On Tuesday morning, commuters were surprised to see a horse out for a gallop, down Route 140 near Exit 19 in Taunton, MA. The horse kept to the right lane and did not cause major disruption to traffic. State troopers with the help of MSPCA- Angell were able to safely get control of the horse using a dog leash. Once its owner had arrived at the scene, the horse was conveyed home in a trailer.
The horse was later identified as "Max."
In a similar incident, three horses were observed cantering down Route 1 early Thursday morning in Topsfield, MA. Having broken free from their overnight accommodations, the three were apparently out for a jaunt on the busy road. The police and fire department were able to get them under control and lead them to a safe place. Once the owner was alerted about the missing horses and they were taken home, the Topsfield fire department in a Facebook post thanked everyone who had helped out.
In case you are wondering about what to do if you come across such a scene, The Humane Society of the United States website provides helpful tips to drivers on how to help stray pets:
The first and foremost rule is to pull over and park before attempting to help the animal. Secondly is to catch them safely.
1. If the animal looks threatening, stay in the car and call the authorities. Otherwise, try to restrain them using a carrier or leash.
2. Always use caution when approaching the animal.
3. If you are able, transport the animal to the nearest animal shelter.
4. Have the animal scanned for a microchip so that the owner can be alerted.
5. If you are taking the animal home, creating "found pet" fliers or posting on websites such as petfinder.com can help reunite it with its owners.