Animal Book Launch to Celebrate OVC’s 150th Anniversary
June 01, 2012 - News Release
A new book celebrating our relationship with animals called Animal Companions, Animal Doctors, Animal People will launch with an author reading and signing June 5.
Edited by Prof. Elizabeth Stone, dean of the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), and Hilde Weisert, poet and co-founder of the Society for Veterinary Medicine and Literature, this anthology of poems, stories and essays explores such topics as the bond between veterinarians and animals, the “jobs” of the animals in our lives, and the role of animals in our imagination.
“Our book is for the people who speak for speechless animals and for the veterinarians who care for the health and well-being of both the animals and the people,” said Stone. “The readings explore the multitude of ways people see and relate to animals. They show that veterinarians do understand the human-animal interaction and the value of animals to their owners. We hope that the selections will help veterinary students and veterinarians renew their sense of purpose, reminding them, if necessary, why they wanted to become veterinarians.
“The anthology includes some pieces we knew about and requested, but most were contributed in answer to our open call for submissions. We are very fortunate that Lorna Crozier, a distinguished poet and an Officer of the Order of Canada, has selected five favourites in addition to contributing her own poems.
“As the poet Molly Peacock summarized in her contribution, this book is for ‘all those who understand that animal companions preserve for us the universe within.’”
The book contains works by other poets, including Mark Doty, Patrick Lane and Alison Norwich; stories from veterinarians and their clients; and contributions by a broadcaster, park ranger, actor, scientist, therapist, dancer, social worker, minister and linguist. The anthology has been published by OVC to mark the college’s 150th anniversary.
Said Weisert: “Many books have been published about animals and our relationship with them, but this is the first to bring in the perspective of and about the veterinarians who accompany us throughout our animals’ lifespans.”
Authors reading at the book launch will include Donna Curtin, an OVC graduate and Bruce County, Ont., veterinarian; Eufemia Fantetti, a poet and creative writing graduate student at U of G; and Prof. Jeff Thomason, Biomedical Sciences. Stone and Weisert will introduce the book and read from their own works also.
The event will take place at The Bookshelf in downtown Guelph June 5 at 7 p.m.
Contact:
Tara O'Brien
Project Manager, 150th Anniversary of OVC
Ontario Veterinary College
519-824-4120, Ext. 54402
tlobrien@uoguelph.ca
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, or lhunt@uoguelph.ca, or Shiona Mackenzie, Ext. 56982, or shiona@uoguelph.ca.
