Neighbours gallop to horse unit’s aid

Durban North residents wore their hearts on their sleeves and came out to support an apples and carrot collection in aid of the Durban Metro Police Mounted Section on Thursday last week. Braving the sweltering heat, residents arrived carrying bags, loaded with treats for the ‘hooved’ members of Metro Police.

The initiative was started by ward 110 councillor Pete Graham who posted on the Durban North Neighbours Facebook group calling on residents to contribute towards the project.

“Following an article in another newspaper about the challenges facing the horse and dog units, we conducted an oversight visit to learn more about what they were dealing with. We heard about the slow wheels of supply chain which meant that horses were not getting fresh hay. The hay that they were eating was not current harvest. We then decided to give them a treat and I posted to the Facebook page asking people to donate apples and carrots,” Graham said.

He added that the collection was still underway saying residents were welcome to attend the next feed planned for the last week of January.

Metro Police Mounted Unit Captain, Jonathan Foster, said he was thankful to the residents for their assistance.

“We’d like to thank Cllr Graham for organising the collection and coming down to arrange the feed with residents. We are also thankful to those residents who donated. Our horses are also very hardworking and enjoy a treat from time to time,” he said. Foster said the mounted unit will be working throughout the festive season, patrolling beaches – he encouraged residents to stop and greet.

“They are always welcome to stop and just say a quick hello,” he added. Residents can contribute towards the collection drive by dropping off their items at Arcadia Centre, 87 Umhlanga Rocks Drive. He added that they are appealing for more carrots than apples.