America Needs a Little Dr. P.
The Healing Power of The Incredible Dr. Pol
Peter T. Coleman
In today’s America, finding common cause across our acutely politicized, rural-urban divide can be as tricky as teaching a bull to play fetch. Just when we think we understand each other, someone makes a wrong move that triggers us and sends us, fuming, back to our corners. Enter The Incredible Dr. Pol, a reality show about country veterinarians that not only makes you appreciate the intricacies of cow birthing and wound stitching, but also reminds us that our love for animals might just conquer all.
Dr. Jan Pol, the star of this gritty reality show now in its 23rd season, is an 82-year-old Dutch-American dynamo with a heart as big as the Great Plains. His no-nonsense approach to large and small animal care might seem harsh at first, but let’s be honest, if you can handle delivering a calf in subzero temperatures or wrangling a belligerent goat knee-deep in manure, you can handle anything. Watching Dr. Pol navigate the daily dramas of animal medicine — where blood and guts abound — is like watching a maestro conduct a symphony of chaos and compassion.
The show’s setting in rural Michigan is central. Let’s face it, rural America often gets portrayed with the same nuance as a cartoon villain. But here, amidst the rolling hills and endless fields, we see the daily lives of hardworking folks who might as well be our neighbors. These aren’t caricatures; they’re people who get excited over a new clutch of chicks, stress over a sick piglet (and so bring him to bed with them), and show immense pride in their farm dogs. It’s hard to hold onto prejudices when you’re watching someone meticulously dress a chicken’s broken leg. Seriously, how can you hate someone who spends an hour making a tiny splint for a bird?
Picture this: a burly farmer, who looks like he could wrestle a bear to the ground, gets teary-eyed over his kitten’s fractured paw. There’s something profoundly disarming about seeing a steely exterior melt in the face of unconditional love for a pet. It’s like seeing Superman cry — unexpected, endearing, and utterly human.
Dr. Pol’s clients come from all walks of life. We see everyone from the quintessential Midwest farmer to suburban families, each with their own set of quirks and stories. But no matter who they are, their love for their animals rings true. This shared experience is a reminder that at our core, we all have the capacity for deep love and compassion. When you see a biker gang member tenderly caring for his iguana, it’s hard to hold onto stereotypes.
And then there’s the high jinks. Watching Dr. Pol and his team of can-do vets’ adventures, it’s clear that animals don’t care about your background — they’ll make fools of us all equally. Whether it’s a rooster with a Napoleon complex or a horse that thinks it’s a lapdog, the comedy is gold. Marveling together over how a goat devises genius schemes to repeatedly escape its pen or a chicken that steadfastly refuses to sleep outside can be a great unifier. We have all had that one pet with more personality than sense, and sharing these stories brings us together in delight.
Moreover, The Incredible Dr. Pol showcases the resourcefulness of people. In a world where it often feels like we’ve forgotten how to fix things ourselves, watching someone MacGyver a solution for a cow’s tummy troubles can be downright inspirational. It reminds us that wits and ingenuity are universal qualities, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. Plus, it’s always entertaining to see what lengths people will go to for their pets — like building elaborate contraptions to keep their rooster from late-night carousing or inventing new ways to administer medicine to a skittish traumatized cat.
To me, The Incredible Dr. Pol is more than just a TV show about veterinary medicine; it’s a testament to the power of love, compassion and service. It is quite simply reality TV at its finest — not the kind that makes you question humanity, but the kind that reaffirms your faith in it. Research has shown that our social models, those people we look up to and wish to emulate, often play a critical role in shaping our habits and actions in life.
As I see it, Dr. Pol is just what we need today. His life’s work can serve as a crucial reminder to Americans of the fundamental connections that unite us all. A reminder that despite our vast differences, we can all appreciate the sight of Dr. Pol chasing downhill after a runaway alpaca in his muddy rubber boots.
Peter T. Coleman is a professor from the Midwest who resides in New York City. His latest book is The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization.