170
Dr. Amy Attas: Everybody lives for the most part in an apartment building.
00:07:26.290 --> 00:07:34.310
Dr. Amy Attas: So they either give us a set of keys, their doorman can let us in, maybe their nanny is there with their children or their housekeeper or don't tell anyone.
00:07:34.670 --> 00:07:36.750
Dr. Amy Attas: Sometimes they leave the door unlocked.
00:07:37.010 --> 00:07:40.630
Dr. Amy Attas: So it just is an enormous convenience for people.
00:07:41.110 --> 00:07:44.710
Dr. Amy Attas: So we can come in and I say we because we're a team.
00:07:45.190 --> 00:07:58.410
Dr. Amy Attas: On every house call, there's a driver who brings us around Manhattan because it would be impossible to do this if I had to drive my own car and park it or take a taxi or an Uber because we carry too much equipment.
00:07:58.830 --> 00:08:00.450
Dr. Amy Attas: And then I go with a nurse.
00:08:00.950 --> 00:08:03.650
Dr. Amy Attas: So there's somebody helping me with each call.
00:08:04.410 --> 00:08:15.770
Dr. Amy Attas: That maximizes the efficiency and we can get things done pretty much within approximately a half an hour would be the normal timeframe for a house call visit.
00:08:16.370 --> 00:08:22.510
Dr. Amy Attas: So if the client, the human can't be home, we'll have a conversation beforehand on the telephone.
00:08:22.510 --> 00:08:27.290
Dr. Amy Attas: We'll be in touch with each other via texting, email, phone calls, whatever they want.
00:08:27.310 --> 00:08:31.730
Dr. Amy Attas: So they can give me the full history and I can ask whatever follow up questions I need to.
00:08:32.110 --> 00:08:37.450
Dr. Amy Attas: And then I complete the entire physical exam in taking the laboratory samples, et cetera.
00:08:37.730 --> 00:08:41.830
Dr. Amy Attas: Every once in a while, this is not a perfect system.
00:08:42.070 --> 00:08:53.710
Dr. Amy Attas: I think you'll recall the story in the book where my client thought that her cat had a respiratory infection, a cold, because her sister's cat had a cold and she thought it had similar symptoms.
00:08:54.250 --> 00:09:04.350
Dr. Amy Attas: But what she was interpreting as a little bit of a stuffy nose was actually her cat having difficulty breathing and her cat did not have a respiratory infection.
00:09:04.370 --> 00:09:09.030
Dr. Amy Attas: It actually had a heart condition and had fluid building up in its lungs.
00:09:09.550 --> 00:09:20.570
Dr. Amy Attas: So I went to make that house call without the client being home and found the cat really compromised in the bathroom behind the toilet having incredible difficulty breathing.
00:09:21.270 --> 00:09:25.670
Dr. Amy Attas: And I was unable to reach the client and I had no choice but to do what I did.
00:09:26.010 --> 00:09:32.730
Dr. Amy Attas: We went through her closets until we found her cat carrier and I took the cat with me back to the hospital.
00:09:33.230 --> 00:09:39.030
Dr. Amy Attas: Ironically, it was a day like you described, you hate taking your pets out on a really, really hot and humid day.
00:09:39.450 --> 00:09:42.350
Dr. Amy Attas: And this was a very, very hot and humid day in New York City.
00:09:42.710 --> 00:09:44.130
Dr. Amy Attas: We were stuck in traffic.
00:09:44.150 --> 00:09:47.630
Dr. Amy Attas: The air conditioning just wasn't enough to keep this cat comfortable.
00:09:47.970 --> 00:09:53.250
Dr. Amy Attas: And I wound up running the last few blocks to the hospital to get the cat into air conditioning.
00:09:53.610 --> 00:09:56.630
Dr. Amy Attas: And in fact, into oxygen as quickly as possible.
00:09:57.290 --> 00:10:03.090
Dr. Amy Attas: So sometimes what people think is not a big deal, turns out to be a big deal.
00:10:03.390 --> 00:10:07.830
Dr. Amy Attas: But most of the time, what people think is a big deal, turns out not to be.
00:10:08.110 --> 00:10:09.170
Michelle Fern: Very interesting.
00:10:09.450 --> 00:10:14.530
Michelle Fern: As you said in your book, you do also go have themes with the route.
00:10:14.590 --> 00:10:16.830
Michelle Fern: And we'll touch on a couple after the break.
00:10:17.470 --> 00:10:23.190
Michelle Fern: But what I found was, and of course it was entertaining, so entertaining.
00:10:23.330 --> 00:10:28.350
Michelle Fern: We talked about this a little before we started, but I really think that this is a must read.
00:10:28.370 --> 00:10:36.430
Michelle Fern: It doesn't matter if you have it, pet at all, if you like to read, if you can read, you should get this book because it's a fascinating book.
00:10:36.450 --> 00:10:36.830
Michelle Fern: Dr.
00:10:36.850 --> 00:10:38.210
Michelle Fern: Amy, this is incredible.
00:10:38.390 --> 00:10:45.250
Michelle Fern: I hope Netflix is listening because this would be a great show, great series, different from everything else that they keep redoing.
00:10:45.570 --> 00:10:58.610
Michelle Fern: Anyway, what are some of the few surprising things that you found out when you became a house call veterinarian, besides the, I guess, the glimpse into some of these amazing homes?
00:10:58.970 --> 00:11:02.470
Dr. Amy Attas: Well, I think you really, you talked about the essence of the book.
00:11:02.890 --> 00:11:08.430
Dr. Amy Attas: Even though the way I'm in this world is through the pets, this is a book about people.
00:11:08.950 --> 00:11:13.650
Dr. Amy Attas: I have been witness to people's lives, to their families.
