Kevin Fitzgerald facts for kids
Kevin Terrel Fitzgerald (born September 23, 1951) is an American veterinarian known for his work at the Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Many people know him from the Animal Planet TV show Emergency Vets and its follow-up, E-Vet Interns.
Besides being a vet, Dr. Fitzgerald is also a stand-up comedian. In 2001, People magazine named him one of the 50 most eligible bachelors.
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From Rock and Roll to Animal Care
Before becoming a famous vet, Kevin Fitzgerald had some very interesting jobs. He was once a teacher at the University of Hawaii. During his summer breaks, he worked as a security guard for famous musicians. He helped protect stars like Elvis Presley, The Who, Bob Marley, and The Rolling Stones.
Fitzgerald has said that a conversation with Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones helped him decide to become a veterinarian. Richards asked him if he wanted to be a security guard forever. This question made Fitzgerald think about his future and pursue his dream of working with animals.
A Career as a Veterinarian
In 1985, Fitzgerald joined the team at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital. This is a 24-hour animal hospital that can handle any emergency. He has also been very active in the veterinarian community. He once served as the president of the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society.
Helping Animals on TV
Dr. Fitzgerald became a TV star on the Animal Planet show Emergency Vets. The show followed the real-life stories of the vets and animals at Alameda East. After the show ended in 2002, he appeared in short "Animal Tips" segments on the channel.
In 2007, he returned to television in a new series called E-Vet Interns. In this show, Dr. Fitzgerald helped teach new veterinarians. He made sure they learned how to care for all kinds of animals, including exotic ones like snakes. He also taught them the importance of helping "working animals," such as police dogs.
Teaching and Comedy
For over 25 years, Dr. Fitzgerald has also been a teacher at the University of Denver. He teaches a class about veterinary medicine. He also helps the Aurora, Colorado police department by being a veterinary expert for their K-9 unit.
When he's not caring for animals or teaching, Dr. Fitzgerald performs stand-up comedy in the Denver area. He is sometimes called "the hardest working veterinarian in show business."
Fun Facts
On August 11, 2007, Dr. Fitzgerald was a guest on the NPR radio show "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me". He shared stories about his time with Keith Richards and correctly answered all three quiz questions he was asked. His guest appearance became so popular that it is the most replayed segment in the show's history.
