Pit Stop to host book signing for ‘Rosie the Pig’ author on Friday
Veterinarian Dr. Rebekah Hartfield will be at the Pit Stop Bar-B-Q restaurant in Breckenridge from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, May 11, to sell and sign copies of her first book “Rosie the Pig.” Dr. Hartfield is the daughter-in-law of Rodney Hartfield, owner of Pit Stop.
Dr. Rebekah Hartfield
A native of Bridgeport, Texas, Dr. Hartfield lives on a ranch just outside of Cushing, Oklahoma, with her husband, Preston Hartfield, and eight horses, 30 cows, two bulls, 20 dogs, three cats, two goats and one pig. She is a 2016 graduate of Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences and cares for large breed animals at a clinic in Cushing.
According to a news release about Dr. Hartfield and her book, rural veterinarians are currently in high demand as young veterinarians forego rural America for urban clinics. But Dr. Hartfield is trying to change that by sharing her love of rural life and veterinary care one story at a time.
The Doctor Hartfield Veterinary Book Series focuses on stories about caring for large animals, like pigs and horses, to increase exposure and interest in large animal care. She hopes to spark a desire in young children to help care for some of the largest, most lovable and vital animals.
Her first book, “Rosie the Pig” was published in July 2017 and tells the story of Abby’s pig, Rosie, as Dr. H and Abby examine, diagnose and treat Rosie. Each book also features additional learning tools like quizzes and a glossary to help increase the reader’s knowledge.
“My love for animals started at birth at our home in Bridgeport, Texas,” Dr. Hartfield said in the news release. “Unfortunately, few kids have access to the ranch animals I grew up with in order to foster the same interest and love for them that I have. But every child does have access to books, and with my book series, I hope to at least spark an interest that will encourage more kids to consider rural veterinary care.”
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 17 percent of veterinarians work in food animal medicine, while more than 70 percent of veterinarians work with companion animals. The central region of the country – with stronger farming and ranching industries – are most heavily impacted, which could eventually impact the safety of the nation’s food supply.
“I love to read, I love to teach and I love veterinary medicine,” Dr. Hartfield said. “To me this was the perfect recipe to write a children’s book, but I didn’t just want to write about cats and dogs; I wanted to share real stories from my own farm.”
The books chronicle Abby, a young girl who lives on a farm, and Dr. H. as they examine, diagnose and treat various animals on Abby’s farm.
While there are a handful of educational books for children with a veterinary focus, very few – if any – focus on rural veterinary care featuring large breed animals typically seen and treated by rural vets.
Dr. Hartfield has a professional Facebook page (@doctorhartfield) and a website/blog (www.doctorhartfield.com), where she often writes about herself, her family and her veterinary practice.
Copies of “Rosie the Pig” will be available at Pit Stop on Friday and can also be purchased online at www.doctorhartfield.com for $14.99 plus shipping and handling. A portion of the proceeds from book sales will go to support a scholarship at the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences.
Her next book, “Pistol the Horse” is due out next month and is available for pre-order through Dr. Hartfield’s website.
She just found out this week that she is one of five finalists in the 2018 American Humane Hero Veterinarian Awards out of 200 nominations. For more information on the award, visit the Hero Vet Award website at http://herovetawards.org/vote/.
