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A Friend of the Flock: Tales of a Country Veterinarian
In the welcome sequel to Fields and Pastures New, country veterinarian and storyteller extraordinaire Dr. John McCormack continues his warm and witty reminiscences of his experience tending to the animals and people of Choctaw County, Alabama.
John McCormack's stories of rural life in the 1960s are beloved by animal enthusiasts everywhere. In his first book, his readers were introduced to Choctaw County through the eyes of a newcomer to the community, as Dr. McCormack and his wife and children settled into their new home, befriending animal owners and their animals. In A Friend of the Flock, McCormack revisits the memorable characters that make up Butler, Alabama, and introduces others, including a cowboy who loses his clothes to an ornery calf, a hog who gets a facelift, the members of the local hunt club, and many more farmers, ranchers, pet owners, dogs, cats, sheep, cows, and even one parakeet with a bad headache.
Dr. McCormack and his family build a new clinic for their growing veterinary practice and join in the life of Choctaw County, treating livestock and pets and acquiring some of their own. Much as James Herriot did with the Yorkshire countryside, John McCormack captures every comical and heartwarming detail of rural Southern life in this touching account of putting down roots, traveling the dirt roads, and becoming a trusted member of a community. With its charming, familiar places, and some fresh faces and tales to boot, A Friend of the Flock is a treat for McCormack fans old and new.
John McCormack's stories of rural life in the 1960s are beloved by animal enthusiasts everywhere. In his first book, his readers were introduced to Choctaw County through the eyes of a newcomer to the community, as Dr. McCormack and his wife and children settled into their new home, befriending animal owners and their animals. In A Friend of the Flock, McCormack revisits the memorable characters that make up Butler, Alabama, and introduces others, including a cowboy who loses his clothes to an ornery calf, a hog who gets a facelift, the members of the local hunt club, and many more farmers, ranchers, pet owners, dogs, cats, sheep, cows, and even one parakeet with a bad headache.
Dr. McCormack and his family build a new clinic for their growing veterinary practice and join in the life of Choctaw County, treating livestock and pets and acquiring some of their own. Much as James Herriot did with the Yorkshire countryside, John McCormack captures every comical and heartwarming detail of rural Southern life in this touching account of putting down roots, traveling the dirt roads, and becoming a trusted member of a community. With its charming, familiar places, and some fresh faces and tales to boot, A Friend of the Flock is a treat for McCormack fans old and new.
- GenresAnimalsNonfiction
266 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
43 people want to read
About the author
John McCormack
61 books4 followersDr. John McCormack is a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Georgia. A native of Tennessee, he received his DVM degree from Auburn University and for ten years ran a successful veterinary practice in Choctaw County, Alabama, which is the setting for his books. A proud Dad and Granddad, he lives in Athens, Georgia, with his wife, Jan.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 9, 2023
Mar 9, 720am ~~ Review asap.
9am ~~ It was one of Those Nights of not being able to sleep, and I surprised myself by reading all the way to a few pages into chapter ten of this book.
I also surprised myself by discovering that I was not enjoying the story very much at all.
I had read it years ago, but could not remember anything about it until I got a few chapters in. I don't remember how I felt about it back then, but I suspect I kept it just to add to my collection of Books By Veterinarians Other Than James Herriot rather than for any truly standout moments.
Dr. McCormack tells about the early years of his practice in Choctaw County Alabama, back in the 1960's.This was a sequel to an earlier book which I do not have and have not read.
I could appreciate the usual struggles of a country vet (beginning the book, as so many do, with a cow that has a prolapsed uterus) and the characters Dr. M talks about. I did enjoy the chapter about giving rabies clinics. The vet clinic I worked for way back when had such a clinic once and I still smile about the hairy young man and his girlfriend who brought their dog for shots. They paid with a pile of loose coins. I can't remember what the cost of the shots were but I do remember Dr. S signaling me to accept the coins on faith and not try to count them. I can't imagine how long it must have taken the couple to collect enough money to use for their beloved and sweet tempered dog.
