Tails of the City

A poignant reflection on the importance of the animal-human bond, veterinarian Tom DeVincentis opens the doors to his New York City-based practice and reveals the amazing stories of his four-legged clients. From Emmany, the privileged and pampered pooch to Suzy, the lovable mutt who befriends her homeless owner to Cotton, DeVincentis's Tails of the City proves that there is a remarkable tale behind every pet. Launched as a celebration of the important advent of The Humane Society of the United States' Spay Day USA, here is a book by an author who knows all animals - not just dogs and cats. The lucky lambs and horses of Yorkshire were tended by James Herriot; the pedigreed cats and pampered pooches of New York City are privileged to be cared for by Tom DeVincentis. A 'country' veterinarian in Manhattan for more than 25 years, DeVincentis has tended for many generations of Big Apple pets. His Tails of the City combines the warm-heartedness of James Herriot with a dash of New York City style to present an engaging portrait and memoir, not just of the animals DeVincentis has treated over the years, but also of their owners, and of the city in which they all live. Readers are introduced to Rowdy, a seventeen-year-old domestic shorthair cat who, under the care of Dr. DeVincentis, lived many more than his allotted nine lives, and to an elderly boxer stray named Champ, rescued by an equally elderly couple who ran a bodega in Spanish Harlem and who rescued more pets than they could name. From the affection shared by lab mix Suzy and her owner, a homeless man named James to the hard-earned trust that formed between Tom DeVincentis and Margot, a dog he took home from the clinic where he worked, DeVincentis describes the cycle of life and love that every petowner and his or her charge experience, from the initial meeting to the final parting. Charming illustrations by the award-winning illustrator Bill Charmatz enhance the endearing stores that describe qualities of animals like those we ve all known and loved. At times poignant, at times laughout-loud funny, the tales in this charming book reveal as much about the people who own them as they do about the pets themselves. While the animals and people profiled are true New Yorkers, the connection they share is universal, and one that will resonate with animal lovers everywhere.