Birddogvet
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2022
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I know. You've got classes. Perhaps during your limited free time, you want to read something with a veterinary theme. I get it. I was there once. A librarian will send you to the 636 shelf of the dozen or so veterinary memoirs like James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small. Otherwise, in fiction, it's the children's section for Dr. Dolittle or as a secondary love interest in romance. Well, now there is something specifically written for you. The Vet's Apprentice
What if Princess Leia wished to become an animal doctor, Darth Vader wanted to eliminate the planet’s animals, and Obi-Wan Kenobi was a vet?
When Luna Auer loses her scholarship to a prestigious prep school, through no fault of her own, she goes to a remote planet on a work-study program to continue her education. Once there, she finds that the very corporation she is working for plans to eliminate the planet’s unique animal population. With the help of an eccentric motorcycle-riding local veterinarian and his canideleon (a dog x chameleon) companion, she uses her knowledge of biology, chemistry, and physics to stop it.
Will Luna be able to adapt, improvise and be willing to risk life and limb, or even sell her soul to fulfill a dream?
Beta readers requested. No pressure, just feedback.
First chapter sample:
Dogs and cats also have five toes on each foot, but only four of theirs touch the ground. Some birds and sloths have three claws, while cows and sheep stand on two hooved toes. The horse, the ballerina among us, gallops on one.
It was too early for the day to begin. Awoken by the unwelcome chirp of his bedside comm, the trainer left his bed to be at the barn for the arrival and unloading of a new horse. Without time for breakfast, he watched the sun rise as he chewed on a stalk of hay. Bleary-eyed, the handler stood by, winding and rewinding a lead rope. For all he cared, paid by the hour, he could stand there all day. The irritable red-faced supervisor, having argued with his wife the night before, had slept poorly. He paced the stable doorway, talking to himself, coming up with things for the groom to do. None of them commented on the hour, nor mentioned the conspicuous absence of the new owner. The groggy, curly-haired groom, leaning against a guardrail, yawned long and wide. His broad smile centered on the girl he had kissed the night before. He outstretched his arms and rubbed the sleep off his face before alerting the others to the oncoming trailer rig.
A reinforced trailer hovercraft circled the lot. The supervisor’s cheeks flushed. “Heads up,” he said. While the rig backed into the dock, the trailer’s steel walls rumbled, and its suspension swayed. Demons banging on the gates of hell could not have made themselves better known. The handler nervously clicked the lead rope snap, while the trainer and groom undid the trailer latches. The ramp lowered. A dent pounding whack and the ramp flew out of their hands. A cloud of dust blocked their view. Ear ringing banshee shrieks deafened. A dark, blurred mass lunged. Ironed flat ears, flared nostrils, and bucking hooves followed. Anything, caught in its way, got bitten, trampled, or stomped. This horse acted like he wanted to bring back the bygone days of bronco busting. He kicked out a trailer door and flattened the trainer’s boot. Guard rails toppled over. The stallion chomped the supervisor’s shoulder and flung him across the landing. The handler was left with rope burns. Knocked over, the groom sat in the dirt, shaking cobwebs out of his head. The supervisor patted himself on the back as he hobbled off. In part, to staunch the flow of blood, but mostly, to congratulate himself for getting away alive.
In the course of a few hours, the Wild West had happened all over again. Unadulterated chaos reigned up and down the stable aisle.
Observing from a hayloft, the calico barn cat swished her tail from side to side. She lay there, content to watch. Only when a swarm of obscenities was sworn in a multitude of languages did she close her eyes and scratch her whiskers.
How no one got seriously hurt, getting the frenzied horse into a stall was anyone’s guess. The only witnesses left standing were the cat and stabled horses. They scored the first encounter, Horse=4 : Humans=0.
The main event would take place that afternoon. Bookies would have their odds-on favorite. Two contestants: one big mean horse versus a slight but spunky teenage girl.
What if Princess Leia wished to become an animal doctor, Darth Vader wanted to eliminate the planet’s animals, and Obi-Wan Kenobi was a vet?
When Luna Auer loses her scholarship to a prestigious prep school, through no fault of her own, she goes to a remote planet on a work-study program to continue her education. Once there, she finds that the very corporation she is working for plans to eliminate the planet’s unique animal population. With the help of an eccentric motorcycle-riding local veterinarian and his canideleon (a dog x chameleon) companion, she uses her knowledge of biology, chemistry, and physics to stop it.
Will Luna be able to adapt, improvise and be willing to risk life and limb, or even sell her soul to fulfill a dream?
Beta readers requested. No pressure, just feedback.
First chapter sample:
Dogs and cats also have five toes on each foot, but only four of theirs touch the ground. Some birds and sloths have three claws, while cows and sheep stand on two hooved toes. The horse, the ballerina among us, gallops on one.
It was too early for the day to begin. Awoken by the unwelcome chirp of his bedside comm, the trainer left his bed to be at the barn for the arrival and unloading of a new horse. Without time for breakfast, he watched the sun rise as he chewed on a stalk of hay. Bleary-eyed, the handler stood by, winding and rewinding a lead rope. For all he cared, paid by the hour, he could stand there all day. The irritable red-faced supervisor, having argued with his wife the night before, had slept poorly. He paced the stable doorway, talking to himself, coming up with things for the groom to do. None of them commented on the hour, nor mentioned the conspicuous absence of the new owner. The groggy, curly-haired groom, leaning against a guardrail, yawned long and wide. His broad smile centered on the girl he had kissed the night before. He outstretched his arms and rubbed the sleep off his face before alerting the others to the oncoming trailer rig.
A reinforced trailer hovercraft circled the lot. The supervisor’s cheeks flushed. “Heads up,” he said. While the rig backed into the dock, the trailer’s steel walls rumbled, and its suspension swayed. Demons banging on the gates of hell could not have made themselves better known. The handler nervously clicked the lead rope snap, while the trainer and groom undid the trailer latches. The ramp lowered. A dent pounding whack and the ramp flew out of their hands. A cloud of dust blocked their view. Ear ringing banshee shrieks deafened. A dark, blurred mass lunged. Ironed flat ears, flared nostrils, and bucking hooves followed. Anything, caught in its way, got bitten, trampled, or stomped. This horse acted like he wanted to bring back the bygone days of bronco busting. He kicked out a trailer door and flattened the trainer’s boot. Guard rails toppled over. The stallion chomped the supervisor’s shoulder and flung him across the landing. The handler was left with rope burns. Knocked over, the groom sat in the dirt, shaking cobwebs out of his head. The supervisor patted himself on the back as he hobbled off. In part, to staunch the flow of blood, but mostly, to congratulate himself for getting away alive.
In the course of a few hours, the Wild West had happened all over again. Unadulterated chaos reigned up and down the stable aisle.
Observing from a hayloft, the calico barn cat swished her tail from side to side. She lay there, content to watch. Only when a swarm of obscenities was sworn in a multitude of languages did she close her eyes and scratch her whiskers.
How no one got seriously hurt, getting the frenzied horse into a stall was anyone’s guess. The only witnesses left standing were the cat and stabled horses. They scored the first encounter, Horse=4 : Humans=0.
The main event would take place that afternoon. Bookies would have their odds-on favorite. Two contestants: one big mean horse versus a slight but spunky teenage girl.