But back to Dr. M. Somehow I never could identify with him as a person. He seemed to complain an awful lot, or maybe he was just trying to make his points about people who called in the middle of the night for things that should have or could have been taken care of during office hours. Every vet manages to comment about such things, usually more than once in each book.
I guess that is what finally kept me from wanting to continue the book. I started feeling like I was reading the same events as in other books, just with different people and with a grumpier narrator. Of course this is the danger of reading about veterinary life. After all, it is pretty much the same everywhere you go, right? I knew this going in, but when it comes to reading yet another story about penning cattle with the so-called help of three less than capable farmhands, I got discouraged.
I started off with 15 books in this little personal challenge. This is number 6, the second one I am marking as a DNF, and the third one I did not enjoy as much as I expected to. So I have decided to read just one more title from the pile and then close the clinic. I will put the rest of my Veterinary Author books back into the bookcases until someday when I might be tempted to give them another chance.
DNF at 100 pages.
9am ~~ It was one of Those Nights of not being able to sleep, and I surprised myself by reading all the way to a few pages into chapter ten of this book.
I also surprised myself by discovering that I was not enjoying the story very much at all.
I had read it years ago, but could not remember anything about it until I got a few chapters in. I don't remember how I felt about it back then, but I suspect I kept it just to add to my collection of Books By Veterinarians Other Than James Herriot rather than for any truly standout moments.
Dr. McCormack tells about the early years of his practice in Choctaw County Alabama, back in the 1960's.This was a sequel to an earlier book which I do not have and have not read.
I could appreciate the usual struggles of a country vet (beginning the book, as so many do, with a cow that has a prolapsed uterus) and the characters Dr. M talks about. I did enjoy the chapter about giving rabies clinics. The vet clinic I worked for way back when had such a clinic once and I still smile about the hairy young man and his girlfriend who brought their dog for shots. They paid with a pile of loose coins. I can't remember what the cost of the shots were but I do remember Dr. S signaling me to accept the coins on faith and not try to count them. I can't imagine how long it must have taken the couple to collect enough money to use for their beloved and sweet tempered dog.
But back to Dr. M. Somehow I never could identify with him as a person. He seemed to complain an awful lot, or maybe he was just trying to make his points about people who called in the middle of the night for things that should have or could have been taken care of during office hours. Every vet manages to comment about such things, usually more than once in each book.
I guess that is what finally kept me from wanting to continue the book. I started feeling like I was reading the same events as in other books, just with different people and with a grumpier narrator. Of course this is the danger of reading about veterinary life. After all, it is pretty much the same everywhere you go, right? I knew this going in, but when it comes to reading yet another story about penning cattle with the so-called help of three less than capable farmhands, I got discouraged.
I started off with 15 books in this little personal challenge. This is number 6, the second one I am marking as a DNF, and the third one I did not enjoy as much as I expected to. So I have decided to read just one more title from the pile and then close the clinic. I will put the rest of my Veterinary Author books back into the bookcases until someday when I might be tempted to give them another chance.
DNF at 100 pages.
November 20, 2010
This book was a really good read. Sadly, I only had time to read it for about 5 minutes a day, so it took me a while to finish. By the end, I felt like I knew Doc John and his family, not to mention all the folks who were prominent in the small town. My favorite part was near the very end when Dr. McCormack describes the lengths one philanthropic townsman went to to acquire radiographs for his injured bull calf's broken leg. I admire the ingenuity Doc showed in designing affordable treatments and the grace under fire when people questioned his rates or his practices. It's exactly the inspiration I needed as I venture toward mixed animal veterinary practice, no matter the debt.
May 25, 2009
This is the American version of James Herriot's tales of life as a veterinarian in rural England. Set in the 1960's in Alabama, it's a great true story of what it's like to treat both large and small animals and interact with their owners. I loved John McCormack's tongue in cheek sense of humor!
February 6, 2017
A very good book. The true story of a country veterinarian and his first year in a new country city. He sets up his practice with a new clinic, and tells of all his life experiences with farm animals, and domestic pets. The book is written with humor and adventure.
August 7, 2012
Great sequel.
July 11, 2015
I am so very happy he wrote this sequel. It is comfort food.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews