SAN MATEO, Calif., March 20, 2009 — To be a person of conviction is not unique. One encounters people of conviction every day. But just how far are most people willing to go to follow their convictions? “Living with Animals: Hardy’s Justice” (published by iUniverse), by Nellis C. Boyer, follows the exploits of a rural California veterinarian as he champions the cause of animal rights.
To the outside world Dr. Hardy Johns is the typical James Harriet-esque rural veterinarian. He treats animals large and small. He makes house calls. He whelps litters of puppies and sets broken bones. Once Johns’ son Will graduates from veterinarian school, he joins Johns the elder in his rural practice. However, there is far more to Dr. Hardy Johns than the outside world perceives. Behind the facade, Dr. Johns is part of a rather militant underground animal welfare group called “The Movement.” Together with his free-spirited friend Marion Myles and other like-minded individuals, The Movement seeks to free animals from cruel circumstances by whatever means necessary.
The resolve of Hardy Johns and The Movement are poignantly demonstrated in the opening pages of “Living with Animals.” After repeated warnings, Hardy Johns has become completely disgusted with Lester Scroggin. An alcoholic recluse, Scroggin has become cruel and unbalanced as he has aged. Johns has watched Scroggin do increasingly more sadistic things to animals for his own enjoyment. Johns can no longer stand by and watch as Scroggin maims and murders the creatures Johns works so hard to care for.
She was a Border collie, what was left of her, mostly just bones showing through a shaggy mat of tri-colored hair. It was all she could do to raise herself, but she did, ever willing to please. Ten feet of heavy chain tethered her to a steel pole in the ground. She could move in a circle, dragging her burden around the rut she’d worn in her space, but the bucket of dirty water was fifteen feet away next to the bowl of food. She knew they were there, but they did her no good.
Not programmed to comprehend the deliberate, sadistic nature of the human, her canine brain reacted instinctively, and once again she was hopeful that this time there would be food. The old man shook the bag and grinned, watching in perverse pleasure as his captive swayed with the effort of standing upright.
Nellis C. Boyer was born in Sacramento, CA, but grew up in San Mateo. Motivated by the deep desire to be her own boss, Boyer became a real estate agent in 1975 and worked in the Bay Area. In 1993, Boyer and her husband moved to a 17-acre ranch in Lake County, CA. Boyer has two children and three grandchildren. To learn more about Nellis C. Boyer and her other projects, including her sequel to “Living with Animals: Hardy’s Justice” called “Living with Animals: Hardy’s Vengeance,” go to http://www.NellisBoyer.com
iUniverse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit www.iuniverse.com.
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