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I Never Met an Animal I Didn't Like
The author recounts his experiences with animals and discusses the neglect and cruelty of government agencies, the callousness of scientists, and the thoughtlessness of pet owners
201 pages, Library Binding
First published April 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 17, 2023
Jan 10, 3pm ~~ Review asap.
730pm ~~ This second book by Dr. Foster (aka Dr. Wildlife) dealt less with the setting up of his wildlife hospital and more with individual stories from his practice. We get to meet a few of the people who live nearby and have the same passion for animals, and we get to know Dr. Foster himself a little better.
That is not to say he does not get as passionate in this book as in the first one. Many chapters that begin with a wild patient and his or her treatment end almost in lectures about The Way Things Should Be. And you can't blame Dr. Foster for this. He knew he was running out of time.
I think some of my favorite scenes in this book came when Dr. Foster was remembering moments with his wife Linda, especially the night they went fishing and caught (or were caught by) something completely unexpected. It was a beautiful story that celebrated their partnership and his feelings for her.
This book is dedicated "To all who suffer from neuromuscular disorders, and to their families and their friends."
That is because just before the publication of Dr. Foster's first book, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). But the only time he mentions this topic is in that dedication and in a short introduction where he explains that he and his family are in a log cabin near Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and that they are looking back in time to their early days, the early days filled with work that is no longer possible for him to perform. The point of this book was to write about those early days and the special moments the couple shared, but not to complain about the unexpected disastrous change in their lives.
The final chapter was written by Linda Foster. She explains a little about how life got turned upside down after the diagnosis but how Dr. Foster did not want this book to focus on loss. Just two and a half years after the diagnosis he was confined to a wheelchair and was beginning to lose his ability to speak. In this chapter you feel the horror of living with this disease, of seeing someone you love dying by inches because of it. But you also feel the love between these two and their love for the life they built together. He did not want this book to turn into anything other than a celebration of life, and that is what it is.
Even with the final chapter that will make you cry.
730pm ~~ This second book by Dr. Foster (aka Dr. Wildlife) dealt less with the setting up of his wildlife hospital and more with individual stories from his practice. We get to meet a few of the people who live nearby and have the same passion for animals, and we get to know Dr. Foster himself a little better.
That is not to say he does not get as passionate in this book as in the first one. Many chapters that begin with a wild patient and his or her treatment end almost in lectures about The Way Things Should Be. And you can't blame Dr. Foster for this. He knew he was running out of time.
I think some of my favorite scenes in this book came when Dr. Foster was remembering moments with his wife Linda, especially the night they went fishing and caught (or were caught by) something completely unexpected. It was a beautiful story that celebrated their partnership and his feelings for her.
This book is dedicated "To all who suffer from neuromuscular disorders, and to their families and their friends."
That is because just before the publication of Dr. Foster's first book, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). But the only time he mentions this topic is in that dedication and in a short introduction where he explains that he and his family are in a log cabin near Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and that they are looking back in time to their early days, the early days filled with work that is no longer possible for him to perform. The point of this book was to write about those early days and the special moments the couple shared, but not to complain about the unexpected disastrous change in their lives.
The final chapter was written by Linda Foster. She explains a little about how life got turned upside down after the diagnosis but how Dr. Foster did not want this book to focus on loss. Just two and a half years after the diagnosis he was confined to a wheelchair and was beginning to lose his ability to speak. In this chapter you feel the horror of living with this disease, of seeing someone you love dying by inches because of it. But you also feel the love between these two and their love for the life they built together. He did not want this book to turn into anything other than a celebration of life, and that is what it is.
Even with the final chapter that will make you cry.
June 3, 2023
I just finished and I have to say that I’m absolutely loving animal related memoirs this year. This one was perfect.
Doctor Foster was a veterinarian in the 70s and 80s who tragically developed ALS. Through reading his stories it’s clear the world lost a good man. We need more like him. Those who appreciate every sentient life, are courageous to stand up to suspect decisions from the DNR, and who have the compassion to provide care for animals for free (or an affordable cost).
I so related to quotes throughout this book. One especially stood out: “The truth is, I’ve never met an animal I didn’t like. There were some people I did not particularly care for.” If that doesn’t sum me up as a person…
It had to have been difficult to practice in this field while disagreeing with the DNR. I’m sure Dr. Foster would have disagreed with the Humane Society as well. He wrote about how he was slow to euthanize and would always try to help any animal who could be saved. As someone who was briefly in the modern animal care field, I need more heroes to look up to like Dr. Foster.
In case it wasn’t obvious, I gave this book 5⭐️ and I 100% recommend it to all readers
Doctor Foster was a veterinarian in the 70s and 80s who tragically developed ALS. Through reading his stories it’s clear the world lost a good man. We need more like him. Those who appreciate every sentient life, are courageous to stand up to suspect decisions from the DNR, and who have the compassion to provide care for animals for free (or an affordable cost).
I so related to quotes throughout this book. One especially stood out: “The truth is, I’ve never met an animal I didn’t like. There were some people I did not particularly care for.” If that doesn’t sum me up as a person…
It had to have been difficult to practice in this field while disagreeing with the DNR. I’m sure Dr. Foster would have disagreed with the Humane Society as well. He wrote about how he was slow to euthanize and would always try to help any animal who could be saved. As someone who was briefly in the modern animal care field, I need more heroes to look up to like Dr. Foster.
