Dr. Mogavero was born on Long Island, New York, and is a graduate of Ross University.  Dr. Mogavero established Tails-A-Waggin Animal Hospital in 1986, when he became a Florida resident.  He has a great interest in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, as well as internal medicine.  He performs approximately 1000 surgeries a year on small animals of all types.  His current interests revolve around his ranch, which is home to his four children, three horses, four cats, three dogs, one Amazon parrot and one cockatoo.

IN THE DOCTOR’S WORDS:

“As far back as I can remember I always wanted to become a doggie doctor.  I speak like this because back then, I was not able to pronounce Veterinarian.  I was born on Long Island, where I lived in a true suburbia called Hicksville.  Back in the day, the area still had many potato farms and un-cleared land surrounding the outskirts of the town.  I was lucky enough to have a large park behind my home.  This space, although not a farm, did give me the freedom I needed without parental consent to bring home many strays and collections of numerous pets.  I would bring home anything I could find.  These finds would eventually include ducks, pheasants, dogs, cats, birds, fish, raccoons, squirrels, lizards, frogs, and turtles. This aforementioned habit drove my parents crazy, but they tolerated my love of all the critters by turning a blind eye to my habits; Except one occasion when I purchased a baby alligator and began raising it in the basement.  The alligator eventually did grow.  As it began to become larger, my father asked that it leave.  That hurt, but he was right.

My love for animals did drive my dad crazy; this especially rang true when my favorite cat had just given birth to kittens in the basement wall.  I remember this like yesterday.  The look on my father’s face that he had given me as he cut a large hole in the basement wall, all this while attempting to help me remove the seven kittens born inside the wall.  I can remember standing there as he handed me the kittens one by one, then turned his head once more, but this time to give me a smile of a job well done.  One of my other fondest memories I have was the time I persuaded my parents into letting the family dog have puppies.  The puppies soon were accustomed to the sound of my school alarm going off, which triggered a small herd of beagle puppies to fly up the stairs from the basement to eat.  Even now, I love the sound of animals running.  Today that sound is even larger and louder, with my horses in my yard which allows me to hear the pounding of their hooves as they run and play, reminding me of the days gone by.

Animals have and always will be a big part of my life.  I love my job.”