Don'T Turn Your Back In The Barn Country Vet [Paperback]

David Perrin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002

For 26 years, Dr. David Perrin served as a country veterinarian in the rural (but never quiet) Creston valley of southern British Columbia. Don't Turn Your Back in the Barn is his engaging and entertaining firsthand account of his rookie year on the job in the early 1970s. Reminiscent of the beloved books of British veterinarian and writer James Herriot, Perrin's book is by turns heartbreaking and hysterical. In 22 stories, he relays his encounters with an eclectic group of two-legged clients and a roster of four-legged patients that range in size from a newborn kitten to a 1,500-pound pregnant heifer. Perrin's honest account of veterinary life includes his mistakes, successes, and frequent searches for answers to problems that most of us will thankfully never have to consider (for example, how does one discourage the advances of an amorous billy goat?). Passion, pathos, adventure, humor-Don't Turn Your Back in the Barn has it all.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Trail, British Columbia, David Perrin graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He served as a country veterinarian

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740723502
• ISBN-13: 978-0740723506
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #504,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a quick, entertaining read, May 24, 2005

By 

Jane Dackard - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don'T Turn Your Back In The Barn Country Vet (Paperback)

I can definately recommend this book, maybe not worth the cover price, but good if 2nd hand or from the library. Dr. Perrin's stories are funny, if you like Herriot, you will like this. However, I only gave it 4 stars because Perrin, while adequate, is not the most talented writer, and I found that the print in the book is very large and misrepresents how much text there actually is. I read through the book very quickly, I was hoping he would have packed more into the book. But still, it's a good read and has some good stories in it.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but wooden writing, January 1, 2004

By 

E. Ditz "E. Ditz" (Redwood City, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don'T Turn Your Back In The Barn Country Vet (Paperback)

This book is fascinating--stories from a rural vet in Canada, treating everything from cats to cows. The sad part is that Perrin isn't a very fluid writer, so it is sometimes a chore to get through.

I had the sense that if Perrin had just dictated these stories and had worked with a good editor, it would have been a much better book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious and a must read for any animal lover!!!!!, June 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Don'T Turn Your Back In The Barn Country Vet (Paperback)

These books take you through hilarious and moving stories, real life stories of new veterinary in a little town. It inspires you to reach for your goals and never take no for an answer, great for inspiring vets or any animal lover!