Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.