Noel Fitzpatrick modestly shrugs off his ‘Supervet’ title - but he's certainly a hero to our nation's pets.

Noel Fitzpatrick knew that veterinary medicine was his calling from an early age. Growing up on a rural farm in Northern Ireland, animals were his first friends.

Today, running a successful practice in Surrey and at the helm of TV show The Supervet, he still adores his four legged companions.

“I much prefer spending time in the company of animals because they don’t judge you,” he says. “They allow you to be yourself, they give unconditional love - and most human beings are incapable of love without conditions.” 

By age 11, Fitzpatrick was coming to realise that animals weren't being given a fair deal.

"I was looking at how humanity had got so much from animals over the years ... numerous drugs and implants used for humans have gone through animal testing first. It struck me as totally unfair, that animals would give their lives to serve humanity as clinical animals - while animals did not have that technology coming back in their direction."

Determined to give back, Fitzpatrick set up The Humanimal Trust, the running of which he calls his life's goal.

"It's about bringing the technology that animals gave us back to help them. It's about funding projects that help study disease that attacks both humans and animals - if you fund research that helps a dog and a human at the same time then that’s far superior to giving a rabbit cancer to study cancer in humans.

Supporting his Trust is hard work - even more so when he’s also operating on patients into the early hours. Fitzpatrick sleeps at the surgery a few nights a week, and rarely leaves his practice and his furry inpatients for long. For the London Pet Show, however, he'll make an exception. "The London Pet Show is lovely because people want to be there to rejoice in life. And it’s full of living creatures sharing that with human beings who only want three things really; something to love, some health, and something to look forward to."

The busy vet doesn't find time to keep up with his social media - “I will give a message to my secretary to put on Facebook but have never actually looked at the site in my life," he admits - which means he didn't quite fathom the nationwide effect that The Supervet had on the outside world until he first attended the London Pet Show.

“It was actually very moving,” he says with a smile. “It was the first time I’d interacted with real people – i.e. not my nurses or colleagues here – who had actually seen the show. It was really wonderful. The first lady who came up was in a wheelchair. She said she was effectively housebound and that the show kept her company … I only see people come to me with their beloved and unwell animal friend, I don’t often see people who tell you about the difference that you hope to make in the wider world.”

Fitzpatrick will take to the stage at the London Pet Show for Supervet Live sponsored by Eukanuba to discuss advances in the veterinary profession, as well as recounting heart-warming success stories from the TV show. Embracing the good atmosphere, he’ll also be hosting the SuperDogs Live talent competition, celebrating doggies nationwide.  

The UK’s most talented, heroic and entertaining dogs will take centre stage, competing to win awards in a fun-filled, action packed show at the Zoflora Super Theatre. It’s what the vet describes as a rewarding public side to the work to does at the practice. 

“Supervet Live and SuperDogs Live are about interacting with the people who want to experience that uplifting joy that a companion animal brings into your life, whether that’s a rabbit, cat or dog … I believe we have a moral responsibility as a society to look after animals. The London Pet Show, though undoubtedly a commercial event for those exhibiting, for me it’s more of a physical representation of what’s in my heart and about being a vet."

With hundreds of different animals, amazing animal action displays and fun and informative talks and demonstrations, the London Pet Show is the ultimate day out for animal lovers nationwide. From the cute and cuddly to the weird and wonderful, you can discover everything you need to know about dogs, cats, rabbits, chinchillas, ponies, parrots, hamsters, fish, geckos, and lots more!

Noel Fitzpatrick will be presenting Supervet Live sponsored by Eukanuba and hosting SuperDogs Live at the London Pet Show sponsored by Gocompare.com (ExCeL London, 9-10 May 2015): www.londonpetshow.co.uk