Beloved New York Times bestselling author Dr. Nick Trout returns with a completely captivating true story about a dog who needed a miracle and a certain veterinarian who rebounded from heartbreak to help her get one.

LOVE IS THE BEST MEDICINE

What Two Dogs Taught One Veterinarian About Hope, Humility,

and Everyday Miracles 

DR. NICK TROUT

Author of the New York Times bestseller Tell Me Where It Hurts

“Dr. Trout has given us a remarkable love story, reminding us of the preciousness of every life, human or animal.”—Jeffrey Zaslow, coauthor of The Last Lecture

“A riveting emotional roller coaster into the behind-the-scenes life of a veterinarian.”—Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation and Animals Make Us Human

“Trout offers up a surefire comfort read for Animal Planet fans with this intimate look at the lives of two dogs and the people who loved them.”—Booklist

“This beautifully written book is from the heart and soul of Dr. Nick Trout; an extraordinary veterinary surgeon who has found that perfect balance of genuine compassion and dedicated skill. . . . Utterly delightful and compelling, Love Is the Best Medicine is a must read.”—Melanie Sue Bowles, author of The Horses of Proud Spirit and Hoof Prints: More Stories from Proud Spirit

“Dr. Nick Trout’s latest work is an unflinchingly honest journey through love, loss, and redemption. . . . Dr. Trout allows us an intimate glimpse into the heart of a veterinary surgeon, and the souls of the patients he fights to save.”—Dr. Louise Murray, author of Vet Confidential

“Helen and Cleo are simply two of the most unforgettable canine souls I’ve ever encountered. Written with candor, wisdom, and empathy, Love Is the Best Medicine will change everything you thought you knew about the impact pets can have on our lives. If you’ve ever loved a dog, this is the book for you!”—Gwen Cooper, author of Homer’s Odyssey

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Since the 2008 release of his debut memoir, the New York Times bestseller Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing, and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon, veterinarian Dr. Nick Trout has won legions of fans with his charming personality and equally captivating writing. Praised as “the best veterinary book that’s been written since All Creatures Great and Small (Oregonian) and “an addictively readable chronicle of what it means to be a veterinarian today” (Booklist), Tell Me Where It Hurts showcased Nick’s considerable talent for storytelling, shared unique insight into what it means to care for our pets from the other side of the examination table, and quickly earned Nick a reputation as America’s James Herriot. 

Now, in what is being heralded as the perfect follow-up, Nick is back with an enchanting true story about two remarkable dogs and their remarkable owners: LOVE IS THE BEST MEDICINE: What Two Dogs Taught One Veterinarian About Hope, Humility, and Everyday Miracles (March 2, 2010; Hardcover; Broadway Books). While Nick has treated hundreds of animals in his long career—each one significant in his or her own right—this is a tale of two special dogs who forever changed the way he thinks about life, death, fate, and love. 

Helen is a ten-year-old cocker spaniel mix found abused and abandoned in a restaurant parking lot one rainy night. Despite her mangy condition, married couple Ben and Eileen fall in love with the pitiful creature and decide to take her in. But, just as Helen is rescued from a sad life on the streets and enveloped in a loving home with all the creature comforts an old dog could ask for, a tumor is discovered and she’s given a devastating prognosis. All Ben and Eileen want is for Helen to beat the odds and survive through the summer so that she can have one chance to swim in the ocean on the family’s annual trip to Prince Edward Island. In short, they want a miracle.

Meanwhile, five-month-old miniature pincher, Cleo, is suffering from chronic leg fractures that are distressing for her poor owner, Sandi. While Cleo is visiting Sandi’s daughter, Sonja, in Bermuda, a third fracture happens. Terribly upset that the injury happened on her watch, Sonja makes a plan to fly Cleo to Boston to get the specialist care she needs before Sandi even finds out. Enter Nick who presides over what should be a fairly routine surgery . . . until the unthinkable happens.

LOVE IS THE BEST MEDICINE immerses readers in the true-life drama of beloved pets whose lives hang in the balance. Every page underscores the profound bond we have with the animals in our lives and the incredible responsibility Nick carries as their healer. Certainly Nick has an impressive array of fancy equipment, training, and skills at his disposal, but most importantly he has (and powerfully illustrates) a fundamental belief in the power of hope and grace.

In Tell Me Where It Hurts, Nick took readers on an exhilarating and intimate journey through twenty-four hours of his life at the premier Angell Medical Center in Boston where he works as a veterinary surgeon. In LOVE IS THE BEST MEDICINE, Nick delves into rich emotional territory to share with readers the extraordinary story of two very special canines he will never forget. For fans of the first book, this will be a satisfying, intensely affecting follow-up, and for new readers it will surely be a wonderful introduction to the delightful, one-of-a-kind Dr. Nick Trout.

About the Author

DR. NICK TROUT graduated from veterinary school at the University of Cambridge, England, in 1989. He is a diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons and a staff surgeon at the prestigious Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston where he has worked now for over a decade. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, daughters, and their two dogs: Meg, a yellow Labrador, and Sophie, a Jack Russell terrier. 

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LOVE IS THE BEST MEDICINE

What Two Dogs Taught One Veterinarian About Hope, Humility, and Everyday Miracles

By Dr. Nick Trout

Broadway Books; Hardcover; $23.99

On Sale: March 2, 2010

ISBN: 978-0-7679-3197-7

www.broadwaybooks.com

Beyond the compelling true story, LOVE IS THE BEST MEDICINE also touches upon various topical issues relevant to twentieth-century veterinary medicine and pet ownership: How far should we go for our pets? When is it time to stop treatment on a sick pet and what should the veterinarian’s role be in making that decision? How is the Internet affecting pet care?

To schedule your interview with Dr. Nick Trout, please contact Ellen Folan in the Broadway Books publicity department at 212.782.8944 or efolan@randomhouse.com