Readers' rating:
Publishes
Jun 18, 2024
320 pages
Genre: Biography/Memoir
Publication Information
New York City's premier "house call veterinarian" takes you into the exclusive penthouses and four-star hotel rooms of the wealthiest New Yorkers and shows that, when it comes to their pets, they are just as neurotic as any of us.
When a pet is sick, people—even the rich and famous—are at their most authentic and vulnerable. They could have a Monet on the wall and an Oscar on the shelf, but if their cat gets a cold, all they want to talk about are snotty noses and sneezing fits. That's when they call premier in-home veterinarian Dr. Amy Attas.
In Pets and the City, Dr. Amy shares all the shocking, heartbreaking, and life-affirming experiences she's faced throughout her thirty-year career treating the cats and dogs of New Yorkers from Park Avenue to the projects. Some of her stories are about celebs, like the time she saw a famous singer naked (no, her rash was not the same as her puppy's). Others are about remarkable animals, like the skilled service dog who, after his exam was finished, left the room and returned with a checkbook in his mouth. Every tale in this rollicking, informative, and fun memoir affirms a key truth about animal, and human, nature: Our pets love us because their hearts are pure; we love them because they're freaking adorable. On some level, we know that by caring for them, we are the best version of ourselves. In short: Our pets make us better people.
"[A] charming debut memoir…This bubbly tell-all has fascinating depths." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Attas has a sharp eye and an amusing, engaging style that bring to life the vagaries of Manhattan house calls and insight into the bonds that are established among veterinarians, clients, and pets. A delightful read." —Kirkus Reviews
"[A] playful debut…There are entertaining tales of animal antics… [and] tough moments of loss abound; Attas eloquently describes helping humans grieve the loss of their beloved fur-babies…A sure hit for pet lovers and anyone looking to peek into the lives and homes of the Manhattan elite." —Library Journal
"We enjoyed every word. Like Dad's books, Pets and the City is as much about people as it is about animals. It is truly fascinating—so very different from country veterinary practice in Yorkshire! Her love of animals comes through loud and clear, as does her instinctive understanding of the relationship between the owners and their pets, and the good it does for both parties....Just as our father, the real James Herriot, was, Dr. Attas is a dedicated and caring veterinarian with the welfare of both patient and customer her priority. The book is a worthy tribute to her profession, and we wish it well." —James Wight M.R.C.V.S. and Dr. Rosie Page, son and daughter of James Herriot, author of All Creatures Great and Small
"Brimming with great stories and heart in equal measure, Pets and the City is prime reading for anyone who has ever spent time in the company of animals. Attas gives us an eye-opening account of what it's like to be NYC's premier house-call vet, sharing touching and outrageous stories of clients both human and animal. She's been witness to the strangest and most extravagant animal-human relationships the city has to offer, and we get to go along with her (without having to administer intravenous fluids)." —Alexandra Horowitz, New York Times bestselling author of Inside of a Dog
"A fascinating glimpse into the lives of New York City's residents and their pets, filled with humor, compassion, and just a hint of city snark. Travelling with Dr. Attas is a treat for animal lovers everywhere!" —Dr. Karen Fine, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Family Doctor
This information about Pets and the City was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Dr. Amy Attas is an award-winning veterinarian and the founder of City Pets, which for more than three decades has been the premier veterinary medical house call practice for dogs and cats living, working in, or visiting Manhattan. She shares a home with her husband, Stephen Shapiro, and if she is lucky, some rescued pugs.
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