By Nance Ebert, Contributing Writer
Westborough- Dr. Nick Trout is a staff surgeon at the Angell Animal Medical Center.
He is also an accomplished author whose first novel, “The Patron's Saint of Lost Dogs,” was a Boston Globe bestseller. Recently he released his new book, “Dog Gone, Back Soon,” which is the second in a series.
Trout has also written three non-fiction books: “Tell Me Where It Hurts,” (which was a New York Times Bestseller), “Love Is the Best Medicine,” and “Ever By My Side.”
Trout graduated from Cambridge University in England in 1989 and then did several internships in Liverpool, England prior to coming to the United States in 1991. He did his surgical residency training at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton as well as the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, now known as Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston.
Of his side career as an author, he notes that he is able to “write anywhere,” such as at the beach or in his car. He also uses his commute from Westborough to Boston to brainstorm about dialogue, characters and plot. He records a lot of his thoughts and ideas and then transcribes them at a later time.
He explained the plot of his newest novel.
“It's about an estranged young veterinarian who returns to his roots in rural Vermont to take over his late father's practice. The twist is that he is a very introverted man and he became a veterinarian pathologist by choice because he didn's want to deal with living animals or with quirky pet owners. He finds himself, ultimately realizing what's been missing in his life and so it's a sort of “road to redemption” story,”” he said.
Trout noted that every publishing house rejected his first book proposal in 2004. Once he changed agents, though, things changed. Interest in his books was also helped by the success of another popular book.
“A very successful little dog book came out called, “Marley and Me” by John Grogan. All of a sudden, everybody wanted my book. It was timing. Nobody had written from the other side of the examination table. I was writing a sort of modern day James Herriot book. “Tell Me Where It Hurts” became a huge success that I am very proud of,” Trout said.
He believes that “animals humble us.”
“There are many benefits and challenges that animals hold in our crazy lives. Cats and dogs are pure and the essence of what is true. They slow you down, don's talk back, give you more than you can give, keep your secrets and you don's need a “prenup,”” he joked.
He noted that what he likes best about his job at Angell is that it is very unpredictable and no two days are alike. He enjoys the animal interactions but also respects the fact that it is a triangular relationship where he is trying to not only help an animal but also trying to sustain the bond between the pet and owner, which can be very powerful as many people consider their pet an important part of the family.
Trout lives in Westborough with his family and Labradoodle, Thai. She was adopted from the National Education for Assistance Dog Services (NEADS), Trout said, where she flunked out of their program although she is highly trained.? Thai is, in fact, he added, the inspiration for the central character for “Dog Gone, Back Soon.”
For information on his books and appearances, visit www.drnicktrout.com.
