Tis' The Season For Stray Voltage

Photo via WCBS

While electric shocks reaching through the sidewalk pavement can happen during any season — a Post reporter's dog died in June 2007, another shocked in August — most incidents take place during the winter months. This is because wet and salt-covered sidewalks can conduct stray electricity from underground utilities.

Yesterday morning 80-year-old Matthew Voto asked a friend to take his 7-year-old dog Princess for a walk in his East Williamsburg neighborhood, and the poor pup was shocked right there on the sidewalk of 335 Union Avenue. Voto said his friend "ran up, he said your dog got sort of electrocuted, something went wrong." Princess survived her shock, but many dogs in the past haven't been as lucky — and in 2004 Jodie Lane died from her encounter with stray voltage in the East Village.

Con Ed said the landlord was to blame for the faulty wiring, according to WCBS — and the meter showed 60 volts of electricity coming through the sidewalk. The source was a botched security light installment job in the basement of the building. Turns out another dog had been shocked in the same spot on Sunday! Humans: buy your dogs booties, or at least Musher's Secret.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on December 22, 2009 10:24 AM

Comments [rss]

takenobs

My point exactly.

takenobs

To felixthecat: enough with your banal posts already. All of them.

felixthecat2

Don' t read them. Problem solved.

krinkle cut fires

Kittin Mittins!

zodak

don't own pets, problem solved.

Wza

http://www.firstshowing.net/img2/Bolt-poster-final-fullsize.jpg

Get this dog. Problem solved.

lemming

and get your cat some kitton mittons

felixthecat2

Beautiful dog.

itsallgoode9

I will make a hearty soup out of the dog, then use it's fur as a coat while I ride around in the horse carriages of central park wearing my Bloomberg mask...Ahhh, it will be a lovely way to celebrate Christmas Day indeed!

You'd think this "Stray voltage" thing would be a high priority to fix, consider it randomly kills people.

felixthecat2

I'll respond to you just to fulfill your pathetic life. You're an idiot. bye.

felixthecat2

They should sue the landlord.

Aveais Essex

...and draw and quarter Bloomberg. How could you forget?

felixthecat2

If you read the whole story, it was the landlord's fault and it wasn't the first incident. So I don't understand your reply. Get over it. If you love Bloomberg so much then go have sex with him.

grizzzly

Thanks for a new invisible hazard to be terrified of, Gothamist

silver

If you wear boots and shoes, why do you abuse your dog by not giving him boots or shoes? What about crack needles on sidewalks? Not giving your pooch footware is neglect.

hotstepper

are you one of those nutty old ladies that dresses their pooch up like a child? dogs are born with luxurious fur coats and padded feet that resist puncture and cold.

get a life.

Iphie

Actually, most dogs are not born with luxurious coats, and only some of them develop them as adults. And even if we were to limit your criticism to dogs indigenous to this climate, i.e., those who may have coats thick enough to withstand colder weather, no dogs are naturally equipped with anything on their feet to protect them from the dangers of walking in an urban environment, just as no primates are naturally equipped to walk on city streets without protection on their feet, which is why you walk around with shoes and socks that are most likely sturdier and more protective in inclement weather.

hotstepper

i hear what you are saying but i disagree. dogs are more suited to inclement weather than sensitive urban dwellers allow. i maintain that pet owners project their own emotions onto their animals and take that as fact rather than it being some hard science.

i've hiked with a short-haired jack russell through deep snow and even after 2 hours she didn't want to go inside. that dog is a rugged little shit and so are most dogs if you let them be.

the most dangerous thing for dogs in an urban environment is automobiles not weather.

felixthecat2

Wrong again, as I stated there are people still walking barefooted in other countries and yet why don't you then? Horses' feet need not be shoed in the wild and their feet are healthier and stronger. However the poor horses must be shoed to walk in NYC which is one of many reason they don't belong in NYC. There are salt that burns the dog's paws and some breed don't have much fur and need the added protection. Please speak to a vet who will explain to you. Most vet tell people to buy the dog boots since they had tended to dog's paws burned by the salt.

felixthecat2

Get A HEART, some dogs need the added protection and they need boots because of the salt that can burn their paws. Think about it carefully. In some countries, people still walk barefooted so does it mean you should walk barefooted in NYC? jeez.