Touched by All Creatures: Doctoring Animals in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country [Hardcover]

Gay L. Balliet (Author), Edgar Balliet V.M.D. (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1977

This is the story of Gay Balliet and Edgar, her veterinarian husband, who tend the health of strange and delightful barn animals, buffaloes, baboons and other creatures large and small in the historically rich and colorful Pennsylvania Dutch Country. They share many unforgettable situations, characters, and experiences of courage, warmth, and hilarity with both their animal and human friends. Among them: Tonto, an impish llama and his sheep friends; Buster, a lame bull who leads chase through woods and pond; and Lowell, the existential pig who performs pirouettes to the command "Baryshnikov." Theirs is a timeless world that retains innocence and an appreciation of nature — a world they now share with animal lovers everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"We are a hearty, plump, affable group that appreciates fatty foods and good friends," begins Balliet, describing herself and her veterinarian husband, along with the Pennsylvania Dutch community they serve as a "mobile veterinary MASH team." Balliet, an English professor at a local college, sets out her theme with earnest straightforwardness, announcing that she intends to show readers the unknown in the midst of the everyday, to deliver a sense of "otherworldliness, along with a sense of deep personal commitment and selflessness." But Balliet places an undue amount of importance on her and her husband's life preceding and surrounding Edgar's beginning his practice as a veterinarian. Throughout, the writing is stilted and wincingly quaint ("We had so little money that the most economic abode was a mobile home"). Chapters include "A Day to Remember," "Excitement at the Allentown Fair" and "A Dog in Cat's Clothing." Ultimately, Balliet's book fails to transcend the level of sentimental reminiscence. Still, animal lovers, especially those with ties to rural Pennsylvania, may be willing to overlook the text's belabored preciousness in order to savor stories of lovable cats, horses, llamas, goats and birds, as well as of a host of eccentric local characters (including one who believes that any ailment can be cured with urine). Despite the excess literary fat and sugar, the wonder of animals and the earthy humane details of doctoring them shines through.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

YA-With a style similar to that of James Herriot, Balliet presents the stories of memorable patients treated by her husband, a veterinarian. Since she worked as his assistant, the use of the first person is genuine and quickly draws readers into the various selections. Many of them present the happy or even funny sides of life; others are sad, as death is an ever-present reality. Readers will meet many wonderful characters: Beauty, a cat, and his doting owner; the talented pig, Lowell; and Misty, a pony, with his guardian angel. The stories are easy to read; medical details are given but not belabored. While Balliet includes many descriptions of the surrounding scenery, she keeps the book moving quickly by including lots of dialogue. However, although used sparingly, the written Pennsylvania-Dutch accent may be difficult for some teens. The color pictures on the cover and the line drawings within the text further bring the stories to life.
Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: New Horizon Press (January 1, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882821695
• ISBN-13: 978-0882821696
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,778,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gay Balliet is as Pennsylvania Dutch in her heritage and character as many of the animal owners in her books. With a Ph.D. in English, Balliet taught college English, but her love of writing along with her love of animals lured her into writing narrative nonfiction for young adults and adults who share her love of nature and animals.

Balliet enjoyed promoting her books during talk-radio tours for TOUCHED BY ALL CREATURES and LOWELL as well as NPR radio out of Philadelphia. Likewise, she appeared on PA Cable Network, on GOOD MORNING, PHILADELPHIA, and on WGAL-TV out of Lancaster, PA. She has spoken about her books and her life with animals during such events as the annual HORSE WORLD EXPO in Harrisburg, PA; the local humane society gala; the Lehigh Valley Writer's Guild annual meeting; at events for horse nutrition and wellness,as well as numerous bookstores.

Balliet's mission statement follows:

Our interactions and relationships with animals distinguish us as people. How humans relate to their pets and what wisdom we allow animals and our pets to impart is what truly makes us young or old-spirited, civilized or barbaric, tending toward integrity or dishonesty, being compassionate or detached in our relationships with other people.

Neither technology, education, religion, politics nor human community define us nearly as well. However, the way in which we react toward, treat, and embrace the wisdom of our animals is the prime revealer of great character in humans.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touched By All Creatures, April 14, 2002

By 

Cassandra Barnes "Cassandra" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Touched by All Creatures: Doctoring Animals in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country (Hardcover)

Gay Balliet's grandmother taught her to appreciate nature and all creatures when she was a child. Her grandmother also taught her how to communicate with animals. Balliet says she "learned that not only was my own life and the lives of my parents and grandparents sacred, but that all life, down to the tiniest creature of the garden, was important."

Gay grew up to marry veterinarian Edgar Balliet. As well as earning a Ph.D. in English and developing her own career as a college professor, she assisted her husband with his patients. Touched By All Creatures is her delightful account of the animals she and Dr. Balliet doctored, as well as their unforgettable owners. It also chronicles their personal growth both as individuals and as a couple.

Working in the Pennsylvania Dutch country, the Balliets cared primarily for farm animals. Dr. Balliet later provided care for animals at a nearby game preserve, expanding the cast of characters in their lives to include monkeys, raptors, buffalo, and a white tiger, among other exotic creatures.

Balliet says that for her and Edgar, "here with the animals, our friends, is the life we both value." Each anecdote is told with love and compassion for life, with lots of humor sprinkled in.

Touched By All Creatures is a book that readers will return to again and again whenever they need a pleasurable respite from their harried lives. It's also a great gift for anyone who loves animals.

5.0 out of 5 stars Gay Balliet, July 13, 2009

By 

Kenneth R. Muth Jr. (Schnecksville PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Touched by All Creatures: Doctoring Animals in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country (Hardcover)

I have read every one of Gay Balliet's books. "Lowell - The true story of an existential Pig", "Lions and Tigers and Mares Oh My" and "Touched by All Creatures". What an author! She can make you laugh and cry. You will see animals in a whole new way. I actually cheered when her pig Lowell came to her defense when she was in physical danger. Want to see the gleam in a tiger's eye or feel his hot breath on your face? Read her books. Keep writing Gay and I'll keep reading.