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He keeps all the animals as healthy as a horse
By MARY ANN KOSLASKY, Times Staff Writer INVERNESS -- Dr. Ronald Dumas was 28 when he set up practice in Citrus County in 1964. His patients were fuzzy, furry and feathered. And he often made house calls. As one of the first veterinarians to enter practice in the county, Dumas is well versed in the eccentricities of animal husbandry, particularly as it relates to the Citrus County Fair. In 1965 the County Extension Agent approached Dr. Dumas about working with them in supervising farm animals in the community. "They called to see if I would go farm to farm to see the cattle and swine," recalled Dumas. During a "circuit ride," he would visit the farms, checking out each animal for possible diseases and vaccinating them prior to being shown at the fair. The circuit ride has evolved into a one-time steer sign-in clinic in early October. During the controlled chaos of young people milling around, steers bawling, and lines of livestock trailers which extend from the livestock complex out around the horse ring and along U.S. 41, Dumas goes nonchalantly about the business of preparing the animals for exhibit. After each animal is weighed, it enters a squeeze chute, which does exactly what it sounds like -- it holds the animal in place as Dumas goes to work. He examines the animal for any obvious illness, administers a deworming shot and two vaccines: one is commonly known as the "black leg combination" which covers eight Clostridia diseases and one that is a combination shot for four respiratory viruses to which the animals are prone. If the steers have horns, Dumas supervises their removal at this time. This is a safety factor. Imagine a youngster having to deal with 1,000 pounds or more of beef on the hoof that is armed with horns. Then he implants a growth hormone under the skin of the ear and the ear is tagged. At last the animal can be released, blissfully unaware of what lies ahead. According to fair manager Jean Grant, at one time Dumas supplied the vaccine that was used. However, as participation grew and vaccine costs escalated, he approached the companies that produced these drugs and negotiated the donation of the deworming medication and other vaccines. Obviously many things have changed over the years. "Dairy cattle exhibits were heavy in the past," said Dumas, noting that steer exhibits at the fair have phased out the dairy portion. But one of his most memorable experiences is related to the dairy cattle. "We had a cow in labor at the fair," Dumas recalled. Dumas was in the stands watching a show when, "they called me out of the stands and I went and delivered the calf." "Dr. Dumas has been a very important part of our program for as long as I can remember," said Hal Porter, co-chairman of the livestock committee. Porter should know, having started at the fair as a youthful exhibitor, moved into helping the children, was president of the Fair Association from 1987 to 1989, was the livestock chairman and now a executive secretary of the board. "The most important thing about Dr. Dumas is that he is at the beck and call of the children ... and he never charged them," Porter said. "If somebody wanted to give him something he would tell them to make a small donation to the scholarship fund." The scholarship referred to is the Dr. Dumas Scholarship Fund, which was started by the livestock committee about 20 years ago in honor of his dedication to the children at the fair. Two $500 scholarships are presented each year, one to a Future For Agriculture (FFA) participant and one to a 4-H participant. Livestock chairman Debbie Parker calls Dumas "wonderful to work with. He's been a longtime friend of the fair." Dumas is a strong advocate of this part of the fair. Participation in the county fair is "teaching them leadership and responsibility in caring for the animals and in preparing for the fair," said Dumas. "I don't know what we would do without him," Parker added. There is no need to worry about that. Dumas plans to stay around for a long while. "As long as I'm healthy enough and can do it, I'll still do it," said Dumas, who recently joined the Fair Association board of directors. "I still enjoy it after all these years." Dumas' talents extend beyond the livestock complex. Not satisfied with being on call for the fair, Dumas "has become an invaluable volunteer at the snack bar," added Porter. It is in this capacity that he has invented the popular "Doobie Burger." It's a bestseller at the many events which go on at the fairgrounds during the year, including the tractor pull in January. "I can't brag on him enough," said Porter. "He's one classy gentleman."
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