Advance praise for All Creatures Weird and Dangerous

From Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald - friend, colleague, stand up comedian, star, Animal Planet’s Emergency Vets, and advocate for the animals of the world

Real and mythological animals play a huge role in our folklore and in our memory as a species. Things we cannot explain or are afraid of remain a giant part of our shared psychology. Dr Timm Otterson provides a nice blend of traditional creatures of timeless legend and the modern science of veterinary medicine with a very readable recipe. Wanting to believe is what has kept Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the shadowy animals of these fables alive. Sit back and enjoy these stories and meet a new legendary being with each chapter.

From Paul Dyster, the former Mayor of Niagara Falls, NY, environmental advocate, and brewmaster

Ever wondered what your friendly neighborhood veterinarian gets up to when he or she is not busy vaccinating Fluffy or pulling thorns from Fido's paws?  Well, if Timm Otterson's account of his dealings with "creatures weird and dangerous" is any indication, it may be a lot more interesting than you suspect.  From the moment a local girl with a strange injured animal--it turns out to be a real-life specimen of the legendary Chupacabra--seeks his help while he's visiting Puerto Rico, Otterson's rapidly-evolving relationship with the brave new world of cryptozoology takes him (and his readers) on a roller coaster ride through a series of increasingly bizarre and entertaining incidents involving animal patients that are, well... let's just say highly unusual.  Along the way, with an exquisite attention to routine details that makes his extraordinary experiences come alive for the reader, Otterson manages to educate us on the makings of a career in veterinary medicine, give us the flavor of a number of exotic, mostly wild places, introduce us to some pretty eccentric people, and even offer commentary on the ongoing global environmental crisis and our often feeble efforts to preserve endangered species.

At a time when social media spouts equal parts real scientific breakthrough and pseudo- or even phoney "science," the average layperson is often left to his or her own devices trying to determine which is which.  Otterson's vision is of a world damaged and threatened by man's callousness toward nature, but where Mother Nature still has a few discoveries to be made, a few secrets to tell, a few tricks up her sleeve.  Most of us expect to live out our lives without encountering a creature long thought to be extinct, or merely the stuff of legend--let alone being made responsible for its health and well-being. Otterson, the ever-helpful friend of creatures both mundane and fantastic, leaves the impression he didn't think his interest in nature would take him on an improbable journey through the world of strange and mysterious creatures either--until it did.  Luckily, he's willing to take us along, and if you're like me, you will turn each page in eager anticipation of what new adventure--and what strange and possibly dangerous creature--lurks just ahead!

Michael Groves, DVM, PhD, Dean Emeritus of LSU School of Veterinary Medicine

It is a basic truism that the American public believes that physicians and dentists treat all of our physical ailments and that the rest of the sufferings of the animal kingdom are the responsibilities of veterinarians.

Every young veterinarian discovers this shortly after graduation when a mother brings in her son’s sick hamster or a kindhearted motorist finds an injured owl beside the road or a client pulls his or her ailing pet snake out of a cardboard box.

While most veterinarians end up specializing in farm animals or household pets, there are a very few that accept the challenge that if it is sick and walks, crawls, swims, or flies, they will undertake to relieve their suffering. And, for those that do, the world can be a very exciting place. Fortunately for us, Dr. Timm Otterson is one of those veterinarians, and he has written a wonderfully entertaining book detailing his adventures.

From Susan E. Wylegala, DVM, former President of the New York State Veterinary Medical Society

This is marvelous nonfiction and if you enjoy animals and exploration, you will love this book, and if you are a venturesome young person, you might even be inspired to become an animal doctor.

Such a treat to be taken on so many wonderful adventures and encounters. With each story, we become more engrossed and entranced. I found myself eagerly awaiting each chapter and smiling from ear to ear. Just delightful!

Timm gives us permission to leave our own self contained world and, for a brief time, take a glimpse of a set of new possibilities.  BRAVO

From Mark Sommer, journalist at the Buffalo News and author of Rocky Colavito: Cleveland’s Iconic Slugger

Timm Otterson has a flair for storytelling combined with an economical writing style that effortlessly propels his subject matter forward. In “All Creatures Weird and Dangerous,” Dr. Otterson, writing through a veterinarian’s lens, tells of chupacabras, sasquatch and other fantastic creatures in a fast-paced story that’s sure to enchant readers.