DOGS DON'T DO SUICIDE WILD CASE FILES DR DAVID SANDS UPDATES THE OVERTOUN BRIDGE STORY

Dogs just don't do suicide

Tigress Productions asked me to update the Scottish Suicide Bridge story for National Geographic television channel series Wild!. This required me to return to Dumbarton in July 2010 and review my thoughts and ideas on the subject.

During the making of the original documentary my research led me to ask a number of referring veterinarians if they had any records of dogs jumping from structures to ascertain if they knew of similar events. Two vets mentioned dog patients who had required treatment because of injuries sustained when jumping from stone walls at a local rural beauty spot known as Rivington in the North West of England. This scenic moorland hill location is an extremely popular dog-walking area. Walks take in Victorian-landscaped Japanese gardens, huge boulders and natural pool waterfalls.

Rivington can be overgrown with shrub and bushes at certain times of the year and the landscaping includes several stone lodges and bridges. Once the information from the vets revealed that dogs had jumped from these stone structures I wanted to make comparisons with the two localities. We originally filmed a Miniature Schnauzer called Murphy who had made but thankfully survived a leap of about 3-4 metres. Editing factors and a remit to focus on Scottish story meant that this filming was not used in the final documentary. However, all the same factors which came into play at Overtoun bridge applied to Rivington and it made me believe that there are probably more incidents than we might first imagine. Many dogs jumping may find themselves fortunate to land on soft ground.

When the first program was screened in 2005 (and since repeated), viewers were able to watch various experiments which I had developed and supervised with dogs at Lords House Farm at Rishton (East Lancashire). These included wall-jumping and how various working breed dogs, when released to explore in a novel field, targeted one scent over others offered. Terrier, Dalmatian, Labrador, Collie and a blind poodle were offered a scent-target of either mouse, squirrel or mink. This filmed experiment is repeated in this new documentary.

My original investigations into the 'dog-bridge suicides' concluded that it was highly likely that the combination of scent, owner-cues and bridge-structure factors was causing the dogs to leap. The story continues to fascinate dog owners around the world. I enjoyed undertaking my original research but stick to my final verdict where I said I would record a verdict of 'misadventure' rather than suicide.

My advice to any dog owners walking around raised structures is to use a lead if there is any likelihood of a spot of Olympic high-jumping taking place!

Category:

Pets & Animals

[danekristen05]

According to legend, this is a place of dark deeds, tragedy and superstition. On one occasion, a man, behaving very erratically, threw his young baby from the bridge, believing it to be possessed by the devil.

In recent years the number of deaths has risen dramatically, with five animals jumping in six months.

. In Celtic mythology, Overtoun is known as a "thin" place. A place where Heaven and Earth are reputed to be close.

[elderwesto]

Why did the dog jump off the bridge? To look at the other side.

[RaptureFilmz]

Thanks for uploading this!