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Meet Your Neighbor: Dr. Matthew Brooks
By Callie Thomas
“If we could talk to the animals, learn their languages, think of all the things we could discuss; if we could walk with the animals, talk with the animals, grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals, and they could squeak and squawk and speak and talk to us.”
– Rex Harrison as Dr. Dolittle
As animal lovers, there are many times when we wish we could read our pet’s minds. Sometimes it seems we can–although it is more likely just knowing our beloved animal’s distinct expressions or feeling their playful nudge at precisely the right time that gives us hope that we truly can communicate with our furry family members. A little boy in Tampa, Florida was convinced that he had that gift. That child eventually grew up, became a veterinarian, moved to Las Vegas and, in the process, has helped a great many of our four-legged friends throughout the community.
“I used to think I could speak with the animals when I was little,” says 89135 resident Dr. Matthew Brooks. “After I figured out that it was impossible, I decided that I wanted to help them in any way I could.” Brooks began his career working for a zoo veterinarian and then a small animal veterinarian in Tampa. “One of the greatest personal rewards is to help my clients understand and treat the illness of their animal family members,” he said.
After earning his veterinary degree at Colorado State University in 2004, he moved to Las Vegas. Since then he has continued to grow his practice in addition to acquiring Benjamin, a Golden Retriever, Mason, an English Labrador, and Walter, a Burmese cat. This year he also married his “best friend” Ashley who will soon become a veterinarian at Sun City Animal Hospital.
Brooks’ passion for helping animals led him to co-found and chair an organization called the Funny Bones Foundation. While this caring vet does have a sense of humor, the group’s mission is to provide financial support to abandoned animals in need of advanced medical and surgical care that are being attended to by nonprofit rescue organizations in Clark County. Funds are generated through comedy events and fundraising. “I began to understand the emotional and financial burden among all the wonderful people that devote their time and resources to rescuing abandoned pets,” said Brooks. The idea originally came about while Matthew competed in a triathlon to raise money. “There were many animals that needed extensive medical care, and the rescue organizations had to make difficult decisions to determine if the costs were justified. It was an ideal time for Brooks and his close friends and clients Sammy and Suzanne Shore to get together and create Funny Bones.
This past January, Funny Bones held its annual Comedy Jam event which was emceed by Sammy Shore and co-hosted by Bobby Slatton. Comedians and funny friends Vinnie Favorito, George Wallace, Pauly Shore, Dennis Blair, Geechy Guy, James P. Connolly and Doug Starks had the audience rolling in the aisles. “Even in this economy, people are still willing to help one another and donate to wonderful causes that work so hard to help those in need. I am inspired by these people every day.”
Dr. Brooks and his team at Town Center Animal Hospital work closely with other nonprofit animal rescue organizations by providing discounted surgical and medical services. They also assist two-legged creatures by supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation annually. “I absolutely love what I do,” says Brooks. “I am excited to come to work each day knowing that I get to help these animals that I love and owners that love them.”
