Wow, What an amazing night for road patrolling!
Wow, What an amazing night for road patrolling! Here are some key details regarding this vital SRWHMG program: Although not required under our contract, this initiative is crucial for ensuring the horses’ as well as the public safety along the Salt River!
Our road patrol team helps horses cross at the crossing, but also serves as our surveillance unit, monitoring Bush Highway and recreational areas for potential safety issues. Safety issues can range from unsecured or damaged gates and fences, to horses outside the fence or horses in high-risk or highly populated areas like the bridge or cattleguards. It also includes looking for injured horses, abandoned animals and fire activity.
This teams vigilance has facilitated numerous rescues of horses off the road. (which happens more often than you’d think, because people cut fencing all the time, and leave gates open.) This team has also facilitated rescues of dumped cats and dogs and bunnies and potbelly pigs and abandoned horses. They even prevented a catastrophic fire near the fuel depot and also helped people who got into vehicle accidents late at night.
Both MCSO as well as Forest Service law enforcement are not present late at night, but SRWHMG is!!
So while we can quit this program anytime, it is far too important! We would like to see some appreciation for this team and for the managers that run it. Please remember we do not get paid by the Forest Service or the AZDA to do this job!
Our road patrol team is in need of funding for: mileage reimbursement, horse crossing signs, flashy lights and walky talkies!
We are also looking for volunteers to join this program! Anyone can do it as it requires very little physical activity, the link to sign up for an orientation is in the comments!
Thank you dear SRWHMG Road patrol team!