John Stellberger, president of Environmental Health Services, donated a service van to the Town of Goshen, Mass., to be used for animal control needs.
NORWOOD, Mass. — Environmental Health Services (EHS), a pest management company with 24 years experience serving Massachusetts and Rhode Island, has donated a service van to the Town of Goshen, Mass., to be used for animal control needs.
This Chevrolet G2500 was a vehicle used for the Wildlife Management Division of EHS. John Stellberger, president of EHS and also a Town Selectman in Goshen, said, “We decided to retire this vehicle after five years of use and donating it to assist on animal inspections and animal complaints just made perfect sense. It was already set up for animal control.”
The van will also be available to other departments seeking a covered vehicle or transport of items.
So, for the first time in several years, the Goshen Animal Control Officer will be hitting
the streets soon in an official vehicle equipped for handling animals. Kyle Meservey, who was appointed full time Animal Control Officer for the town, will be able to do inspections, respond to complaints and transport animals.
"It was a very generous offer," Selectman E.J. Brennan said of the donation. "EHS not only donated the van but also paid the expense of getting it ready and transported here."
They also paid for the windshield replacement and a few minor repairs, as well as the lettering on three sides of the vehicle.
In addition to putting "Goshen Animal Control," the town seal, and the town's Web site, Stellberger had a little fun with the lettering. The side of the van is inscribed with "Please spay and neuter your pets," which is credited to Bob Barker, who used to end every episode of his long-running TV game show "The Price is Right" with the phrase. The back of the van asks "Have you hugged your ACO (Animal Control Officer) today?"
"The town just has to pay for gas and to insure it, so it's a good deal for the town," Brennan said. Meservey, 20, said he is excited to have a properly equipped vehicle. "It'll be safer and more secure for animals that I'm transporting because there are cages installed in it," Meservey said.