00:11:13.810 --> 00:11:23.550
Dr. Amy Attas: I have been doing this for so long that I came into the household, perhaps when children were very young and then watched them grow up and then they went off on their own.
00:11:23.570 --> 00:11:29.130
Dr. Amy Attas: They married, they had their own children and I continue my relationship with them through their pets.
00:11:29.710 --> 00:11:41.730
Dr. Amy Attas: And you really get to know people so much more when you're in your home, rather than being in an animal hospital with them where it's a completely different relationship.
00:11:42.330 --> 00:11:45.230
Dr. Amy Attas: So it's very, very personal.
00:11:45.710 --> 00:11:48.390
Dr. Amy Attas: Having said that, sometimes it's a little too personal.
00:11:48.410 --> 00:11:55.930
Dr. Amy Attas: And sometimes, you know, a joke can say that I don't just show up in people's homes, they make an appointment and they know that I'm coming.
00:11:56.330 --> 00:12:02.290
Dr. Amy Attas: So I'm surprised sometimes at what is left out in the home that probably I shouldn't be seeing.
00:12:02.870 --> 00:12:05.770
Dr. Amy Attas: And I do tell a few of those stories in the book.
00:12:06.050 --> 00:12:26.910
Dr. Amy Attas: But it's again, for those who maybe thought they might not find anything of interest about a book written by a veterinarian, this is a book about people, it's a book about pets, and it's also about my beloved New York City, because I have to go around the city every single day.
00:12:27.270 --> 00:12:38.290
Dr. Amy Attas: You know, when the UN General Assembly is in session and we can't get through the streets and we're racing to get to an emergency, it becomes a challenge that is different from what other veterinarians go through.
00:12:38.510 --> 00:12:43.810
Michelle Fern: Well, we're going to take a short break and we'll be right back and talk more about your book.
00:12:43.830 --> 00:12:44.790
Michelle Fern: We'll be right back.
00:12:48.110 --> 00:12:50.050
Announcer: Take a bite out of your competition.
00:12:50.630 --> 00:12:55.070
Announcer: Advertise your business with an ad in Pet Life Radio podcasts and radio shows.
00:12:55.390 --> 00:13:02.310
Announcer: There is no other pet-related media that is as large and reaches more pet parents and pet lovers than Pet Life Radio.
00:13:02.590 --> 00:13:18.790
Announcer: With over 7 million monthly listeners, Pet Life Radio podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms and our live radio stream goes out to over 250 million subscribers on iHeart Radio, Audacy, TuneIn and other streaming apps.
00:13:18.910 --> 00:13:28.030
Announcer: For more information on how you can advertise on the number one pet podcast and radio network, visit petliferadio.com/advertise today.
00:13:34.370 --> 00:13:35.270
Announcer: Pet Life Radio.
00:13:35.610 --> 00:13:36.530
Announcer: Pet Life Radio.
00:13:48.342 --> 00:13:50.862
Michelle Fern: Welcome back everyone, we're talking with Dr.
00:13:50.942 --> 00:13:53.302
Michelle Fern: Amy Attas, and she's a veterinarian.
00:13:53.482 --> 00:13:57.622
Michelle Fern: She is the founder of City Pets, and she wrote the book Pets in the City.
00:13:58.062 --> 00:13:59.102
Michelle Fern: And Dr.
00:13:59.142 --> 00:14:11.842
Michelle Fern: Amy, I learned things I had no idea about in your book, and we're just gonna touch on a couple of stories, if that's okay, and not even go all into detail, because people need to read this book.
00:14:11.962 --> 00:14:23.902
Michelle Fern: It's wildly entertaining, and there's themes throughout that really make you think as a pet parent, oh, you know what, I should be better, I should be doing that, or I should give thought to this.
00:14:24.762 --> 00:14:32.222
Michelle Fern: One of the things I found that blew my mind is the story of the gentleman that didn't want to neuter his dog.
00:14:32.782 --> 00:14:34.602
Dr. Amy Attas: So it's a true story.
00:14:34.622 --> 00:14:35.822
Michelle Fern: With the fake balls?
00:14:35.842 --> 00:14:38.182
Michelle Fern: I didn't know they had such a thing.
00:14:38.482 --> 00:14:44.982
Dr. Amy Attas: I don't think this is the finest moment of veterinary medicine, that there is such a thing as a prosthetic testicles.
00:14:46.062 --> 00:14:55.542
Dr. Amy Attas: And it's not something that I recommend, but in this particular instance, with a male dog whose family just didn't want him to be neutered.
00:14:55.562 --> 00:14:59.282
Dr. Amy Attas: And I shouldn't actually say his family, but his macho dad didn't want him to be neutered.
00:14:59.762 --> 00:15:05.382
Dr. Amy Attas: But the important point here is that their previous dog died of prostate cancer.
00:15:06.022 --> 00:15:11.742
Dr. Amy Attas: And we can pretty much eliminate prostate cancer in veterinary medicine by neutering male dogs.
00:15:12.342 --> 00:15:16.402
Dr. Amy Attas: And they also have an enormous number of medical issues as they get older.
00:15:16.722 --> 00:15:20.342
Dr. Amy Attas: And by the way, this is no different from older men, they get prostate issues.
00:15:20.642 --> 00:15:24.302
Dr. Amy Attas: But in dogs, we have this convenient way to eliminate the problem.
00:15:24.642 --> 00:15:27.202
Dr. Amy Attas: And the wife really did want to have the dog neutered.
00:15:27.222 --> 00:15:28.142
Dr. Amy Attas: The husband didn't.
