Full Notification

Horse Evacuation And Resource Team
“Barn Watch”

Most people are familiar with the concept of “Neighborhood Watch,” the idea that neighbors look out for one another, help protect the neighborhood, and watch for suspicious behavior. But what about equestrian neighborhoods and horse stables? How can we protect horses in an emergency, particularly in case of a brush fire or structure fire?

Volunteers at the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station have expanded on the ideas of Neighborhood Watch to create the Horse Evacuation And Resource Team. In the past, horse owners had to fend for themselves or rely on strangers to care for their horses in an emergency. HEART is a more reliable way to handle horse safety, evacuation and shelter during a disaster. The purpose of HEART is to provide advance planning, volunteer training, resource identification, and a rapid notification system in case of a fire. Trained volunteers with reliable equipment will rescue horses in danger and transport them to pre-designated safe sites.

HEART volunteers receive training on emergency plans, help to document horse rescues and movement, and learn how to safely move horses without injury to humans or horses. More experienced volunteers are extensively trained as shelter site managers. HEART helps horse owners in forming an emergency plan to address transportation and supplies, well-considered emergency contact information, and issues of horse identification. The HEART Horse Evacuation Guide also addresses smaller animals and pets, access routes, a model phone tree, and an “emergency activation checklist.”

History of HEART: The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas station is faced with the task of keeping all community members – including the human and equine variety - safe during disaster events. Soon after the Grand Prix Fire in 2003, it became evident that a program was needed to better assist this part of our community.

In 2011, under the command of Captain Don Slawson, Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Technician Chris Mackenzie reached out to the community looking for volunteers to create just such a program. A core group of volunteers, eight men and women, came forward to meet this challenge and established the group’s mission. “The mission of the HEART program is emergency preparedness, response and education, providing evacuation guidance and site management focused on the welfare of equines during emergency situations.”

Recognizing that success would require partnerships with other like-minded groups in the community, the new team contacted a representative for Supervisor Michael Antonovich. Supervisor Antonovich recognized the concerns, encouraged these efforts, and provided support. HEART then spent the next several years creating a program that was specific for the community needs. Training programs were created, shelter sites were arranged, and more volunteers were recruited. The HEART program is now adding educational and safety classes to the community, offering training classes throughout the year. Partnerships with local ranches, businesses and county groups continue to expand.

This program would not have moved past the “idea” stage without years of continuous work by the eight core volunteers, aided by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Captain Don Slawson, and LASD member Chris Mackenzie. The core volunteers are Erin Cyr, Jeri Hardcastle, Bob Hardcastle, Laura Lampys, Bobbie Marr, Steve Sage, Paul Wyman, and Sylvia Chapman.

The support of Supervisor Antonovich and community business partners were essential to their continued success.

Other Partners in the program include:
Barrett’s at Fairplex
Bonelli Park Equestrian Center, San Dimas
Citrus Feed Co., Azusa
Fairplex Pomona
Fred Palmer Arena, La Verne
Inland Valley Humane Society
Industry Hills Equestrian Center
Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Prado Equestrian Center
San Dimas Feed and Grain

The founding members of the HEART program, consisting of these eight volunteers and two Department members, will be honored for their efforts by the Board of Supervisors at the regular meeting on October 27, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. at the Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (Between Grand Avenue and Hill Street). The presentation is free and open to the public.

For more information on the HEART program, please call (909)450-2763, or email [email protected]


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SAN DIMAS STATION

San Dimas Sheriff’s Station is one of six stations within the East Patrol Division of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Station’s jurisdiction encompasses approximately 276 square miles. In addition to serving the City of San Dimas, the station serves unincorporated communities of Azusa, Covina, Glendora, La Verne, Claremont, Pomona, the Los Angeles County portion of Mt. Baldy, a large portion of the Angeles National Forest (State Route 39), and portions of Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2). The population for these areas is approximately one hundred and five thousand (105,000), nearly sixty sixty-nine thousand (69,000) in the unincorporated areas and more than thirty-six thousand (36,000) in the City of San Dimas.

San Dimas Sheriff’s Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
270 S. Walnut Avenue
San Dimas, CA 91773
(909) 450-2700


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Jim McDonnell, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department