Harry Leonard Cooper, (born February 20, 1943), more commonly known as Dr. Harry is an Australian

veterinarian A veterinarian (vet) or veterinary surgeon is a medical professional who practices veterinary medicine. They manage a wide range of health conditions and injuries in non-human animals. Along with this, veterinarians also play a role in animal r ...

and television personality, who is best known for his media appearances.

Career

Cooper graduated with second-class honours from

Sydney University The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public university, public research university in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. One of Australia's six sandstone universities, it was one of the ...

’s Faculty of Veterinary Science in December 1965, at the age of 22. He practised for several years across Sydney and the UK before his burgeoning media career became a full-time commitment. Cooper began his media career in a veterinary segment on a morning TV

talk show A talk show is a television programming, radio programming or podcast genre structured around the act of spontaneous conversation.Bernard M. Timberg, Robert J. Erler'' (2010Television Talk: A History of the TV Talk Show', pp.3-4Erler, Robert (201 ...

in Sydney. Later, he became known as the resident veterinary surgeon on the long-running series ''

Burke's Backyard ''Burke's Backyard'' was an Australian gardening and lifestyle series presented by horticulturist Don Burke, broadcast on both radio and television. On television, it was a regular weekly series on the Nine Network from 12 September 1987 to 26 ...

''. In 1993, Cooper hosted his first series, ''

Talk to the Animals "Talk to the Animals" is a song written by British people, British composer Leslie Bricusse. Written for the 1967 film ''Doctor Dolittle (film), Doctor Dolittle'', it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 40th Academy Awards. It w ...

''. In 1997, he began presenting the veterinary series ''

Harry's Practice ''Harry's Practice'' was an Australian lifestyle television program that was broadcast on the Seven Network between 1997 and 2003. The show was hosted by veterinarian Harry Cooper, who provided advice for pet care. The show also featured Katr ...

'', assisted by fellow vet

Katrina Warren Dr Katrina Louise Warren (born 8 December 1967) is an Australian veterinarian, best known as the co-host of several popular television programs on the Seven Network. Career After working as a fashion model in Japan, Warren first appeared on tele ...

. Despite consistently high ratings, the program was cancelled in 2003. From 2004 onwards, Cooper has presented a veterinary segment on the lifestyle program '' Better Homes and Gardens''. He is also an

animal welfare Animal welfare is the quality of life and overall well-being of animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures ...

advocate and public speaker. In July 2023, he began narrating the television series ''Animals Aboard with Dr. Harry''. As part of the Queen’s Birthday 2014 honours, he was appointed as a Member of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

(OAM) for his services to veterinary science and animal welfare.

Personal life

It was revealed that Cooper had been diagnosed with

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is the neoplasm, uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder. Abnormal growth of the prostate tissue is usually detected through Screening (medicine), screening tests, ...

in late 2007. After more than six months of intensive radiation treatment, the cancer was in remission and he continued his appearances on TV. After 21 years living in

Tasmania Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...

, Cooper moved to the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales in 2011. In March 2012, he revealed that he had separated from Janine Morganti, his wife of 26 years. The couple had three children and have five grandchildren. His eldest daughter, Tiffany, died from

colon cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...

in 2012. In 2022, he married long-time partner, Sue Sheeran, on their property at

Port Macquarie Port Macquarie, sometimes shortened to Port Mac and commonly locally nicknamed Port, is a coastal city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane, on the Tasman Sea coast at the mouth of the ...

, New South Wales. Cooper believes that Australia should become a republic.

References

External links

*
Better Homes and Gardens page

Dr Harry Cooper's hobby farm

Dr Harry Cooper Bio :: Better Homes and Gardens
Living people Australian television presenters Australian veterinarians Australian republicans 1943 births Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia {{australia-tv-bio-stub