PITTSBURGH — Three dogs have been injured or killed after being electrically shocked while walking on Pittsburgh sidewalks. It’s not as rare as you might think.
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A Pittsburgh woman and her dog are both recovering after the animal was shocked by an electrified light post on Smallman Street. Montana Mitchell and her chocolate Lab, Denim, were both taken to the hospital following the incident late last year and are expected to make a full recovery.
City officials determined that a damaged protective covering caused a pinched wire to electrify the light post. The incident follows a history of similar occurrences in the city, including a fatal electrocution of a dog on the Murray Avenue Bridge that led to a consultant’s recommendation for citywide inspections—a task the Gainey administration reportedly failed to complete.
Mitchell was running with her chocolate Lab, Denim, on Smallman Street when the dog suddenly collapsed. Mitchell described the animal as screaming and convulsing after passing a light post. “He just looked like he was being tased,” Mitchell said. Mitchell was also affected by the shock and both were taken to a hospital for treatment. Mitchell said she felt compelled to speak out after learning this was not the first such incident in the city. “This can’t just be something the city writes off,” she said.
Previous incidents of electrical shock have been reported across the city. In October, a puppy named Jack was shocked while sniffing a light post on the Carnegie Mellon University campus. Conrad Schaumburg, a CMU student, said he was unaware of the potential danger posed by the infrastructure. “I didn’t even know that light posts were like that, electrified,” Schaumburg said. Following that incident, university officials stated that electrical fixes were made immediately, though safety cones and tape remained at the site for three months.
In a separate case, a border collie-lab mix named Nikki died after walking over an energized metal plate on the Murray Avenue Bridge, in Squirrel Hill. Following Nikki’s death, the O’Connor administration stated that a consultant recommended the city inspect every street light it owns. However, the Gainey administration reportedly failed to conduct those inspections.
Mark Voigtsberger, the president of the utility testing firm UTGIS, works with municipalities to identify electrical hazards. He said these shocks are a nationwide issue and are not unique to Pittsburgh. “Particularly in the wintertime, it’s dogs that will get shocked,” Voigtsberger said. He noted that because dogs do not wear protective footwear, they are more susceptible to current through the pads of their paws.
Voigtsberger stated that electrical faults are more common than many people realize. “On average, one in 337 light poles has an elevated voltage,” Voigtsberger said. He estimated that the recent shock on Smallman Street was likely close to full line voltage, representing the maximum level of electricity in the wires. He identified aging infrastructure, winter weather and the ongoing conversion to LED streetlights as primary risk factors for such faults.
Pet owners are encouraged to observe their surroundings and take cues from their animals’ behavior to avoid energized infrastructure. Voigtsberger said a dog’s refusal to walk on a specific section of sidewalk can be a warning sign. “Be aware of what’s going on with your dog,” Voigtsberger said. “If your dog gives out a yelp or you have a certain walk or pattern and you notice your dog doesn’t want to walk on that part of the sidewalk, that could be an indication of an electric fault.”
Mitchell plans to resume her daily walks and runs with Denim. She noted that while they are recovering physically, she still carries the trauma of the event.
Montana Mitchell plans to resume her daily walks and runs with Denim. She noted that while they are recovering physically, she still carries the trauma of the event.
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