Vets are to be admired, respected and appreciated for all the work they do for our four-legged friends and one such vet, Mike Hardwich, recounts his difficulties and accomplishments of his 39 years in practice in his latest book, The Rhino and the Rat.
Vets are to be admired, respected and appreciated for all the work they do for our four-legged friends and one such vet, Mike Hardwich, recounts his difficulties and accomplishments of his 39 years in practice in his latest book, The Rhino and the Rat.
The word "veterinarian" has always been one of those words for me. You know, a word you struggle to spell, can hardly pronounce without slipping up on and the abbreviated version "vet" just seems easier. It's difficult enough for me to spell and pronounce, I couldn't imagine practising or studying to be a vet.
Hardwich, who paints the picture of an adventurous, soft-hearted and motivated country vet, takes the reader through a series of short tales which will not only captivate you but take you on a roller coaster of emotions ranging from sadness to pure hysteria. You'll complete each chapter feeling appreciative of the work Hardwich and so many other vets do.
Working in the farmlands of KwaZulu-Natal with wild and domestic animals Hardwich explains through the use of true encounters the constant day and night demands of a vet and how his years of experience have allowed him to trust in the preservation and enhancement of the lives of animals. Hardwich always goes the extra mile.
My favourite section, Chapter 4, titled "After Hours Emergencies" takes the reader through mostly humorous tales of his experiences.
One such very short tale is about when Hardwich awoke at 3am to his phone ringing. The woman on the other end of the phone explained that they had run over a buck in the road and the buck was bleeding and not breathing.
Hardwich responded that the animal was probably already dead. The woman responded, "Of course it's dead, we know that! But how can we load it into the back of the car without getting blood all over the place? We want to take it home to make biltong!" Hardwich says he can't repeat the words that went through his head at that time.
Other stories amongst many include the description of the birth of a two-headed calf, helping Reggie the rat’s inconsolable owner accept his imminent death and even discussing the plight of the rhino.
This is an ideal book to pick up, open on any chapter as each story is unique and captivating. Read Mike's blog on www.mike-hardwich.co.za or follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/MikeHardwich.
The Rhino and The Rat: Further Memoirs of a Vet
ISBN: 9780992213732
Price: R120.00
Rating: 4/5
Published: Tracey McDonald Publishers November 2013
Reviewer: Sarah Cohen
