The Supervet: Inspiring look at irresistible pets has us all smitten with puppy love

Noel Fitzpatrick's latest series shines a light on some of the best quarantine allies of all: puppies ★★★★✩
Canine charmers: vet Noel Fitzpatrick (seen with his border terrier Keira) revisits some inspiring patients

When Channel 4’s producers decided to revisit some of so-called “supervet” Noel Fitzpatrick’s most inspiring cases, I don’t suppose they expected to be doing it in the midst of a pandemic.

Then again, there’s something about scrappy home-filmed pet footage that makes the second half of the documentary all the more charming. Especially when owners manage to capture moments like their droopy-eyed bulldog luxuriating in front of a hairdryer and their bionic-footed Westie leaping joyfully in the park.

Lockdown has been a humbling reminder of just how much we rely on pets for mental health, and the first instalment of Fitzpatrick’s latest series shines a light on some of the most irresistible quarantine allies of all: puppies. “The team here go all gooey when a puppy comes in,” says the Irish TV veterinarian, whose famous clients have included everyone from DJ Chris Evans to Meghan Markle. “We get no work done for about an hour.”

The first pup we meet is four-month-old West Highland terrier Rodney, who’s been born without back feet and whose foster carer, Kelly, is struggling to find him a suitable home due to his deformity. Fitzpatrick first met Rodney in 2015. His subsequent high-risk operation made him the second dog in the world to receive two bionic back feet.

Rodney was born without back feet
Channel 4

Later, we revisit Rodney five years on with new loving owners. “It didn’t really bother me one way or the other because I’ve been disabled myself,” says new owner Gerry from his wheelchair, insisting he can’t envisage life without the rubber-footed pooch. “I just accept life and I accepted Rodney the way he was.”

Television shows in 2020

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Other star patients include bulldog puppy Chica, who required surgery to repair a serious elbow fracture; rescue rottweiler Elvis, who was given a unique spinal implant developed by Fitzpatrick; and lame dachshund Peggy, whose owner brings her adorable litter of six-week-old puppies to The Supervet’s Surrey clinic.

Even Fitzpatrick struggles to resist their charm (stay tuned if only to watch the tiny dachshund having physio on an underwater treadmill). A trigger warning for the squeamish: Fitzpatrick’s camera crew doesn’t shy away from the gory details. Blood, bones and close-up surgical shots do make a few uncomfortable appearances during the 60-minute show, but the main trigger warning should be emotional.

If seeing Elvis’s owner learn of her pet’s recovery doesn’t make you weep, you might be better off switching channels. That or my longing for a lockdown puppy has got to me. I imagine it got to the production team, too, when they discovered they’d have to keep their distance when visiting the four pets in their homes this year.

The documentary was in the works before Covid and several interviews had to be filmed over Zoom. The only footage I thought was missing was the reaction of The Supervet himself, who lives alone with his cat Ricochet and border terrier Keira (named after Knightley). I’m surprised producers didn’t take tips from Channel 4’s other canine show Snoop Dogs and strap a GoPro to one of their heads. Perhaps that’s next week’s episode.

The Supervet: Puppy Special airs on Channel 4, tonight at 8pm

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