The Incredible Dr. Pol
| The Incredible Dr. Pol | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Jan Pol Diane Pol Charles Pol Brenda Grettenberger Emily Thomas |
| Narrated by | Ari Rubin |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Original languages | English, Dutch |
| No. of seasons | 12 |
| No. of episodes | 100+ |
| Production | |
| Producer | Charles Pol |
| Production locations | Weidman, Michigan |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nat Geo Wild |
| Release | 2011-Present |
The Incredible Dr. Pol is a reality television show on Nat Geo Wild. The show follows Dutch-American veterinarian Jan Pol, and his family and employees, at his veterinarian office in rural Weidman, Michigan. The show premiered in 2011.[1] The show has set viewership records on Nat Geo Wild.[2]
The Incredible Dr. Pol has been approved for a 12th Season which will premier on July 1 2017.
Cast
Dr. Jan-Harm Pol (born 4 September 1942) originally came from Drenthe in the Netherlands, where he was raised on a family dairy farm. Pol studied at the Utrecht University, where he graduated as a veterinary physician (DVM degree).The Pol's relocated to Harbor Beach, Michigan, where Dr. Pol worked for another veterinarian for more than 10 years. They then moved to Weidman, Michigan where Pol and his wife started their own practice Pol Veterinary Services out of their home in 1981. Dr. Pol is color-blind. He has trouble with the colors green and brown. Currently, Pol's practice has over 20,000 clients.[3][4]
Diane Pol was born in Mayville, Michigan in 1943, and met Jan Pol when he was a foreign exchange student at Mayville High School in 1961 during her senior year. They have been married for 44 years. All of the Pol children are adopted. Daughter Kathy and son Charles were adopted at birth; daughter Diane was adopted at age 18, after having been the Pols' foster child for ten years. Diane has a Master’s Degree in Special Reading and used to be a schoolteacher at Harbor Beach Elementary Schools. [5]
Charles Pol is the youngest child and only son of the Pols. He is a producer for the show and is the one who pitched the show to the National Geographic channel. Born and raised in Central Michigan’s farm country, Charles Pol was his father’s constant sidekick as a child. Starting at the age of 5, Charles began assisting his father at the clinic, helping out on farm calls and was also in charge of caring for the Pol family’s vast array of pets and farm animals. Though Charles enjoyed working with animals, he knew from an early age he didn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps, and his parents encouraged him to pursue a career he would love. In 2003, Charles graduated from University of Miami.[6] Charles was an intern for Hollywood legend, the late Sydney Pollack.
Dr. Brenda Grettenberger was born in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, in 1967. After graduating from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992, Dr. Brenda began working at Pol Veterinary Services. At the time, the majority of the business at Pol Veterinary Services was large animal medicine, and Dr. Brenda says it took time for some of the older farmers to adjust to having a female veterinarian. Though she did win the farmers over, the number of the dairy farms in the area began to decline, and Dr. Brenda began to treat more small animals. Like Dr. Pol, Dr. Brenda enjoys the mixed practice and plans to continue working at Pol Veterinarian Services for the foreseeable future.[7]
Dr. Emily Thomas was born in 1984 in Warner Robins, Georgia. Dr. Emily graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010, where she completed an internship in large animal field services and spent time studying equine reproduction. After graduation, she worked at a small private practice in Newberry, South Carolina before making the move to Pol Veterinary Services in Weidman, Michigan. Dr. Emily married her high school sweetheart Tony in 2007 – since then they’ve had two children.[8]
2015 controversy
In April 2015, regulators in Michigan found Pol negligent in his treatment of a dog struck by a car in May 2011. A disciplinary subcommittee of the Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine voted on March 26 to fine Pol $500 and put his license on probation for violating minimal standards of care in his treatment of a Boston terrier who sustained an eye proptosis and a broken pelvis. Pol was also mandated to complete continuing-education courses.[9][10]
However, these disciplinary actions were overturned by the Michigan Court of Appeals, who noted that the dog's owners were happy with the care it received, and who called the initial ruling "arbitrary and capricious".[11]
References
- ^ Zimlich, Rachael. "The Incredible Dr. Pol". Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ "Incredible Dr. Pol sets Nat Geo Wild record". Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ "Meet the Pol Team-Dr.Pol". 19 July 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ Meet Dr.Pol - website Santee School District (pdf)
- ^ "Facts vet and Wild". 29 September 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
- ^ Arnold, Carrie (28 February 2014). "Q&A: The Real Story of "The Incredible Dr. Pol"". Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ "Meet the Pol Team-Dr.Brenda". 19 July 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
- ^ "Meet the Pol Team-Dr.Emily". 19 July 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
- ^ Zimlich, Rachael. "Some reviews of 'The Incredible Dr. Pol' reality show not so incredible". Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ James, Katie. "Exclusive report: New complaint filed against Dr. Pol". Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ James, Katie. "Michigan appeals court finds in favor of Dr. Pol". Retrieved 22 January 2017.
External links
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