Mind Over Miller: A surprising connection to People magazine

People magazine is a kind of tabloid publication that mostly features stories and happenings about celebrity people.

I do not subscribe to People, but recently in a physician's office where I had an appointment, a copy was near where I was waiting. So I went through it, looking for something that interested me.

I couldn't find one thing-until a noticed a photo of a man bent over an alligator, holding its jaws closed with one hand. Then, with shock, I read this under the photo:

Sexiest beast charmer: Evan Antin, 29

Exotic-animal vet at California's Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital.

The animal expert has traveled the world wrestling crocodiles, wrangling cobras and staring down a bull hippo. Now he's settled down in Thousand Oaks, Calif., where he's developed a soft spot for cuddlier creatures. “I like working with baby raccoons-they're really fun and cute.”

What? The Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital? That's the practice I founded in 1958 and built into an eight-doctor group, which is now 15.

You mean there is another hospital with the same name? Incredible! But wait. It says “California.” It is my old practice.

Sexiest beast charmer? The guy who replaced me in the practice? Wow! I retired too soon. Oh well, it's just another opportunity lost.

Robert M. Miller, DVM, is an author and a cartoonist, speaker and Veterinary Medicine Practitioner Advisory Board member. His thoughts in "Mind Over Miller" are drawn from 32 years as a mixed-animal practitioner. Visit his website at robertmmiller.com.