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Mystery of canine ‘suicides’ at eerie bridge
ALAN MACDERMID

...Animal experts admitted yesterday they had no explanation for a spate of what appear to be canine suicides – all from the same spot.

At least five dogs have jumped to their deaths from a bridge over a burn at Overtoun House in the past six months.

In the most recent case, a woman out walking her dog watched in disbelief as her pet suddenly vaulted over the parapet and plunged 40ft to its death.

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Random weirdness

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You can say THAT again!
 

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Posted by Mormo (Member # 5799) on :
 
*cue spooky music*
This a bizarre story.

I have heard of one dog suicide years ago (unverified) but to have 5 in 6 months off one bridge is very creepy.

I can't imagine how I would feel I if my childhood dog had lept to his death while I was walking him.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
Well, terming it "suicide" is a little over the top. It presumes intent on the part of the dogs.

The real question, I think, is this:

What is there that is either drawing dogs to run off the bridge or driving them there?

Dogs can and do disregard things they know are dangerous when the stimulus is strong enough. Is there something naturally occurring - an odor or sound? Or something intentional? (Yeah, there are plenty of people sick enough to think this would be fun to do.)
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I was just thinking it might be some kind of supersonic pitch or undetectable to the human nose odor that's doing it. I think some people need to bring some serious equipment out there.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
I just heard they have a new theory. Apparently, there are flocks of ducks under the bridge and the dogs might be leaping to chase them.

So it just might be a case of fowl play, after all.
 

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Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
 


And I dislike dogs. Just today a dog owner asked my daughter (who was walking home alone from her piano lesson 1 block away) to get off the sidewalk and walk on the road in case the dog freaked out at her backpack.

[ March 05, 2005, 08:09 PM: Message edited by: mothertree ]
 

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Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
 
That has nothing to do with the dog, and everything to do with an idot who owns one....
 

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Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
 
Okay, it's dog people that I often find puzzling.
 

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Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
 
I happen to be a very happy dog person/owner.

But seriously, that is weird.
 

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Posted by MEC (Member # 2968) on :
 
Did the article mention anything about the dogs being recently neutered?
 

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Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
 
Haven't seen a picture of the bridge. But can't help but think that the guardrails are walled rather than open-fenced or barred. ie Can't see what's on the other side from the height of a dog's head.
Then I think of squirrels and birds, and how some dogs will reflexively take off after them.
And of squirrels skittering or birds chattering on the ledge outside of those guardrails...

[ March 06, 2005, 09:06 AM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
 

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Posted by Mormo (Member # 5799) on :
 
That's true, aspectre, but dogs have depth perception too, and don't generally leap to their death.
I'm going with the ultra- or infra-sonic noise theory.
Morbo

[ March 06, 2005, 09:23 AM: Message edited by: Mormo ]
 

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Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
 
A dog can't have depth perception of what's on the other side of a wall that a dog is too short to see over.

My thinking is in terms of a dog hearing something around the corner of the house, then bolting after it, even though the dog can't see what's on the other side. Even if it sees a garbage can immediately after its head rounds the corner, the dog's momentum would crash it into the garbage can.
Similarly, a dog hops a guardrail wall chasing after something it hears, and its momentum continues to carry it off the bridge even after the dog realizes its mistake.

[ March 07, 2005, 01:12 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
 

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