Whiskers, Feathers & Fur

Veterinary Tales

By: Austin Donnelly

Narrated by: Derek Carney

Compelling and wonderfully descriptive, Austin recalls his life experiences as a veterinarian travelling the globe, from his native Ireland to the far reaches of Australia and New Zealand. While not always glamorous, this collection of stories is achingly honest and utterly captivating. With many laughs along the way, listeners will delight in accompanying him on his amazing journey.

Far from presenting a traditional outlook, Austin knows that the true measure of his worth stems from his ability to travel and gain knowledge through opportunities too many others never get, in learning about our animal counterparts and how to take care of them.

Many of the animals he encounters leave the listener with a sense of familiarity. Austin describes situations animals get themselves into, procedures that need to be done, and so much more. There is seldom a typical day in his life. From farm animals, to domestic, and everything in between, Austin encounters some pretty interesting creatures around the world.

This book captures the real sense of connection between a vet and those who rely on his services, all while being acutely aware of the very special bond between animal and owner. The animals rightly take center stage, and their unique personalities shine through in this beautifully written and narrated memoir.

The real love, compassion, and awareness shown toward all his charges is evident, making this a very touching listen. With dashes of nostalgia, a deep appreciation of nature, and the great outdoors, this collection of poignant, quirky, and unpredictable short animal stories will not disappoint.

Whiskers, Feathers and Fur is a must-listen for lovers of the James Herriot series, whilst also offering some fresh 21st century perspectives.

©2020 Austin Donnelly (P)2020 Austin Donnelly

Funny Tails

This was a fun book to listen to. I love animal stories and these didn’t let me down

Delightfully Fun and Captivating Short Stories

From the beginning to the end of this audiobook, Austin Donnelly (author) regales his listeners with stories of his experiences as a child and a veterinarian. Most moms expect to find surprises in their children’s laundry but Austin Donnelly, gives a whole new perspective! For Mrs. Donnelly, her greatest fear was of what creature might crawl from her son’s pockets. Not one to disappoint, Austin Donnelly hilariously describes one expedition to the ocean where he brings his mother some shells only to have an octopus crawl forth and land in his mom’s lap.

A world-traveled veterinarian, Donnelly details his experiences with domestic to wild animals around the world. Beautifully told, Donnelly reveals deep compassion for all animals and their owners with deep heartfelt love. There is nothing ordinary about Donnelly or his work. If you need a light listen with some quirky, yet moving short stories peppered with humor, sadness, and joy … this is the book for you!

Derek Carney, the narrator, performs this book with ease and delivers each story with just the right amount of emotion. His voice flows smoothly with each story, his accent proves to be just as endearing as his ability to perform this candid and charming collection of stories.

There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook.

Preview audio first

The reader’s delivery style was dull to me. I’ve listened to many British, Irish and Australian accents on other audio books but this delivery was different so it wasn’t the accent. I can’t find the correct words to describe it. I thought I would get used to it but I didn’t . Maybe better to read it instead of listening to. Just suggest you preview the audio first to see if it works for you. I may try and just read it instead.