The Boxer Rebellion

Here are the candid, unabashed memoirs of a dedicated veterinarian. Whether he's treating an elderly dashshund for impotence, two young boxer puppies for tapeworm, felines for cystitus, or bovines for mastitus, veteran veterinarian Joel Goldman manages to learn as much about the human animals who bring him their pets and livestock as he does his patients. And he writes about these animals -- man and beast alike -- with insight, wit and unfailing good grace. When Evelyn and Bill Miller bring in their princesses disguised as two boxer puppies, Sue Ellen and Krysal, for shots and deworming, Dr. Goldman senses how fragile the owners' marriage is and correctly suspects that soon there will be a raging custody battle over the pups . . . When Mrs. Mouton, a widow who lives near Tulane University, insists that her young silver-dapple dachshund bitch mate only with her silver-dapple dachshund ex-stud, Dr. Goldman quickly realizes that his hands-on services as sex therapist won't produce the necessary results and must decide whether to use a surrogate stud instead. During his own marital storm Dr. Goldman tells of being temporarily abandoned by his wife and falling under the spell of a nubile young pet owner who invites him to a party. Feeling guilty but defiant, he is on his way when his brand new beeper indicates an emergency at the hospital involvinga stopped-up tomcat bladder -- and later learns that the young woman's party was the scene of a major drug bust. As he's fond of saying, his marriage came that close to going to the dogs. Whatever the situation, whatever the dilemma, Dr. Goldman brings his love of animals and his shrewd observations about their owners to the warm-and-wonderful tales of The Boxer Rebellion.