Noel Fitzpatrick graduated as a veterinary surgeon 30 years ago and is now one of the leading veterinary surgeons in the world. In his most recent book, Noel shares what it's like to actually be The Supervet.
The past year or so hasn’t exactly been great for anyone but for Noel Fitzpatrick, it has been particularly harrowing. Just before the first lockdown in February 2020, he fell downstairs and broke his neck. A month later he contracted Covid. In September 2020, his beloved 13-year-old Border Terrier, Keira, was run over and very nearly died. Then in February 2021, he contracted Covid for a second time – ironically on the very same day he had received a text offering him the vaccine - and was so seriously ill, he feared he wouldn’t pull through.
“I felt paralysed with muscle and joint pain,” he says. “I was lying in bed, thinking I was going to die. It was my Keira and my Maine Coon cat Ricochet sitting in my room with me that made me feel like I could keep going.”
Noel describes himself as ‘mum and dad’ to Ricochet, Kiera and his latest feline friend, Excalibur.
“It is my greatest achievement and our bond is unbreakable. I’ve long been an advocate of pets being family members and I’m delighted that ‘animal families’ is now a common phrase. Every little animal family can bring love, hope and redemption. Every minute we have with our animal companions is so precious,” he says.
A new series of Channel 4’s Supervet
Perhaps Noel’s hardest task as a ‘pet parent’ was operating on Keira after her accident. This was shown in heart-breaking detail in a recent episode of Channel 4’s Supervet – back for a new series.
“Surgery on Keira was unlike anything I have ever faced before – but there was little doubt in my mind that I was going to perform it,” Noel explains. “Keira's accident hit me like a tsunami of awareness – more than ever before. We took her through surgery and it was very difficult to operate on her because she's the love of my life. I needed to try and switch that part of my brain off and become a surgeon. I needed to try and not think of her as my baby. I had to try and go into battle and do my job.
"It did put everything into perspective and very much allowed me to walk in the shoes of every one of my clients who care deeply about their dog, for sure. Keira is slower and more cautious now – as you would expect from what she’s been through. She bears some scars of her trauma but her tail still wags with excitement and she finds the opportunity for love and cuddles everywhere.”
How Animals Saved My Life
It was while Noel was recovering from breaking his neck that he wrote his latest book Animals Saved My Life. The paperback version is published on June 24.
“When you come within a couple of millimetres of losing your life, you think to yourself, ‘Well alright, what's life all about?’ ” he reveals. “I decided to write a book about how animals can teach us truth and trust and empathy and compassion and genuineness and all those values that I think are important in the world and that's where the book came from. It came from a place where I was trying to deal with my own trauma both physically and indeed mentally down the years and how animals can help save our lives if we let them.”
Noel believes that it is with our pets that we show our real selves.
“Cats and dogs are emotionally ‘stents’ that allow us to be ourselves and access the part of ourselves that is really important and sometimes we can't share with humans. I realised I was very lucky to be alive and wanted to share some of the lessons I've learned with people so it might bring light into their lives because no matter what our trauma is, I think there's a lot to be learned from being with an animal and allowing yourself to be your true self. I think in the world today we find it very difficult to be our true selves with social media and everything else. Animals break all that down. Whether you're a pauper or a prince, you're equal. In fact, dogs probably prefer it if you smell a bit!” he says.
So, he’d recommend getting a furry friend?
“Absolutely,” he replies. “We build a bond with animals that is unbreakable and will never let you down. It is the most magnificent gift and I can’t encourage it enough. Animal guardianship is also great for our mental health but we do have a moral responsibility towards them that lasts their whole lives.”
Ricochet and Excalibur regularly accompany Noel (53) to his Surrey practice.
“They jump up onto my desk and walk across my keyboard when I’m not looking,” he laughs. “The other day I was sending quite a stern business e-mail to someone and Ricochet inadvertently added about a hundred kisses and pressed send. A reply came back saying that although it was clear I hadn’t liked the idea that had been suggested, I obviously still loved the sender because of all the kisses!”
Noel shares the moving and often funny stories of the animals he's treated and the unique 'animal people' he has met along the way. He reflects on the valuable lessons of Integrity, Care, Love and Hope that they have taught him - lessons that have sustained him through the unbelievable highs and crushing lows of a profession where lives are quite literally at stake.