Melissa FitzGerald received MSU Extension Friend of Extension award
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EmailMelissa FitzGerald received the MSU Extension Epsilon Sigma Phi Friend of Extension award for her dedication to a program designed to keep animals and humans safe on the roads.
Melissa FitzGerald received the MSU Extension Epsilon Sigma Phi Friend of Extension award for her dedication to a program designed to keep animals and humans safe on the roads. FitzGerald, the director of the Otsego County Animal Control and Shelter was presented the award on October 16 during the MSU Extension Fall Conference in Grand Rapids.
FitzGerald was lauded for her role in ensuring that animal control in Otsego and surrounding counties had access to a fully stocked trailer and training through the Emergency Response for Accidents Involving Livestock (ERAIL) program. ERAIL aims to ensure that first responders have the skills and tools needed to keep roadways open when accidents occur. The 7-by-14-foot enclosed ERAIL cargo trailer is equipped with specialized portable gates, straps, binders and other animal-handling gear not typically found on firetrucks, ambulances or law enforcement vehicles.
Beth Ferry, MSU Extension swine educator, nominated FitzGerald for the award.
“Melissa attended one of our first trainings in 2019, and quickly saw the benefits of the program,” Ferry said. “At the time, we were more focused on getting trailers in southern lower Michigan where the traffic is heavier, not in northern Michigan. She quickly changed our minds.”
FitzGerald advocated for the equipment to be placed in her county and pointed out that it’s usefulness went well beyond road accidents.
“We have pulled out the trailer when livestock have gotten out and found their way to the road,” FitzGerald said. “I took it over to Alpena County when we had some longhorns get loose. We put up the temporary gates and encompassed them in a way that kept us and the animals safe.”
FitzGerald has used her training from MSU Extension experts to train others how to be calm and safe when rounding up animals.
“The training and experience are invaluable,” she said. “Having the right equipment for the job is the cherry on top.”
Epsilon Sigma Phi, a professional development organization, gives the award to those who promote Extension’s people or programs in their communities and throughout the state.
