Overview

Reminiscent of James Herriot's wonderful books, Coston's memoir offers zany, sad, and touching stories about a medical practice where the patients cannot speak, yet communicate deeply Bruce R. Coston's first book is a warm, funny, and amazingly fulfilling celebration of the wonderful world of animals as seen through the eyes of a small-town veterinarian. The patients are an eclectic and surprising cast of characters who display incredible bravery and nobility at times, and unbelievable goofiness at others. There's Sandy, the dog who resurrected herself from death. There's Daphne, the transvestite cat who taught Bruce to be a cat person. And the owners are no less engaging, ranging from the angelic to the squeamish, teaching Bruce what it really means to be an animal doctor. Readers will gain insight into the pathos and passion, the mundane and extraordinary, the thigh-slapping humor and the crushing sadness of a vet's life as he seeks to mend and restore people's treasured companions. Written with great warmth, this book imparts a deeper understanding of the pets who daily enrich our lives.

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9780312382957

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Reviews

Veterinarian Coston writes warmly of his life as an animal doctor. With self-deprecation and humor, he tells the story of how he became a small-town veterinarian. Starting life as the animal-loving son of decidedly non-animal parents, Coston describes how he realized his calling and managed to procure a few pets. After veterinary school, and with his new wife, he became an intern at a 24-hour animal hospital and really learned his trade, treating a hypoglycemic cat one minute and a lame chinchilla the next. A move to Virginia and an associate position in a thriving practice brought a new baby along with a headtrauma kitten, and the discovery that the impaired cat was the perfect babysitter for his new son. The final move to a small town when he opened his own practice gave Coston exactly what he wanted-the opportunity to use his skills to make people's beloved pets well. This worthy addition to the large genre of veterinary memoirs is among the cream of the post-Herriot crop. -- Nancy Bent Booklist (09/15/2009)

Author Information

Bruce R. Coston received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota. In 1986, he received the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences Service Award and in 1992, he founded a veterinary practice that he still owns and operates. He lives with his family in Virginia.

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