00:15:28.162 --> 00:15:33.342
Dr. Amy Attas: And I believe that the reason the husband didn't want him neutered is he didn't like the way he would look aesthetically.
00:15:33.722 --> 00:15:40.202
Dr. Amy Attas: And this was an instance where the wife gave documentation that she was the rightful owner of the dog.
00:15:40.222 --> 00:15:41.842
Dr. Amy Attas: She signed the papers from the breeder.
00:15:42.222 --> 00:15:47.682
Dr. Amy Attas: And she asked us to have the dog neutered and implant these prosthetic testicles.
00:15:47.962 --> 00:15:56.362
Dr. Amy Attas: And I don't know to this day if the husband ever knew whether those testicles were real or not, but he seemed happy, she was happy.
00:15:56.362 --> 00:16:02.382
Dr. Amy Attas: And as the veterinarian, I was very happy that this dog would not develop prostate disease later on in life.
00:16:02.782 --> 00:16:18.362
Dr. Amy Attas: So that was just a one-off, but it was an example of sometimes people are more interested in what they perceive their dog to be rather than the true health and wellbeing of the dog.
00:16:18.662 --> 00:16:21.002
Dr. Amy Attas: And this was just a way of working around that.
00:16:21.242 --> 00:16:24.282
Michelle Fern: You said it a lot better than I did, prosthetic testicles.
00:16:24.562 --> 00:16:29.482
Michelle Fern: I just put my notes, fake balls, but it was a great way to solve the problem.
00:16:29.662 --> 00:16:37.482
Michelle Fern: You also have had a lot of celebrity clients and some of the stories about, is it okay if I say the name?
00:16:37.502 --> 00:16:41.902
Dr. Amy Attas: Of course, every celebrity in the book is in the book with their permission.
00:16:42.282 --> 00:16:49.062
Michelle Fern: Okay, well, of course, it's a printed book, but Joan Rivers, Bunny and Billy Joel, oh, I'm a huge fan.
00:16:49.302 --> 00:16:52.262
Michelle Fern: But how did you get past the wow moments?
00:16:52.282 --> 00:16:54.002
Michelle Fern: And then his wife at the time, Katie Lee.
00:16:54.282 --> 00:16:58.182
Michelle Fern: And I know there were other celebrities as well, even Royalty.
00:16:58.422 --> 00:17:05.682
Michelle Fern: But how did you get past the, oh my gosh, I mean, Billy Joel taking care of Billy Joel's dog or, you know, Joan Rivers Yorkie?
00:17:05.902 --> 00:17:12.042
Dr. Amy Attas: So there's always a wow factor because these people are just so fabulous at what they do.
00:17:12.422 --> 00:17:18.242
Dr. Amy Attas: So it's okay to just, you know, really appreciate them as being great in what they do.
00:17:18.602 --> 00:17:22.162
Dr. Amy Attas: However, it all boils down to the pet that I'm caring for.
00:17:22.222 --> 00:17:24.802
Dr. Amy Attas: So you get over that wow factor pretty quickly.
00:17:25.102 --> 00:17:31.442
Dr. Amy Attas: Now I'm not gonna, you know, lie and say I don't get excited when my phone rings and it's one of these great celebrities.
00:17:31.822 --> 00:17:34.862
Dr. Amy Attas: I'm just so honored that they trust me to care for their pets.
00:17:35.402 --> 00:17:38.982
Dr. Amy Attas: Joan Rivers was one of my first clients.
00:17:39.162 --> 00:17:41.782
Dr. Amy Attas: I met her when I was a young veterinarian.
00:17:42.082 --> 00:17:45.042
Dr. Amy Attas: And when I started my practice, she was my biggest booster.
00:17:45.462 --> 00:17:49.922
Dr. Amy Attas: And I continued to care for her pets for the rest of her life.
00:17:50.482 --> 00:17:58.222
Dr. Amy Attas: And I continue to care for her pets because she left instructions that that was to be the case if she pre-deceased them.
00:17:58.282 --> 00:18:00.042
Dr. Amy Attas: So I still care for her two dogs.
00:18:01.742 --> 00:18:05.522
Michelle Fern: She had some very funny comments, but you guys have to get the book.
00:18:05.722 --> 00:18:06.282
Dr. Amy Attas: Exactly.
00:18:06.302 --> 00:18:07.282
Dr. Amy Attas: We can't tell everything.
00:18:07.302 --> 00:18:08.402
Michelle Fern: We can't tell all of them.
00:18:08.642 --> 00:18:14.882
Michelle Fern: And you also had some great stories, and we're going to generalize here, about the uber-wealthy.
00:18:15.202 --> 00:18:20.382
Michelle Fern: And some of the things I read, I thought, okay, so that's why they're so wealthy.
00:18:20.402 --> 00:18:23.742
Michelle Fern: They don't want to spend the money, especially the one with the restaurant.
00:18:23.902 --> 00:18:25.882
Michelle Fern: You guys get the book and read that story.
00:18:26.102 --> 00:18:31.122
Michelle Fern: But how do you find the uber-wealthy so different when it comes to their pets?
00:18:31.142 --> 00:18:33.082
Michelle Fern: Are they a lot different than the rest of us?
00:18:33.342 --> 00:18:35.282
Dr. Amy Attas: I think pets are the great equalizers.
00:18:35.662 --> 00:18:42.662
Dr. Amy Attas: I think, you know, the billionaire clients that I have and the people who live in housing projects, ultimately, they're all the same.
00:18:43.022 --> 00:18:44.982
Dr. Amy Attas: If they call me, they love their pets.
00:18:45.462 --> 00:18:49.282
Dr. Amy Attas: And they should all be treated with the same amount of respect in that regard.
