David W. LaVigne, D.V.M. is a 1979 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, has practiced veterinary medicine now for well over 40 years, and was a USCG licensed master for 10 years and a Commodore and Rear Commodore in the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) for a number of years. He and wife Annie lived aboard their 37 foot CSY sailboat for over eight years as they cruised Chesapeake Bay and the northern Caribbean.
In addition to coauthoring the book Island Hopping to the Caribbean with wife Annie, Captain Doctor Dave is also the author of two veterinary books for pet-owning sailors: Where There Is No Pet Doctor and Pets On Board? Adapting Your Pet to Travel By Boat or RV. Over the years he has given numerous seminars at boat shows across the country, has written articles for the SSCA, and was a webinar instructor with SevenSeasU, the on-line educational arm of the SSCA and also for GLCC School (the educational portion of the Great Lakes Cruising Club). After living and practicing veterinary emergency and critical care medicine for 15 years on the gulf coast of Florida, he has once again returned to his Michigan roots where he now quietly resides on the shores of Lake Michigan while continuing to practice after hours pet emergency medicine. If you cruise with pets aboard, check out his cruising with pets website at captdrdave.com.
P.S. Fidelis was sold back in 2008 to a couple from Marathon, Florida who bought the vessel to live aboard. Rumor has it that she was subsequently lost to Hurricane Irma and a watery grave back in 2017. She is missed.
