MOUNT VERNON — Barry Reppart began raising rabbits when he was a 4-year-old in Fredericktown. By the time he was in the second grade, he had more than 200 rabbits. Then they started to fall fatally ill of coccidiosis, an intestinal parasite. But long-time veterinarian Dr. Bolus, said Reppart, came to the rescue and paid a house call.

“The rabbits quit dying,” said Reppart. “I decided right then that I’d become a vet.”

After graduating from Fredericktown High School, Reppart attended Kansas State University and The Ohio University School of Veterinary Medicine; he’s been practicing in Mount Vernon for more than 30 years. He said he has no plans to retire.

Reppart and other county veterinarians are members of the Kokosing Valley Veterinarian Association, and provide medical care for animals on weekends, when clinics are closed. The schedule rotates so that each doctor takes a turn.

“Knox County doesn’t have an emergency clinic close by,” he said. “Columbus is the closest. So people expect us to do that. We’re responsible for our own clients Monday through Friday, and responsible for emergencies when we’re on the schedule for that weekend. The association was set up by veterinarians back in the 1950s. Knox is one of the few counties that offers that service.”

Reppart has mentored several vet students, including current student Amanda Rogers.

“I’ve worked here for nine years now,” said Rogers, “through high school and through college. He helped me get admitted to vet school and wrote recommendation letters for me. Vet school is rigorous and competitive, so he really helped. I plan to come back here and join the practice after I graduate. I love the clients and staff here. The medicine we practice is a very high level of medicine. We use top-of-the-line drugs and treat every patient like it was our own.”

Sometimes that involves advocating for the pet.

“We try to figure out what’s going on with the [ill] animal first,” said Reppart. “Then you have to be an advocate. The owner has got to be willing to spend the money to diagnose and treat. We put the pet’s best interest first.”

In addition to their regular work, Reppart and his staff members also volunteer with bull mastiff rescue operations, some of which weigh over 100 pounds. Several mastiffs are usually in residence at the clinic, on the mend or waiting to be adopted.

“Dr. Reppart started us on rescues,” said Rogers. “It’s very rewarding to see these dogs come here in really bad shape and then get well.”

Reppart said he’s been involved in the rescue work for 30 years.

“When I was a senior in vet school, there was a bull mastiff that needed surgery, and I fell in love with him,” he recalled.

The rescue dogs come to the Harcourt Clinic from police raids, or when they’ve been surrendered or abandoned by their owners. Reppart and his team examine them, treat wounds or illnesses, spay or neuter, and evaluate their temperament.

“We need to know if they’re good with kids, or not good with cats, for example,” said Reppart, “before they can be adopted.”

“Dr. Reppart really has a heart for the people and their animals,” said client Jeri Sweet. “Sometimes he works seven days a week, sometimes 16 hours a day. He even makes house calls.”