00:18:49.302 --> 00:18:53.982
Dr. Amy Attas: So, you know, I don't want people to think that my practice is made up of rich people.
00:18:53.982 --> 00:18:57.522
Dr. Amy Attas: Because I do house calls, people think this is like a concierge service.
00:18:58.002 --> 00:19:05.702
Dr. Amy Attas: And it really is not, you know, we try to price ourselves in a manner that is not too expensive for average people.
00:19:06.282 --> 00:19:19.902
Dr. Amy Attas: Once we explain to them that, you know, especially if they have multiple pets, everything sort of averages out and it's more efficient with their time and more efficient with their pocketbooks if they have all their pets seen at one time.
00:19:20.142 --> 00:19:29.482
Dr. Amy Attas: So having said that, yes, I see billionaires, I see normal people, I see people who are celebrities and I see people who are just barely getting by.
00:19:29.802 --> 00:19:35.462
Dr. Amy Attas: Ultimately, once you get over the introduction and who they are, it's about the animals.
00:19:35.722 --> 00:19:46.482
Dr. Amy Attas: Some of the extremes, the homes of the billionaires can be so over the top and on the other end, some of the places I go to, you really don't wanna go back there again.
00:19:46.502 --> 00:19:51.562
Dr. Amy Attas: I have seen every extreme and ultimately that's what people are about, right?
00:19:51.622 --> 00:19:57.862
Dr. Amy Attas: We're all unique and I have been witness to that through caring for their pets.
00:19:58.382 --> 00:20:02.182
Dr. Amy Attas: I do see the greatest art collections you can imagine.
00:20:02.442 --> 00:20:19.122
Dr. Amy Attas: You know, this is like going through a private museum because some of my clients are such notable collectors and when you're looking for that cat who wants to hide and you get to go through the living room and the salon and the library, et cetera, I do get to see some amazing art.
00:20:20.142 --> 00:20:25.602
Dr. Amy Attas: And I've also had to go underneath beds that haven't been vacuumed in a decade.
00:20:25.642 --> 00:20:27.162
Dr. Amy Attas: So I see it all.
00:20:27.482 --> 00:20:29.622
Michelle Fern: But you're right, the great equalizer is the pet.
00:20:29.802 --> 00:20:35.782
Michelle Fern: And the pet doesn't know that, oh, their human is wealthy or not wealthy.
00:20:35.842 --> 00:20:37.422
Michelle Fern: They just know that they're loved.
00:20:37.702 --> 00:20:44.542
Dr. Amy Attas: So in the first chapter, I talk about Gail and her cat, Sweetie, and Gail was a hoarder.
00:20:44.882 --> 00:20:48.982
Dr. Amy Attas: And this apartment was very, very difficult to be in.
00:20:49.042 --> 00:20:56.642
Dr. Amy Attas: In fact, I chose sometimes to conduct my physical exam of Sweetie in the hallway, just because I didn't want to go back into the apartment.
00:20:57.282 --> 00:21:05.222
Dr. Amy Attas: And when I would see the two of them together, Sweetie loved her mom so much.
00:21:05.422 --> 00:21:08.782
Dr. Amy Attas: And the two of them got so much pleasure from each other.
00:21:08.802 --> 00:21:11.742
Dr. Amy Attas: And it's like, you know what, I continued to go there.
00:21:11.862 --> 00:21:18.442
Dr. Amy Attas: And oftentimes my visits, of course, they were because Sweetie needed help, but Gail needed some help too.
00:21:18.542 --> 00:21:26.462
Dr. Amy Attas: And whether that was as a friend or someone who she just knew was looking out for her wellbeing, I think that gave her a great deal of comfort.
00:21:26.862 --> 00:21:27.762
Michelle Fern: I think you're right.
00:21:27.862 --> 00:21:32.202
Michelle Fern: And you did follow her story through, you know, other parts of the book.
00:21:32.402 --> 00:21:37.342
Michelle Fern: And it was kind of incredible reading about that and that relationship.
00:21:37.662 --> 00:21:46.882
Michelle Fern: You also do a great job of matchmaking with, you know, dogs that you know that are abandoned or there's some situation.
00:21:47.122 --> 00:21:55.122
Michelle Fern: Cause can you, you know, I think you're on a speed dial for some of the shelters to where you've done this amazing matchmaking.
00:21:55.502 --> 00:21:58.582
Michelle Fern: Is that a skill that you just developed over the years?
00:21:58.882 --> 00:22:03.782
Michelle Fern: You know, you found no of this dog and this person and they would just go great together.
00:22:03.962 --> 00:22:06.462
Dr. Amy Attas: I think it was a necessary skill for me again.
00:22:06.862 --> 00:22:08.142
Dr. Amy Attas: I'm in my client's homes.
00:22:08.582 --> 00:22:12.122
Dr. Amy Attas: So, you know, for example, there's a story in the book about Mrs.
00:22:12.142 --> 00:22:12.622
Dr. Amy Attas: Blum.
00:22:13.042 --> 00:22:16.422
Dr. Amy Attas: She's a very elderly woman with a very old dog.
00:22:16.702 --> 00:22:28.982
Dr. Amy Attas: Who passed away and because I had known her for years and I had been in her home, I felt that I needed to go visit her after her dog passed away, rather than just call her on the phone.
00:22:29.422 --> 00:22:36.642
Dr. Amy Attas: And when I went to see her, I was just shocked at the deterioration in her condition in the few days after her dog had passed.
00:22:37.042 --> 00:22:38.422
Dr. Amy Attas: She was still wearing a nightgown.
00:22:38.422 --> 00:22:41.002
Dr. Amy Attas: I had never seen her in a nightgown before this.
