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What’s caused 600 dogs to jump off a bridge?


Still Waters

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WALKERS heading from the village of Milton in the Scottish Lowlands to the 19th century manor Overtoun House on its outskirts are stopped in their tracks at the end of their route by a warning that reads: "Dangerous bridge - keep your dog on a lead."

The sign is there not because the neo-Gothic construction is in danger of crumbling into the waters of Overtoun Burn 50ft below but for another reason: in the past 60 years an estimated 600 dogs have jumped from the bridge, more than 50 of them to their deaths.

http://www.express.c...lves-off-bridge

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I've wondered about this over the years. I wonder if they've ever checked for ultra high frequency sounds.

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They probably jump off the bridge for the same reason my dog jumped out of the back of the truck while it was moving. She saw a rabbit and the urge to chase it took over.

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WALKERS heading from the village of Milton in the Scottish Lowlands to the 19th century manor Overtoun House on its outskirts are stopped in their tracks at the end of their route by a warning that reads: "Dangerous bridge - keep your dog on a lead."

The sign is there not because the neo-Gothic construction is in danger of crumbling into the waters of Overtoun Burn 50ft below but for another reason: in the past 60 years an estimated 600 dogs have jumped from the bridge, more than 50 of them to their deaths.

http://www.express.c...lves-off-bridge

Here this may be helpful!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-411038/Why-dogs-leapt-deaths-Overtoun-Bridge.html

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They probably jump off the bridge for the same reason my dog jumped out of the back of the truck while it was moving. She saw a rabbit and the urge to chase it took over.

Ugh, dont get me started on having a dog in the back of a moving truck!! Soooo dangerous!

Why?!!

I've wondered about this over the years. I wonder if they've ever checked for ultra high frequency sounds.

That's what I was thinking...there must be something attracting them to this spot

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Blimey, I started a thread on this some years ago!!

http://www.unexplain...gs suicide&st=0

I saw that. The story is doing the rounds again on the media sites for some reason so I thought I'd share it. Previous threads about this were posted at least 3 years ago and we have new members joined since then who might not know about it.

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Here this may be helpful!

http://www.dailymail...oun-Bridge.html

That's one of the articles seeder linked to.

Blimey, I started a thread on this some years ago!!

http://www.unexplain...gs suicide&st=0

One of your links now say "Sorry....Page Not Found"

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Why don't they simply disallowed dog walking over that bridge? It's obvious that there's something there that's a danger to dogs. Some common sense could save lives IMO.

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If im not mistaken, there is a stone ledge along the edge of this bridge that is several feet above the bridge itself. From a dogs eye view they would not be able to tell there is a dangerous drop on the other side, and when they jump up on the ledge to investigate a smell or noise its too late and they drop over the other side. I believe the article mentions something on this as well. Intriguing story nonetheless.

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Why don't they simply disallowed dog walking over that bridge? It's obvious that there's something there that's a danger to dogs. Some common sense could save lives IMO.

Looks like they already have a sign warning people that the bridge is dangerous and to keep their dogs on a leash. Too bad about all those poor doggies. Each one of those is just a horrible tragedy. I can't imagine losing a dog like that.

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Blimey, I started a thread on this some years ago!!

http://www.unexplain...gs suicide&st=0

I remember it well. Here is my contribution on page 2 as a below bridge level witness in Southern Indiana to this phenomenon.

Posted 23 December 2012 - 11:25 PM

Someone volunteering fence wire strung at that spot would help. I have seen this phenomenon first hand one time. I have no idea what the bridge looks like between those two parapets. Clearly the level running plane fools them into thinking the other side is the same way.

Twenty years ago I was traveling with a huge semi truck load of black walnut logs northbound on Indiana's Interstate 65. A bridge overpass had a young boy bicycling across. Then out of the blue his full blooded German shepherd dog, running unseen with the boy, came into full view jumping over the concrete retaining wall*. Luckily the dog was near the end for a 12-15 foot fall onto the grassy sloped East side embankment. He was pushing the air with his front paws all the way down to a big bounce & tumble downwards. Unharmed (but red faced) the shepherd ran back up the bank through the brush at the top to join the boy on the other side of the fence!

I did some editing for the proper spelling of "shepherd" and added a few words to the original on page 2.

*The dog jumped into midair on the right side near the end just as the story reports others jumping on the right side.

MK

Edited by Malaria_Kidd
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pssst!... I am wabbit hunting!

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Could it be that because that they can sense earthquakes, do they think the bridge might fall down and so they jump?

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I'm sure there is a way for them to prevent this with some sort of barrier that would stop the dogs from jumping. Perhaps building a higher wall where the dogs are jumping? A gate? Not sure, but I'll bet that something can be done.

Poor dogs.

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The dogs are allowed to jump up onto the wall to satisfy their curiosity of smells. It only takes one dog to do it and all the others will want to follow the trail.

If one dog falls, the trail ends, and the next dog wanders around on the wall trying to pick up again.

The wall has a slight raise in the center, for better water drainage. This happens to be just near the dog's hind legs when he is facing the edge, making a sudden move for stability tricky.

The wall has an edge just below the top, which traps smells running off the top. Here the dogs find the scent the strongest and lean over to get a better go. While facing the edge with the slight raise in the center of the wall, makes any move sideways, or backwards a high chance of losing balance.

Scotland is not a dry place at all, and going by the amount of lichens growing on the wall, it would be slippery.

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If im not mistaken, there is a stone ledge along the edge of this bridge that is several feet above the bridge itself. From a dogs eye view they would not be able to tell there is a dangerous drop on the other side, and when they jump up on the ledge to investigate a smell or noise its too late and they drop over the other side. I believe the article mentions something on this as well. Intriguing story nonetheless.

Except that there are accounts of dogs doing it multiple times when the first jump didn't kill them.

I don't mean Rex didn't learn his lesson after months of rehab and vet bills. I mean the pup jumps off, doesn't hit hard enough, drags himself back up to the bridge and then jumps again to make it stick.

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What’s caused 600 dogs to jump off a bridge?

Some jackass throwing 600 balls?

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Could it be that because that they can sense earthquakes, do they think the bridge might fall down and so they jump?

Case closed

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It's all my fault.....

American_Mink.jpg

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It's all my fault.....

American_Mink.jpg

Couldnt agree more,

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yes,Sakari-it is your fault! (jK)

Keep the mice out of it!

Edited by mskate
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