Unleashed by Caitlin Venniker
Heartache, hairballs and hope: a vet’s hilariously honest memoir of life and purpose.
How a writing competition and a truffle pig launched Caitlin Venniker’s literary career.
Unleashed is the hilarious, intensely honest memoir of Caitlin Venniker’s journey from Onderstepoort, the only veterinary training institution in South Africa, into the heart of private practice, with a few stops in the United Kingdom and Middle East along the way.
It’s a story of growing up, juggling owners with high expectations and animals with big opinions, bluffing confidence, quirky colleagues, cows with anger issues and midnight emergencies. It’s about navigating the challenges of dating, using coffee as a crutch, finding humour in dark moments, and the immense joy and grief that come with loving animals.
Unleashed by Caitlin Venniker
by Caitlin Venniker
‘Unleashed is filled with empathy, depth and a charming touch of humour at the perfect moments.’ – SYLVESTER CHAUKE
‘An effortlessly comedic and deeply moving tale of a vet finding her feet and purpose. Venniker is that rare guide who’s honest, witty and relatable.’ – ALASTAIR MCALPINE
‘Fascinating, funny and poetically heartbreaking. Who knew the secret life of a vet would be a page-turner?’ – DION CHANG
‘Unleashed is a book that celebrates life.’ – MIKE NICOL**
Unleashed is the hilarious, intensely honest memoir of Caitlin Venniker’s journey from Onderstepoort, the only veterinary training institution in South Africa, into the heart of private practice, with a few stops in the United Kingdom and Middle East along the way.
It’s a story of growing up, juggling owners with high expectations and animals with big opinions, bluffing confidence, quirky colleagues, cows with anger issues and midnight emergencies. It’s about navigating the challenges of dating, using coffee as a crutch, finding humour in dark moments, and the immense joy and grief that come with loving animals.
When diving into Unleashed, readers will uncover the heart and soul behind the stethoscope:
- Learn how a fictional story about a pig named Flora provided the confidence Caitlin needed to transition from a "housewife" on a visa to a published author.
- An honest look at the mental health crisis within the profession while celebrating the intimate, daily bond between pets and their owners.
Caitlin never expected a truffle pig to change her life. She wrote a story about Flora discovering an extramarital tryst in a forest and when that story won a competition, the feelings she had for Flora became powerful enough to be called love.
“She changed my life, that pig,” Caitlin admits with a smile.
CAITLIN VENNIKER is a South African vet and an award-winning writer. She spends her time between South Africa and the Middle East, and she has a collection of rescue animals, including a scruffy desert dog and a one-eared cat. Unleashed is her first book.