00:22:41.022 --> 00:22:44.142
Dr. Amy Attas: She was always dressed with her hairbrushed makeup on.
00:22:44.502 --> 00:22:47.022
Dr. Amy Attas: She was, it was like a social visit when I went over.
00:22:47.582 --> 00:22:52.702
Dr. Amy Attas: She looked gaunt when I asked her when she ate last, she wasn't sure.
00:22:53.422 --> 00:23:02.762
Dr. Amy Attas: And I realized at that moment that truly what was keeping her alive was her dog, being responsible for feeding and walking and caring for her dog.
00:23:03.102 --> 00:23:09.762
Dr. Amy Attas: And now that the dog was gone, this woman was in her nineties, her husband was gone, her friends were gone.
00:23:09.782 --> 00:23:12.282
Dr. Amy Attas: I felt that she didn't have anything left to live for.
00:23:12.802 --> 00:23:23.442
Dr. Amy Attas: And this was an emergency call to every single shelter group I knew, you need to help me find an older, small poodle with a good personality.
00:23:23.942 --> 00:23:29.882
Dr. Amy Attas: And they came through in a few days and I went back to her house without saying a word and had the dog with me.
00:23:30.662 --> 00:23:33.802
Dr. Amy Attas: And she looked at me like, why is that dog here?
00:23:33.822 --> 00:23:34.822
Dr. Amy Attas: I don't want a dog.
00:23:35.162 --> 00:23:36.842
Dr. Amy Attas: And I said, it's not about you, Mrs.
00:23:36.862 --> 00:23:38.362
Dr. Amy Attas: Splumb, it's about the dog.
00:23:38.382 --> 00:23:40.522
Dr. Amy Attas: I have no place to put this dog.
00:23:40.562 --> 00:23:42.022
Dr. Amy Attas: It's gonna go into a shelter.
00:23:42.102 --> 00:23:43.402
Dr. Amy Attas: It might be put to sleep.
00:23:43.662 --> 00:23:48.462
Dr. Amy Attas: Can you just take care of the dog for a day or two until I can find a home?
00:23:49.322 --> 00:23:53.902
Dr. Amy Attas: I don't wanna admit this to everybody listening, but that was a complete fabrication.
00:23:53.922 --> 00:23:56.962
Dr. Amy Attas: I mean, I begged to get this dog.
00:23:57.242 --> 00:24:02.562
Dr. Amy Attas: And of course, when I went back the next day, she said, you were so right to bring him to me.
00:24:02.902 --> 00:24:04.442
Dr. Amy Attas: He really needed help.
00:24:04.722 --> 00:24:08.982
Dr. Amy Attas: And of course, he had helped her so much in just the few hours he'd been there.
00:24:09.622 --> 00:24:19.902
Dr. Amy Attas: And I don't know if I would have known so much about her need, if my only experience with her was in an examination room of an animal hospital.
00:24:20.322 --> 00:24:22.162
Dr. Amy Attas: This was because it was personal.
00:24:22.842 --> 00:24:26.742
Dr. Amy Attas: And that's what I love about how I practice veterinary medicine.
00:24:27.202 --> 00:24:30.322
Dr. Amy Attas: You know, I love the animals, but I love the people too.
00:24:30.662 --> 00:24:33.302
Dr. Amy Attas: And I feel like I can provide a service for them as well.
00:24:33.502 --> 00:24:36.602
Michelle Fern: I remember that story and you and that happened.
00:24:36.782 --> 00:24:38.622
Michelle Fern: There are a few stories like that in your book.
00:24:39.222 --> 00:24:45.822
Michelle Fern: And thinking of, you're helping the pet, of course, from being, in most cases, probably shelter and euthanize.
00:24:46.122 --> 00:24:55.762
Michelle Fern: But how much are you helping these people with their lives and possibly even extending their lives, definitely bringing more joy to their lives?
00:24:56.222 --> 00:25:01.322
Dr. Amy Attas: So in this example that I gave you, I know 100% this was for the women's benefit.
00:25:01.642 --> 00:25:05.742
Dr. Amy Attas: I mean, this little toy poodle that I got her, he was on everybody's top list.
00:25:05.842 --> 00:25:07.842
Dr. Amy Attas: Everybody wanted him, but I was like, no, no, no.
00:25:08.142 --> 00:25:09.862
Dr. Amy Attas: This is a life-saving adoption.
00:25:09.862 --> 00:25:14.982
Dr. Amy Attas: If we can make this happen, this woman is gonna go back to caring about whether she lives or dies.
00:25:15.282 --> 00:25:19.122
Dr. Amy Attas: So this was all about her and she provided him an amazing life.
00:25:19.582 --> 00:25:31.642
Dr. Amy Attas: She pre-deceased him and then he wound up at a forever home after that, but he was with her for two and a half years and I don't think she would have lived two and a half more years if she didn't have him in her life.
00:25:31.862 --> 00:25:33.422
Michelle Fern: No, I think you're right.
00:25:33.622 --> 00:25:36.042
Michelle Fern: You talk about something at the end of the book.
00:25:36.242 --> 00:25:37.462
Michelle Fern: It's one of my peeves.
00:25:37.862 --> 00:25:40.522
Michelle Fern: You talk about decks and the puppy mills.
00:25:40.902 --> 00:25:48.942
Michelle Fern: You could probably mention it a lot more eloquently than I can, but there's so much that goes wrong with pets and pet stores.
00:25:48.962 --> 00:25:51.382
Dr. Amy Attas: So let's just explain to everyone.
00:25:51.402 --> 00:25:54.662
Dr. Amy Attas: I even hate the term puppy mill because it sounds so cute.
00:25:54.962 --> 00:26:00.842
Dr. Amy Attas: I mean, this is factory farming of dogs where the dogs are kept in horrific conditions.
