Rabies clinic to setup at Claud Gill Arena Saturday

Oct. 3—A rabies clinic will come to the Stephens County Fairgrounds this Saturday.

Carolyn McLemore, veterinarian and owner of Countryside Veterinary Services in Loco, said the clinic will operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the north side of the Claud Gill outdoor arena, Oct. 5, in conjunction with Bark in the Park.

During the open clinic, McLemore said rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats will cost $10.

After a recent rabies outbreak from a goat, McLemore said three people from Duncan are now undergoing treatment for exposure to rabies.

She said it's not just small animals who are affected by rabies, but also large animals, which get diagnosed just as much as the smaller animals.

To help prevent this outbreaks, McLemore will bring a low-cost rabies clinic to Duncan this weekend.

She said they typically do two in Duncan, one in Velma and one in Comanche every year.

"Everyone is welcome," she said.

In 2024, McLemore said there have been four rabies cases in Stephens County.

"There have been 21 cases of rabies in the state of Oklahoma," she said.

Rabies, a disease caused by the rabies virus, affects the nervous system of warm-blooded animals, as well as humans.

McLemore said the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture had them take action quickly to vaccinate all their goats after the outbreak to prevent the virus.

"It is an annual shot that you give to the large animals," she said.

McLemore said she works with a group of volunteers who help setup and organize the clinic.

With an emphasis on dogs, cats and ferrets, McLemore said it's important for all animals to get a rabies vaccination.

"It is a state law that any dog, cat or ferret over four months of age requires a current rabies vaccination," she said.

Vaccines will be on a first come first served basis.

The clinic will offer additional vaccinations at an extra cost.

McLemore said they will offer a few three-month flea and tick medications as well.

For anyone who visits the clinic, McLemore said they will give an official rabies tag and vaccination certificate.

"They get that when they get their vaccinations," she said. "We just try to help people in anyway we can to try to make it easier to protect the people, as well as the animals."

She said the clinic will accept cash, debit and credit cards.

The Claud Gill Arena is located at E Halliburton Road in Duncan.