The Overtoun Bridge near Dumbarton, Scotland, seems to call dogs to leap to their death. Since the 1960s, some 50 canines have perished, and hundreds more have jumped but survived. Some even return for a second leap onto the jagged rocks 50 feet below. The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has sent representatives to investigate, but to no avail. In terms of scientific truth, it’s unlikely that dogs are capable of forming the intent to die. Yet, something is luring dogs off that bridge, often from the very same spot, and always on sunny, dry days. Three years ago, Lottie MacKinnon was walking her border collie Bonnie over the bridge, when suddenly MacKinnon said she could sense something change in her dog. “Something overcame Bonnie as soon as we approached the bridge,” MacKinnon said. “At first she froze, but then she became possessed by a strange energy and ran and jumped right off the parapet.” Bonnie, however, was one of the lucky ones to survive a jump off the bridge. Whatever is causing this phenomenon, dog owners would be wise to take heed and keep their dogs on leashes while in the vicinity of the strange bridge. Meanwhile, locals are urging the City Council to have a fence erected along the bridge to prevent any other dogs from jumping.