00:26:01.002 --> 00:26:03.862
Dr. Amy Attas: The females are just used to breed and breed and breed.
00:26:04.362 --> 00:26:08.502
Dr. Amy Attas: And then when they're of no use any longer, their lives are ended.
00:26:08.882 --> 00:26:13.402
Dr. Amy Attas: So, there's no care in the genetics of the offspring.
00:26:13.462 --> 00:26:15.242
Dr. Amy Attas: It's really all about making money.
00:26:15.882 --> 00:26:24.462
Dr. Amy Attas: And I like people to realize that if you're going to a pet store, most likely these animals came from factory farming.
00:26:25.202 --> 00:26:38.342
Dr. Amy Attas: And the problem is you can't ever go in a pet store because once you do and you catch the eye of an individual animal, you're immediately in love and you feel like you have to rescue that animal.
00:26:38.582 --> 00:26:40.462
Dr. Amy Attas: And that's what people say to me all the time.
00:26:40.802 --> 00:26:42.082
Dr. Amy Attas: I adopted my dog.
00:26:42.102 --> 00:26:42.462
Dr. Amy Attas: Oh, really?
00:26:42.482 --> 00:26:43.122
Dr. Amy Attas: Where'd you get it from?
00:26:43.142 --> 00:26:44.242
Dr. Amy Attas: I got it from the pet store.
00:26:44.262 --> 00:26:45.422
Dr. Amy Attas: I rescued my dog.
00:26:45.442 --> 00:26:46.222
Dr. Amy Attas: Where'd you get it from?
00:26:46.282 --> 00:26:47.222
Dr. Amy Attas: From the pet store.
00:26:47.442 --> 00:26:54.042
Dr. Amy Attas: It is rescuing that individual animal, but what it's doing is continuing this whole process.
00:26:54.162 --> 00:26:59.962
Dr. Amy Attas: Every time they get money, there's a reason for them to continue factory farming of animals.
00:27:00.482 --> 00:27:05.102
Dr. Amy Attas: So in the case that you're talking about, this little dog, it was a miniature dachshund.
00:27:05.482 --> 00:27:18.442
Dr. Amy Attas: He came to me from another hospital where he was brought to be euthanized because the pet store owner didn't want to spend money on a veterinary visit when the puppy was sick, and he thought he knew what he was doing.
00:27:18.702 --> 00:27:25.022
Dr. Amy Attas: So he decided to give the same injection that he had always seen the veterinarian give, and he did that to the dog.
00:27:25.042 --> 00:27:34.582
Dr. Amy Attas: And of course, it was the wrong injection, and it caused all of the dog's skin to become diseased and ultimately become necrotic, and actually the skin died.
00:27:34.602 --> 00:27:48.162
Dr. Amy Attas: And so I got the dog and said I would do my best to see if I could carry him through this period of time with antibiotics and pain medicine and supportive care and ultimately skin grafts.
00:27:48.522 --> 00:27:51.402
Dr. Amy Attas: And this dog made a 100% recovery.
00:27:51.742 --> 00:27:59.022
Dr. Amy Attas: The injection that they gave him that was incorrect was an injection of a concentrated sugar solution called 50% dextrose.
00:27:59.422 --> 00:28:05.862
Dr. Amy Attas: So I named him Dex, because all of my rescues get named for the circumstance that brought them to me.
00:28:06.182 --> 00:28:07.542
Dr. Amy Attas: So this was little Dex.
00:28:08.062 --> 00:28:11.722
Dr. Amy Attas: Dex ultimately went to a fantastic forever home.
00:28:12.342 --> 00:28:24.202
Dr. Amy Attas: And he was also very good news for me because I had happened to photograph him every single day that he was under my care because it was the most amazing case I had ever seen.
00:28:24.222 --> 00:28:30.482
Dr. Amy Attas: And ultimately I wrote him up and won a grand competition that sent me to Hawaii to present the case.
00:28:31.022 --> 00:28:34.982
Dr. Amy Attas: So Dex got a good life and I got a great trip to Hawaii.
00:28:35.262 --> 00:28:38.222
Michelle Fern: I'm so happy for you and a great story.
00:28:38.242 --> 00:28:49.582
Michelle Fern: And you also mentioned too that a lot of these factory farmed dogs, because of the problems that they have end up, people don't want to care for all of the issues they have.
00:28:49.602 --> 00:28:51.202
Michelle Fern: So they end up at shelters.
00:28:51.582 --> 00:28:53.382
Michelle Fern: Is there a stat that you're aware of?
00:28:53.402 --> 00:28:54.062
Michelle Fern: Is that why?
00:28:54.642 --> 00:29:00.402
Dr. Amy Attas: I just want to be careful what we emphasize here because ultimately I do want people to go to shelters.
00:29:01.042 --> 00:29:08.342
Dr. Amy Attas: And sometimes it's an expectation of someone who spends a few thousand dollars on a dog and then realizes, oh, it's got this problem.
00:29:08.362 --> 00:29:10.262
Dr. Amy Attas: And oh my God, I have to train it too.
00:29:10.342 --> 00:29:11.642
Dr. Amy Attas: It's more than I can handle.
00:29:11.662 --> 00:29:12.862
Dr. Amy Attas: And they wind up in shelters.
00:29:13.482 --> 00:29:16.482
Dr. Amy Attas: Every single pet I've ever had in my life has been a rescue.
00:29:16.762 --> 00:29:21.642
Dr. Amy Attas: Two of my dogs actually came from, most likely from pet stores.
00:29:22.482 --> 00:29:26.022
Dr. Amy Attas: I don't want you to think there's an epidemic of blindness in pug dogs.
