This is the second book of Taylor's I've read (the first being another one of his story collections- `The Wandering Whale') and I really loved it. Though perhaps his books may appear a bit dated now (written 30 odd years ago) they remain no less important and are a real treasure for animal lovers.

This collection of anecdotes and stories is based around Taylor's experiences as a `Zoovet' and sees him travelling the globe to treat both sick/injured zoo animals as well as the most peculiar of `domestic' pets. It is really extraordinary what was considered to be a normal domestic pet only a few decades ago! The mind boggles, actually.

Some of the stories are funny; some are sad but all really make you think. One particular tale involving a couple of pilot whales really does make you consider the audacity and stupidity of some people. Cruelty to animals is also broached a few times in the book- more so than in his other one I'd say, as travelling circus' are discussed as well as abandoned zoos. Taylor's love of animals always shines through however- despite how you may or may not feel about zoos and the like personally- and his writing is excellent with vivid scene setting and clear descriptions of his animals.

I am really glad I took a chance on these books. They are a wonderful, wonderful read. I'm only sorry I have never seen the television series `One by One' upon which Taylor's books are based- regrettably it was around a little bit before my time.

*This review also appears on Amazon.co.uk* ( )

This one describes Taylor's work with animals at Belle Vue Zoo in Manchester, as well as his travels abroad to treat sick falcons in Saudi Arabia and the first panda to live in a zoo in Madrid. Among his animal patients are an armadillo who was kicked down a street by teenagers, a dolphin that needs a limp amputated, a deer with a dislocated eye, some killer whales with frostbite, cheetahs which have mysteriously been drugged, and young giraffes suffering from stress, on account of being included in a filmmaking project. The funniest chapter (although not its ending) was about a traveling circus where a chimpanzee took revenge on a parrot that constantly taunted him by sitting and crapping on his head while screaming dirty words at the crowd. The saddest chapter was reading about how the Belle Vue Zoo finally closed, and the difficulties finding places for all the animals to go. And of course like always, I was completely engaged with Taylor's easy writing style, and learning the interesting facts about animals.

from the DogEar Diary ( )