In case it wasn’t obvious, I gave this book 5⭐️ and I 100% recommend it to all readers
November 24, 2024
A plainspoken and relatively short but pleasant account of northwoods veterinary work, mostly about cases treating injured local wildlife. Many interesting animals pass through his clinic, from your standard orphan fawn and injured birds of prey, to a loon with a slightly crumpled beak and a full-grown and ferocious fisher.
Although, as cute as the animals are, many of the circumstances are less pleasant. He's got a lot of problems with you people (people who care about money or bureaucratic and scientific policy more than animals), and this is his Festivus-style Airing of Grievances platform to lambast roadside zoos [which are in fact horrible; this chapter was the toughest read], the DNR, dumping pets from cars, steel traps, the exotic pet trade, people who don't think their pet's life is worth more than fifty dollars of healthcare, and biologists who hurt animals in the name of science (to be fair, this particular example does make the blood boil -- ).
The tangents on fishing are also pretty tedious, even though one of them results in saving an adorable kitten and flying it home from Alaska, and another eventually winds its way to "and that's the story of how my wife accidentally caught an owl instead of a fish." (they were casting at dusk near the shore, and the owl grabbed the "gray mouse" lure out of the air, necessitating a quick capture and impromptu hook removal from its talons on the boat)
Still, an enjoyable set of stories that reads like you're talking to a chatty neighbor. It's terrible that he only had about a decade to practice his profession before ALS ended it, but wonderful that he put so much good into the world before then. I also enjoyed the full-page black and white photos interspersed throughout the text.
3.5 stars rounded up for now, mostly because I apparently read his first book 20 years ago and gave it 4 stars, though I honestly cannot remember a thing about it.
Although, as cute as the animals are, many of the circumstances are less pleasant. He's got a lot of problems with you people (people who care about money or bureaucratic and scientific policy more than animals), and this is his Festivus-style Airing of Grievances platform to lambast roadside zoos [which are in fact horrible; this chapter was the toughest read], the DNR, dumping pets from cars, steel traps, the exotic pet trade, people who don't think their pet's life is worth more than fifty dollars of healthcare, and biologists who hurt animals in the name of science (to be fair, this particular example does make the blood boil -- ).
The tangents on fishing are also pretty tedious, even though one of them results in saving an adorable kitten and flying it home from Alaska, and another eventually winds its way to "and that's the story of how my wife accidentally caught an owl instead of a fish." (they were casting at dusk near the shore, and the owl grabbed the "gray mouse" lure out of the air, necessitating a quick capture and impromptu hook removal from its talons on the boat)
Still, an enjoyable set of stories that reads like you're talking to a chatty neighbor. It's terrible that he only had about a decade to practice his profession before ALS ended it, but wonderful that he put so much good into the world before then. I also enjoyed the full-page black and white photos interspersed throughout the text.
3.5 stars rounded up for now, mostly because I apparently read his first book 20 years ago and gave it 4 stars, though I honestly cannot remember a thing about it.
August 4, 2018
This book was different from what I was expecting. There were the endearing, funny, and tragic stories of Dr. Foster saving various animals, which I loved, but the writing was sometimes a bit rambling and could be a tad boring. For instance, in the middle of an emotion-charged search through the woods for a fawn, Dr. Foster paused to describe a woodpecker in detail and have an internal debate on the type of woodpecker he was looking at. The story about fishing with his wife was a little uncomfortable. He didn't treat her very well and played it off like a joke. Ha ha, my wife can't do anything right, ha ha. Sigh. And he sometimes came off as condescending toward his customers. He chuckled when he saw a person with a cardboard box with holes poked in it because everyone knows cardboard boxes aren't air tight. Sheesh.!
He doesn't pull any punches in this book. He trashes the Department of Natural Resources, several owners, roadside zoos, steel traps, and more! He admits to doing several illegal things and doesn't seem to care that anyone might recognize their story and be mad. he he he. I bet that the fact that he died the same year this book was published might have something to do with that. Respect.
These books are likened to James Herriot's books on the jacket and I can see the resemblance, but I'm afraid the writing quality isn't the same. He does find himself in ridiculous situations being in a small town where everyone knows him sometimes. I loved it when his client saw him picking up roadkill and told him to charge more. he he he
He doesn't pull any punches in this book. He trashes the Department of Natural Resources, several owners, roadside zoos, steel traps, and more! He admits to doing several illegal things and doesn't seem to care that anyone might recognize their story and be mad. he he he. I bet that the fact that he died the same year this book was published might have something to do with that. Respect.
These books are likened to James Herriot's books on the jacket and I can see the resemblance, but I'm afraid the writing quality isn't the same. He does find himself in ridiculous situations being in a small town where everyone knows him sometimes. I loved it when his client saw him picking up roadkill and told him to charge more. he he he
January 18, 2025
This was great. Wildlife veterinarian and his wife from Wisconsin. Dogs/cats, owls, beavers, fawns...ect. He wrote about different cases and had a lovely fluidity that made this easy and fun to read. Enjoyed this alot.
March 6, 2020
I read this book as a teenager. It was my absolute favorite. Anyone who is an animal lover will enjoy this book.
June 1, 2011
This book is about a vet how along with treating the normal animals such as cats and dogs, treats wildlife like ducks, beavers, and fawns.
I enjoy this book, it can be a little dull at times, but is very amusing at others.
I enjoy this book, it can be a little dull at times, but is very amusing at others.
October 16, 2021
So very good. A suprising jewel I found for a quarter in the library discard bin.
Read
May 20, 2019This was interesting. I admired Dr. Foster's passion for animals, particularly wildlife. The last chapter was bravely written by his wife.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews