All Creatures Great and Small

All Creatures Great and Small

Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Inc. is a mixed animal veterinary clinic serving Orrville and the surrounding areas.  Being a mixed animal veterinary hospital, we have the privilege of treating nearly every type of animal.  This brings to mind the "All Creatures Great and Small" series of books by James Herriot.  Herriot was a veterinarian in Britain, who began practicing veterinary medicine in 1939.  His books have become a mainstay series of animal lovers everywhere and likely inspired many to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.  

While we do not truly treat and examine all creatures, we are one of very few animal clinics in the Orrville, Dalton, Rittman and surrounding areas who treat more than just cats and dogs.  We evaluate the following species:  Dogs, cats, horses, sheep, dairy cattle, beef cattle, goats, llamas, alpacas and white-tailed deer.  We also perform the occasional (limited) service on chickens, pet birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, pot-bellied pigs and other "exotic" species.  When we encounter a species that we are not highly familiar with, we often refer to a local exotic veterinarian, located in Wadsworth and Barberton.

James Herriot was a very skilled writer and story teller.  We have many stories to tell as well.  Many of our vets have treated farm animals that were down in the frozen creek, helped deliver calves and foals, spent the night in the clinic with sick patients and many more stories that we could share.  We will try to include many of these on our interactive website, so please take a look around to see our "tails."  Here is a list of stories that we hope to tell to help index them a bit.

Below is the poem that Herriot based the titles of his books upon.  We love that it is not only the basis for the series, but also a beautiful poem regarding our Creator.

Maker of Heaven and Earth

By Cecil Frances Alexander

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day;--

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

Article composed by Dr. Jeffrey Fink