Six rural Missouri fire stations contribute floor space to pet vaccination clinics

When does a fire station temporarily become a veterinarian clinic? In east
central Missouri, every spring. For more than 50 years, several rural volunteer fire departments in Franklin County have donated floor space to area veterinarians for vaccination clinics.
This year, Dr. Daniel Smith, DVM, of Washington Animal Hospital in Washington, Missouri, conducted vaccination clinics at fire stations in nearby Grey Summit, Labadie, Krakow, Villa Ridge, Marthasville, and Augusta. Each event lasted one to two hours, was advertised in local newspapers, and was open to the public. At the Marthasville Fire Station on May 1, Dr. Smith gave rabies vaccinations to 201 dogs and cats. ?A lot of the dogs I see are farm dogs and hunting dogs,? said Dr. Smith. ?They?re outdoors a lot and more exposed to a rabid animal than an indoor pet. I feel certain that many of the people who brought their pets for a rabies shot would not have made an appointment to go to into a city for the vaccination.? The rabies shot at the
vaccination clinics cost $10, and other vaccinations were $10 or $15.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends rabies vaccinations for pets, and states that while rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt and appropriate medical care, 55,000
persons?mostly in Africa and Asia?die annually from rabies. Retired veterinarian Dr. Ken Buchmann of New Haven, Missouri, who practiced veterinary medicine from 1958 to 1995, also annually conducted vaccination clinics in fire stations and still recalls one vivid incident from the 1960s. ?A mother dog with rabies had a litter, and those puppies were given away and later suspected of having rabies. The press reported the story and people were really scared. The vaccination clinics in rural areas have been important to people.?
The rural fire stations have proved to be ideal settings for the vaccination clinics. Their driveways can accommodate large waiting lines, the open doors provide adequate lighting, and the stations can easily provide a couple of tables and chairs for the registration and medical procedures. Each fire station typically parks one fire engine outdoors in case it?s needed for an emergency. In the 20 years that Dr. Smith has conducted these clinics, his work in the fire station has never been interrupted by a fire emergency. This
spring, he vaccinated approximately 600 cats and dogs at the six Missouri fire stations.
?I am delighted to offer my appreciation, on behalf of our city, to Dr. Smith for his kind and generous efforts,? remarked Jason Schantz, Mayor of Marthasville. ?He has provided a great service to this community.?
Photos and text by Aneeta Brown