New Book Coming Soon!

I Want to Go Where They Went

By Dr. Jeff Schmidt

This is not just a memoir. It’s a heartfelt journey through the world of veterinary medicine, told through the eyes of Dr. Schmidt, a seasoned small animal veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. This beautifully written collection includes twelve captivating stories that will leave you laughing, crying, and marveling at the special bond between animals, their owners, and the dedicated professionals who care for them.

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Meet the Author

MeeT The Man Behind The Stories

Jeff Schmidt D.V.M.

Jeff Schmidt was born and raised in the picturesque landscapes of Northern California, surrounded by a lively group of family pets, including cats, dogs, and even a horse. It was in this animal-filled home that his deep respect and love for animals blossomed, setting the foundation for his future career. Learn more about Jeff and how his stories came to be.

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An Instant Hit with Readers

Absolutely entertaining and at times, thought provoking. I found myself laughing while on a flight to Atlanta for business. There were also those touching moments where my eyes watered up. The way Jeff writes, you feel like you are in the same room or building with him, the staff and the various pet patients at the clinic. I rarely read for enjoyment and am happy I chose this book to do so. I strongly recommend this book!

Jim L. – Amazon (5 stars)

I purchased this wonderful book for my grandson for his 12th birthday, he and his whole family are lovers of cats & dogs and they are now taking turns reading it. I recommend you have a few tissues close by for some of those
chapters, but also be prepared to laugh out loud at many others. If you love cats & dogs, you will love
this book.

Jim R. – Amazon (5 stars)

Excellent, moving stories of pets being treated by vets, of owners who love them, and of the vets themselves, who even if they can’t save them, can bring dignity and compassion to the pets’ lives. Highly recommended! A must-read for pet owners and pet lovers of all stripes

Tony J. – Amazon (5 Stars)

Captivating Stories Come to Life Through Beautiful Illustrations

Ann Ranlett, MSA, is an artist & illustrator specializing in pet & animal portraits and nature subjects. She is a Master (MSA) member of the International Society of Scratchboard Artists, a Signature member of the Society of Animal Artists, and Signature member of American Women Artists.

Brice Borchers is a 2023 Graduate of William Jessup University. She is a graphic designer located in Northern California and has been working in digital media for around six years. She enjoyed creating beautiful imagery and designs for these stories.

Stories from My Life as a Small Animal Vet

“The dog’s the job—and the job is everything.”

In 1969, young Army veterinarian Dr. Frank Lux arrived in Vietnam expecting to treat a few sick dogs and keep his head down. Instead, he finds himself stationed on Hill 327 outside Da Nang, one of the most active military working-dog posts in Southeast Asia. What follows is a year that will test his skill, his courage, and his heart in ways he never imagined.

Surrounded by the chaos of war, Frank discovers that his patients are no ordinary animals. The German Shepherds who stand watch with Marines—and the handlers who rely on them—form bonds forged in danger and absolute trust. These dogs detect ambushes before they happen, save lives in the jungle, and ask for nothing more than a kind word and a steady hand. It falls to Frank to keep them alive.

Day after day, the young veterinarian finds himself navigating booby-trapped trails, chaotic MedCap missions, and the endless stream of wounded dogs and exhausted handlers who appear at his hooch door at all hours of the night. Alongside a cast of unforgettable characters—wisecracking vet tech Marty Hepp; green and eager Private Ernie Beard; Quinn, a seasoned veteran of the Korean War whose larger-than-life presence hides wounds from an earlier conflict; steady, stoic handler Sgt. R; the legendary scout dog Satan; and Army pathologist Dr. Paul Mellick, tirelessly racing against time to find a cure for the mysterious and deadly idiopathic hemorrhagic syndrome afflicting military dogs—Frank learns that expertise alone isn’t enough. What matters is connection. Compassion. And the quiet courage to show up when others need you.

Yet the deepest lessons come from the dogs themselves: Kaiser, Sam, Benny, Finn, Satan, and the many four-legged warriors who serve with unquestioning loyalty. Through their eyes, Frank witnesses a kind of devotion untouched by politics or fear—love expressed in vigilance, bravery, and the simple willingness to walk into danger because a human companion walks beside them.

Both harrowing and heartfelt, The Dog’s the Job is a story of service, sacrifice, humor in hardship, and the unbreakable bond between soldiers and their animals. Drawing from real history and the lived experiences of military veterinarians, this book illuminates a little-known corner of the Vietnam War and honors the dogs—and the people—who gave everything in a place far from home.

In the end, Frank Lux arrives in Vietnam as a young veterinarian. He leaves with a deeper understanding of what it truly means to serve.

Because in war, as on Hill 327, the dog’s the job—and the job is everything.