As the wife of a veterinarian in Michigan, Patti Eddington has seen closely how crucial vets are to those of us with pets. Particularly when they are in a small town, vets’ offices may play a large role in the welfare of the whole community. Eddington’s memoir, Don’t Look in the Freezer: The Very Strange Life of a Veterinarian’s Wife, gives readers a glimpse beyond the front desk and exam rooms that most people see when they bring pets in.

Eddington’s straightforward style is warm and inviting. She could be sitting down with a friend over a cup of coffee telling the stories behind the animals. In some cases that includes how clinic pets came to live there, or how a rescued pup ended up with only three legs. Some tales are not for the squeamish, but they’re also not graphic. Instead, they deal tenderly with the tough decisions and hard cases that vets deal with on a regular basis.

Eddington also sprinkles humor throughout. And it’s easy to see the personalities of the animals her family adopts through the years. Readers will certainly find comparisons to their own furry friends as well as gain an appreciation for the long hours and dedication to animal welfare that typically defines a veterinarian and the family effort that goes into supporting that.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book for review.