asterroc ([personal profile] asterroc) wrote2006-01-09 11:41 am
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Boston dog electrocuted; no investigation?

In Boston, a dog walked over a utility panel in the sidewalk and was electrocuted by "stray voltage." Emphasis mine in the below quotation.


James W. Hunt, the city's chief of environment and energy and a member of Mayor Thomas M. Menino's Cabinet, said the stray voltage that killed the dog may have come from a street light, ''which is owned by the city of Boston. We're going to do a full investigation. This is a most unfortunate incident, and our hearts go out to the dog owners."
...
Police and witnesses said last night that the dog was a 6-year-old mixed Labrador retriever that was killed while walking across a utility panel charged with electricity.

An unidentified 28-year-old female was walking the dog near the corner of Chelsea and Warren streets about 6:30 p.m. when the incident occurred. After receiving the shock, the dog howled in pain, fell to the ground, and ceased to move, said one witness.

Another witness attempted to move the dog and was also shocked, but suffered no injuries, said police. Public works crews cut power to the panel. Boston police said there would be no investigation of the incident.

At least three other dogs have been killed in Boston since 2000 by so-called stray voltage.

(Boston Globe)


Well are they going to do an investigation or not? And that's only my first complaint about the city here. Second is 3 dogs have been killed since 2000?! It could've been people! Or children. (Not that children aren't people, but you get my point.) Or - and here's the one that gets me right now - service animals.

[identity profile] tikva.livejournal.com 2006-01-09 01:51 pm (UTC)(link)
MEEP!

[identity profile] zandperl.livejournal.com 2006-01-09 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, Brodie looks so cute in that image! :)

Out of curiosity, are there any service animals out there that are NOT dogs?

[identity profile] sammka.livejournal.com 2006-01-09 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
The impression I get is that the people in charge of city utilities will do an investigation, but police won't be doing one, because nobody suspects foul play.

[identity profile] zandperl.livejournal.com 2006-01-09 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, that's a good point/interpretation. Duh. :)

[identity profile] tikva.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
Why, yes, there are! :) There are service monkeys, and there are even guide horses (miniature horses, of course).