Ada Family Buys Rabid Puppy, Fears Others Were Exposed

An Ada family is dealing with a health scare as their new puppy tests positive for rabies. The little dog has died and the family is dealing with the consequences.

Mom, dad and their kids are now undergoing painful medical treatment. It all started when this family of four went to a trade show in Sulphur a couple weeks ago. They brought home a little long-haired hound dog they planned to someday take hunting.

But just days later, she started getting sick. And now they're worried others may have taken home rabid puppies too.

"We have a little John Deere gator that the boys ride around, and Lily enjoyed riding in the gator. She enjoyed going fishing with the kids. She was just a typical puppy," Bo Ellis said.

Once they saw her, they couldn't say no.

Lily, this 10-week-old puppy, went home with the Ellis family and soon after, she started acting like she didn't feel well.

"She acted like she had something stuck in her mouth, so we felt around and check her mouth and everything," Ellis says. "By Saturday afternoon late, she was starting to develop some neurological symptoms. She was shaking. Her head was shaking."

Lilly stopped eating, and Ellis called the vet.

"She did start barking at other dogs but never was aggressive toward people and didn't exhibit the classic rabid, mad dog foaming at the mouth," Ellis said.

The health department confirmed Lilly had tested positive for rabies. The Ellis family immediately got rabies shots. And sadly, they had to euthanize Lilly and their two other dogs.

"It's been traumatic," Ellis says. "Having kids, I didn't want to risk something else happening down the road."

There were about six other puppies that Lily's original owner sold in Sulphur, and they all went home with different families.

Anyone who may have come in contact with the puppies should call the health department.

Health officials are still looking for the man who sold the litter. You can reach the Oklahoma State Department of Health at (405)-271-6868.