Touched by all creatures: doctoring animals in the Pennsylvania Dutch country

370 Pages·1999·35.994 MB·English

by  Balliet, Edgar;Balliet, Gay Louise

Touched By
All Creatures

Touched By
All Creatures
Doctoring Animals in the
Pennsylvania Dutch Country
by
Gay L. Balliet
with veterinary input by
Edgar Balliet, VMD
New Horizon Press
Far Hills, New Jersey
Copyright © 1999 by Gay L. Balliet
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form whatsoever, including electronic, mechanical, or any information storage or
retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in the 1976 Copyright Act or in
writing from the publisher.
Requests for permission should be addressed to:
New Horizon Press
P.O. Box 669
Far Hills, NJ 07931
Balliet, Gay L.
Touched By All Creatures: Doctoring Animals in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Interior Design: Susan Sanderson
Illustrations by Linda George
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 98-66169
ISBN: 0-88282-169-5
New Horizon Press
Manufactured in U.S.A.
2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 / S 4 3 2 1
Dedication
To my parents,
Ralph and Anna Eckensberger
In memory of
Gramma Eckensberger
Author's Note
These are my actual experiences and history, and this book
reflects my opinion of the past, present, and future. The personalities,
events, actions, and conversations portrayed within the story have been
reconstructed from my memory and research, press accounts, letters,
and the memories of participants. In an effort to safeguard the privacy
of certain individuals, I have changed their names, and, in some cases,
altered otherwise identifying characteristics and locations. Events
involving the characters happened as described.
vi
Each morning like a New born Man issues with songs & Joy,
Calling the Plowman to his Labour & the Shepherd to his rest.
He walks upon the Eternal Mountains raising his heavenly voice,
Conversing with the Animal forms of wisdom night & day,
That risen from the Sea of fire renewd walk o'er the Earth.
William Blake
The Four Zoas
vii
Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge all my creature friends who have
touched our lives in so many ways and now are gone. We miss you
dearly: Merry, Nicky, Abby, Diane, Timmy Lee, Beverly, Brian, Sticky
Bun, Marvin, Sophie, Little Sophie, Gadney, Broccoli, Allen, Hailey,
Susan, Lyle, Lyla, Marshall, Blackie, Blackie II, Blackie III, Robert,
Heidi, Annie, Missy, Jessie, Mindy, the Volcano litter: Irazu, Poas,
Arenal, Spittin' Po, Robin, Terry, Louise, Stevie, Spike and my sweet
Lucy.
Vlll
Contents
Introduction xi
Prologue xv
Part I Tales of Innocence
1 All Creatures Large and Lilliputian 2
2 An Interest in Animals 8
3 A Day to Remember IS
4 "My Bride Shall Have a Horse" 23
5 Edgar's First Case 29
6 Pizza Pie Nevermore 35
7 Spirit Food 42
8 The Dark Presence 48
9 Lurking Around the Corners 52
10 Jim Bob 60
11 A Memorable Character 69
12 The Invisible Helper 77
13 A Better Seat 88
14 A Childhood Dream 92
15 Reilly, the Goat with Nine Lives 103
16 Ewes Growing Up 110
17 Going Solo 116
18 Meet Tucker Jones 123
19 And Beauty Was His Name 130
20 Animal Facts and Fiction 137
21 In Search of a Needle 141
22 Beauty Goes to Hollywood 148
ix