00:29:26.042 --> 00:29:27.742
Dr. Amy Attas: I just happen to love pugs.
00:29:28.602 --> 00:29:31.482
Dr. Amy Attas: And two of my pugs were blind.
00:29:31.642 --> 00:29:38.782
Dr. Amy Attas: One was literally from the pet store that was about to euthanize him because they realized they couldn't actually sell a blind dog.
00:29:39.282 --> 00:29:45.722
Dr. Amy Attas: And I took him and his predecessor was a dog I found on my way into veterinary school one day.
00:29:46.142 --> 00:29:52.542
Dr. Amy Attas: I walked over because he was a cute little pug tied to a tree and I saw a note that said, I am blind, please take good care of me.
00:29:52.882 --> 00:29:59.942
Dr. Amy Attas: Now, of course it was a little harder to care for a blind dog than it would be for a sighted dog, but I wouldn't have traded that for anything.
00:29:59.962 --> 00:30:12.562
Dr. Amy Attas: They were both amazing dogs, just slightly more difficult to train and I had to spend a little more attention just making sure they didn't get themselves into trouble, but completely amazing dogs.
00:30:12.622 --> 00:30:20.102
Dr. Amy Attas: And most people who met them and they didn't overlap in time, they were years apart, but I had the same occurrence with both.
00:30:20.302 --> 00:30:23.102
Dr. Amy Attas: People who met them didn't realize that they were blind.
00:30:23.362 --> 00:30:25.762
Dr. Amy Attas: That's how normal they were.
00:30:26.222 --> 00:30:40.102
Dr. Amy Attas: So just a shout out to everyone, even if you are in love with a particular breed of dog, if you put a little time and effort into it, you can rescue, you can save a life in the breed that you like best.
00:30:40.602 --> 00:30:46.822
Michelle Fern: Yes, and where I was wrong before is not all purebreds in, I kind of led toward this.
00:30:46.842 --> 00:30:53.262
Michelle Fern: So to clarify, not all purebreds that are in shelters are definitely from factory farming.
00:30:53.382 --> 00:31:07.782
Michelle Fern: Sometimes you're right, they're there because the family can't take care of them or who knows what, but we shouldn't overlook those special dogs and cats that maybe aren't perfect, but they need their forever homes too.
00:31:07.962 --> 00:31:14.582
Dr. Amy Attas: So there's a chapter in the book that I call There's No Such Thing as a Disabled Pet because they don't know they're disabled.
00:31:14.682 --> 00:31:22.602
Dr. Amy Attas: They are such an inspiration to all of us that they deal with what they have to deal with and they're just truly amazing.
00:31:22.622 --> 00:31:31.462
Dr. Amy Attas: My own two dogs, my first one, okay, sort of a warped sense of humor, but I named him Bumper because until I trained him, he bumped into everything.
00:31:32.182 --> 00:31:37.682
Dr. Amy Attas: My second blind dog, I named Leonardo after Leonardo da Vinci because he was truly a genius.
00:31:38.062 --> 00:31:46.242
Dr. Amy Attas: He would go hiking with us off leash and knew up, down, over, under, left, right, careful, and would stop on a dime with given the right command.
00:31:46.482 --> 00:31:48.382
Dr. Amy Attas: Truly amazing dogs.
00:31:48.762 --> 00:31:49.642
Michelle Fern: Incredible.
00:31:50.002 --> 00:31:52.322
Michelle Fern: As I mentioned, I know a couple of times, Dr.
00:31:52.322 --> 00:31:54.842
Michelle Fern: Amy, but this is really an incredible book.
00:31:55.282 --> 00:32:00.482
Michelle Fern: I hope you write part two or, I don't know, changed up the title, Pets and the City.
00:32:00.502 --> 00:32:03.382
Michelle Fern: I don't know, but I'm looking forward to the second book.
00:32:03.522 --> 00:32:04.002
Dr. Amy Attas: Thank you.
00:32:04.022 --> 00:32:10.782
Michelle Fern: For this book, what are some key points that you hope people get once they've finished reading your book?
00:32:11.302 --> 00:32:32.062
Dr. Amy Attas: So I tried to do a mix of stories that there are some funny stories, there are some poignant or sad stories, but I also tried to put a little bit of information, knowledge, at home dangers, things that I've noticed throughout the years that I could share with people that maybe could make them better pet owners.
00:32:32.762 --> 00:32:44.542
Dr. Amy Attas: So things like it's a beautiful day here today and you're inclined the first nice days of spring and summer to open your windows without realizing how dangerous that could be for pets inside.
00:32:44.942 --> 00:32:51.902
Dr. Amy Attas: And when I go into people's homes and I see windows open or doors to terraces open, I immediately close them and talk about dangers.
00:32:52.362 --> 00:33:08.842
Dr. Amy Attas: The same is true for drapery cords that are hanging down that are strangle hazards or certain flowers like lilies are so toxic to cats, the petal, the leaf, the stamen, and the water that the flower sits in are all poisonous.
00:33:08.862 --> 00:33:11.622
Dr. Amy Attas: And I don't mean poisonous like you might get a little upset stomach.
00:33:11.942 --> 00:33:15.422
Dr. Amy Attas: I mean poisonous like you get kidney failure and you die.
00:33:15.722 --> 00:33:22.282
Dr. Amy Attas: So I tried to put some educational things in, but this is not a how to care for your pet book.
00:33:22.462 --> 00:33:30.802
Dr. Amy Attas: I tell the story of a woman who was a physician who had seen me use people medicine over and over again on her pets, including her dog who had cancer.
00:33:31.202 --> 00:33:34.942
Dr. Amy Attas: And I use the same chemotherapy that's used in human oncology.
