Review by James Lindorf
Dr. Martin Goldstein graduated from the prestigious Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1973. He began his career like any other young veterinarian, working long hours to save as many animals as possible. Over time the stress and long hours started to take a toll on his health. The solution he found not only turned around his ailing health but reinvented his practice. Now, Dr. Marty is a founding father of integrative veterinary medicine, and his colleagues in South Salem, NY, have created a mecca for holistic care. They offer hope to scores of sick animals and desperate owners by combining conventional medical training with cutting edge alternative therapies. As Goldstein and his staff interact with animals, the stakes are high because they are often the last resort. The Dog Doc will be in starting March 13th.
Dr. Marty is shown as intelligent, empathetic, and passionate about bringing the best care to his patients. He straddles a fine line of physician and antivaxxer, which is troublesome at times as it can be seen to affect his treatment. Unfortunately, that isn’t something that is directly questioned, because it would go against the premise that his path is the best one. Director Cindy Meehl (Buck) created a loving portrait of Dr. Marty and his staff and the and the struggles they go through with their patients and their peers. Treatments don’t always work, and sometimes other vets think they are quacks. However, they are undaunted as they look to fix what they can and improve the quality of life when a cure isn’t possible.
The Dog Doc is a well-made emotional journey for animal lovers. Viewers will experience many of the emotions the owners go through, relief, hope, or grief can be found in nearly every scene. Meehl followed the staff of Smith Ridge for two and a half years, which provides depth to the animals’ journey, and sometimes they end tragically. Viewers may also find themselves jealous of the level of care the animals are provided, and the amount of money being spent on their behalf. Pets are often treated like family, and being one of the only integrative medicine practices means Dr. Marty can charge a premium. With so much emphasis on the cost of healthcare, especially now, eight months from the next presidential election, we sometimes forget to ask if we are receiving the best quality of healthcare. Meehl makes sure that no one can question the quality of care, even if she isn’t willing to question their motives.
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