Whether she’s answering calls as a dispatcher for the MSU Police Department or serving as a foster mom to rescued animals, Tina Enlow stands ready to help those in need.
The Lafayette County native has called Starkville home for nearly three decades. As the first in her family to attend college, this self-proclaimed animal lover enrolled in 1992 as an animal science major. She also pursued a work-study opportunity through the university’s poultry science department before leaving for an emergency room job she loved at OCH Regional Medical Center. In 2001, she returned to MSU as a dispatcher for its nationally accredited police department. Her 12-hour shifts are busy and require a great deal of energy, but she feels fortunate to work with a good team.
“All calls for service or accidents, including after hours and on weekends, come to us. We also monitor all fire and burglar alarms on campus, and we keep a log of this information in the CAD system,” explained Enlow, who currently is training a fellow dispatcher new to the department.
The Computer Aided Dispatch and Records Management System is part of MSUPD’s state-of-the-art 911 emergency communications center that was unveiled in 2017. With new equipment, the updated space has allowed dispatchers and officers to more effectively collaborate and respond during emergencies.
“Chief (Vance) Rice wants us up to speed on technology, and I think this new system has made for a more comfortable work environment,” Enlow said. “Assistant Chief (Kenneth) Spencer also is very personable and makes sure to address any concerns we have.”
Away from campus, Enlow stays busy caring for her four cats and seven dogs, including a new Lab/Australian Shepherd-mix puppy she is fostering for the Homeward Bound Project of Mississippi. Mostly run by volunteers including students and staff from MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the nonprofit organization works with Mississippi shelters to transport adoptable dogs and cats to adoption-guaranteed rescues in the Northeast.
“I squall,” Enlow admits with a laugh. “I cry every time they leave, but they do go to the (SPCA of) Westchester in New York, which is a no-kill shelter with a great adoption process.”
Including grown dogs and puppies, Enlow estimates that she has fostered 40 animals since 2010. In addition to caring for her own pets, she also has a heart for abandoned animals with serious health needs. When found, she brings them to a local shelter for treatment and the opportunity to find a loving home.
“I stop for everything, from dogs to turtles,” she said with a smile. “I love random animal facts and thrifting. My other obsession is jewelry.”