Whether it's an umbrella cockatoo who's not eating, a depressed chinchilla, a pregnant potbellied pig, or a ferret possibly needing surgery, exotic animal vet Laurie Hess is at the front lines with some remarkable pets-and their equally eccentric, dedicated, and sometimes demanding owners. Following a week in Dr. Hess's life as she tries to uncover the source of an unknown ailment killing some of her most vulnerable patients, Unlikely Companions is an All Creatures Great and Small with a mysterious twist that includes a special message about managing our most important relationships-those with our friends, coworkers, children, spouses, and ourselves. "Dr. Hess takes everyday as it comes and treats whatever enters her office with compassion, and knowledge, and sometimes even humor." -Martha Stewart

Author Biography

Dr. Laurie Hess is board-certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in avian (bird) medicine and served as the President of the Association of Avian Veterinarians from 2009-2010. She is also an active member of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians and the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians. After graduating summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University, Dr. Hess received her veterinary medical degree from Tufts. She then completed a one-year internship and a two-year residency in avian and exotic pet medicine and surgery at the world-renowned Animal Medical Center in New York City. The country's go-to exotic pet doctor, she's appeared on Inside Edition, Animal Planet, The Martha Stewart Show, and The Doctors. Dr. Hess and her practice have been featured in the New York Times, The NY Daily News, USA Today, Martha Stewart Living, and Parade and People Magazine. She lives with her family in Westchester County, New York. www.lauriehessdvm.com Samantha Rose is an Emmy-award winning television writer and producer, and the co-author and collaborator of many non-fiction projects including the New York Times bestsellers The Suja Juice Solution and Control the Crazy with Vinny Guadagnino. She is also the author of the National Bestseller The Package Deal: My (not-so) Glamorous Transition from Single Gal to Instant Mom.