00:33:35.182 --> 00:33:41.002
Dr. Amy Attas: And so she decided to give her dog a bunch of Tylenol because it was limping rather than call for a vet visit.
00:33:41.242 --> 00:33:45.582
Dr. Amy Attas: And Tylenol is so toxic to dogs and deadly to cats.
00:33:45.842 --> 00:33:54.142
Dr. Amy Attas: So I felt that in telling this story, I could also share with people that pick up the phone and call your vet if your pet has a medical problem.
00:33:54.162 --> 00:33:55.622
Dr. Amy Attas: Don't take it upon yourself.
00:33:55.742 --> 00:33:59.562
Dr. Amy Attas: Don't assume that dogs are like little people or cats are like little dogs.
00:33:59.802 --> 00:34:04.702
Dr. Amy Attas: They're all different and what's safe for one isn't necessarily safe for the others.
00:34:05.102 --> 00:34:06.642
Michelle Fern: Well, again, I applaud you.
00:34:06.662 --> 00:34:08.482
Michelle Fern: This is just an incredible book.
00:34:08.682 --> 00:34:12.502
Michelle Fern: After talking to you today, I think it's everything you wanted to be.
00:34:12.922 --> 00:34:19.322
Michelle Fern: It's educational and through storytelling, it's informative, it's interesting.
00:34:19.902 --> 00:34:26.022
Michelle Fern: And I think it will help people and possibly get more pets adopted.
00:34:26.042 --> 00:34:26.982
Dr. Amy Attas: I hope so.
00:34:27.082 --> 00:34:27.982
Michelle Fern: That's always good.
00:34:28.762 --> 00:34:31.542
Michelle Fern: Okay, at this point, is there anything you wanted to add?
00:34:31.722 --> 00:34:37.002
Dr. Amy Attas: So the only thing I would add is that this whole journey that I've had has not been a straight line.
00:34:37.022 --> 00:34:38.922
Dr. Amy Attas: It was kind of a circuitous one.
00:34:39.462 --> 00:34:44.142
Dr. Amy Attas: But the thing is from day one, I knew I wanted to become a veterinarian.
00:34:44.762 --> 00:34:54.422
Dr. Amy Attas: And I just realized that my unique talent of wanting it to be a personal way to do it presented some challenges and I figured out how to do that.
00:34:54.942 --> 00:35:11.302
Dr. Amy Attas: So for anybody out there listening who is passionate about animals, who might be interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, do it with 100% of your energy and make it happen because it is by far the world's greatest career.
00:35:11.582 --> 00:35:12.882
Michelle Fern: Thank you so much.
00:35:13.082 --> 00:35:15.542
Michelle Fern: So where can people find pets in the city?
00:35:15.702 --> 00:35:19.802
Dr. Amy Attas: So please go to your local bookstore and buy it there.
00:35:19.822 --> 00:35:22.022
Dr. Amy Attas: If they don't have it, ask them to order it.
00:35:22.882 --> 00:35:28.482
Dr. Amy Attas: If for any reason you have to have it immediately, it's available at Amazon, it's available at Barnes and Noble.
00:35:28.842 --> 00:35:32.242
Dr. Amy Attas: It's also out as an audiobook and on Kindle.
00:35:32.442 --> 00:35:32.802
Michelle Fern: Dr.
00:35:32.822 --> 00:35:39.902
Michelle Fern: Amy, I want to thank you so much for writing your book because it was just a fabulous read and I think it's going to change some lives.
00:35:40.122 --> 00:35:44.862
Michelle Fern: I hope there's a series out there that's going to change yours by TV series.
00:35:44.882 --> 00:35:46.122
Michelle Fern: That would be such a great idea.
00:35:46.342 --> 00:35:46.802
Dr. Amy Attas: Thank you.
00:35:46.822 --> 00:35:47.982
Dr. Amy Attas: I really enjoyed our talk.
00:35:48.822 --> 00:35:50.562
Michelle Fern: I hope you guys enjoyed this show.
00:35:50.642 --> 00:35:52.142
Michelle Fern: I really love this book.
00:35:52.162 --> 00:35:56.642
Michelle Fern: Be sure to go to your local bookstore and pick it up, Pets and the City.
00:35:56.662 --> 00:35:58.862
Michelle Fern: It's just a fantastic read.
00:35:59.342 --> 00:36:03.562
Michelle Fern: Extremely entertaining, funny, poignant and informative.
00:36:03.682 --> 00:36:05.002
Michelle Fern: I really love this book.
00:36:05.262 --> 00:36:09.702
Michelle Fern: I want to thank my cat crew for giving me time to chill and read.
00:36:10.102 --> 00:36:12.082
Michelle Fern: Thank you, Molly, Dennis and Charlotte.
00:36:12.422 --> 00:36:14.322
Michelle Fern: Thanks to my guest, Dr.
00:36:14.342 --> 00:36:18.182
Michelle Fern: Amy Attas, for writing this book and coming on Cattitude today.
00:36:18.522 --> 00:36:21.362
Michelle Fern: Thanks, of course, to everyone listening to Cattitude.
00:36:21.782 --> 00:36:23.182
Michelle Fern: I so appreciate it.
00:36:23.662 --> 00:36:28.642
Michelle Fern: And of course, this show would not be the same without the magic of my producer, Mark Winter.
00:36:28.962 --> 00:36:32.942
Michelle Fern: So hey, remember, lose the attitude, have cattitude.
00:36:33.582 --> 00:36:38.942
Announcer: Let's talk pets, every week on demand, only on petliferadio.com.
"Cattitude" Theme Song Written & Produced by Mark Winter
© Copyright Such Fun Music (ASCAP)