Chapters 31-33 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 31 Herriot depicts the love that even a crotchety person can feel for an animal. Herriot is surprised when scrap metal dealer Walt Barnett calls his to see about a cat with a cut on its leg. Herriot tends to the wound, but Barnett calls him back a few days later when the cut is no better. When Herriot examines the leg more closely, he discovers there is a rubber band wrapped around the cat's leg. He removes it, and suggests to Barnett someone must have put it there on purpose. A few weeks later Barnett calls Herriot back to look at his cat. This time Herriot finds a rubber band has been placed around the cat's neck.

About a year later Herriot is called to treat the cat again. This time Barnett believes his animal has been...