The Animals Came In One By One

by Buster Lloyd-Jones

W. L. Lloyd-Jones is thought of by thousands of animal lovers in Britain and elsewhere as perhaps the most skillful veterinary surgeon ever to have practiced his art. He is known to them all as Buster. Illness incapacitated him a few years ago, and so he has now had time to tell the story of his life -- modestly, humorously, without affectation.

It makes enthralling reading, whether Buster is feeding lion cubs from a baby bottle, trying to persuade Sir Winston Churchill not to stuff his poodle with chocolates, curing J. V. Rank's wolfhounds and Great Danes of streptococcal infection, wiring a tortoise's jaws after a collision with a lawn mower, or mending a porcupine's nose while trying to keep a safe distance from its quills.

He has treated the pets of the great and the humble -- and the eccentric. (He remarks that the Englishman's reputation for being dotty about animals is fully justified, and tells enough anecdotes to prove it.)

He has given a home to cats and dogs, rabbits, goats, parrots, monkeys, snakes. During World War II, when pets by the thousands had to be abandoned by evacuated families, he bought a ten-acre estate where he housed nearly two hundred dogs and proportionate numbers of every other known variety of pet.

Today, confined to a wheelchair, he still lives in Brighton. From his home he watches the dogs of Brighton and, he says, feels like Mr. Chips, knowing that many of them -- or their parents or grandparents -- were his patients.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Memoir

159 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[Anna]

I read this (and managed to obtain a copy) many years ago. I absolutely adore this book and felt a review was warranted even if belated. Outstanding - I don't believe they write them quite like this anymore.

[Krystal]

I first read this book when I was at school, I think I had the hardback edition on more or less permanent loan from the library. It's the autobiography of Buster Lloyd-Jones, once the most famous Veterinary Surgeon in Britain, & the founder, in 1951, of Denes (Natural Pet Care).

It's charming and funny and sad.

The lengths he would go to to save an animal were amazing, his compassion shines through, he was what a Veterinary Surgeon SHOULD be. There are very many today who could learn from him.

It's because of this book, I became interested in homoeopathic, herbal, & other so called alternative medicine for both animals & humans.

I did have the 1969 Fontana Paperback edition, but I lent it to somebody, I now have the one shown here, it's one of those books I always meant to own & I finally bought it from http://www.ebid.net in June this year.

[Bionic Jean]

Interesting and very readable autobiography of the man who founded the company "Denes" Herbal Veterinary Medicines.

[Snickerdoodle]

This was an easy pleasant read. This is a man who had a big heart for animals of all kinds all his life. He had polio when he was younger and it left him unable to serve in the British military during WWII so he stayed home and took care of the animal. Quite a feat. Some of his stories seem improbable but the story may be missing details that make it more likely. Altogether it was an interesting story.

[Liz]

I picked this up at a book exchange on holiday when I was eight. Slowly burning to a crisp on the beach I fell in love with the book. The life story of a man who truly loved animals and did his utmost to help them. The section that remains with me was during the second world war and the menagrie that he cared for during air raids. The little Daschunds in the author's care were bewitching.

[Drahcir10001]

Entertaining insight into 40’s era London and Southern England via short easy relating by Buster of his life as an animal lover and vet. Buster was the “Supervet” of his time and this makes a light amusing read, non judgemental. Some of the politics and society of the time come through simple observations while Buster relates each anecdote.

[Maxine]

A re-read of this delightful story. I found a passion for natural remedies after first reading this as a child. A lovely, easy read.

[Sarah Hunnewell]

I just discovered this book (once owned by my grandmother) in my bookcase. What a lovely and charming surprise. Wonderful animal and human stories about an extraordinary man.

[ez]

could be more clinical ig

[Louise]

I absolutely loved this book!! An amazing story of one man’s passion for animals and their welfare. I would thoroughly recommend it.

[Oyvind Halvorsen]

Lest i norsk oversettelse

[Kirsti]

I remember first reading this book, many years ago now. I was young, maybe 12 or 13, and I picked up a paperback version for 50 cents. Soon I had read the book more times than I could count, and my love of it grew with each reread. Unfortunately, this copy, much loved before I owned it, fell apart, and over the years, pages went missing, or tore and I was left with a very sad copy indeed. I have been searching for a new copy for some time, but most of the listings on ebay and such were paypal only. To my delight, I found a user last week willing to let me pay via bank deposit, and once again I came to own one of my favorite books.

Now, that is the story of how this book came back to my collection, and the lengths that I went to should assure you that this book is a special one indeed. It is the Autobiography of Buster Lloyd Jones, one of the pioneers in animal health and especially in natural remedies. He tells his story with such quirkiness, jumping from one animal to the next as he is reminded of a certain animal's antics. The reader follows along, drawn by his sense of love with each, his grief when the animal passes away. The most obvious factor in this book is his love of animals, from the bats that get caught in his tennis court netting as a child, to some lion cubs traveling with a circus, to the many animals abandoned with the threat of war. Although long before my time, I was left with the impression that Buster was so forward thinking, with so many views similar to my own regarding animal welfare, that even at 12 I could love this book. Years later, and armed with a new copy, this will once again fall back into my regular reading schedule and a very welcome addition at that.

[Gale]

An amazing book: my ultimate favourite. I loved it when I was 7 and I still enjoy reading it now at 40 somthing. A autobiography about a man who despite health and family objections, went on to become a world famous vet and advocate of natural remedies well before these things were fashionable. Full of anecdotes of the many animals he worked with, involving them fully with his life story so you learn to love them as well as Buster. Funny, cleverly written and perfect for any animal lover or spiritual person who just wants a good read.

[Janet Munger]

LOVE this memoir. If you love James Herriot I believe you will love this one too. I am struck by the number of reviews that mention reading this one over and over. Me, too. What is especially intriguing is the relationship he has with the animals in his life and the lengths he goes to for them. I felt part of a special life while reading this book.

[Jessika]

Vet stories. I can never get sick of them. This book is about his experiences with all sorts of animals, tending to them when he has nothing. Through the war, animal reunions, and hilarious owners he has come across.

[erin]

A cute read recommended to me by my grandmother. Heartwarming, funny, remarkable and at times quite sad, this is a book for animals lovers of all ages.

[Jonathan Hutchins]

I haven't re-read this since I was a child. Moving and quite sad