City of Pittsburgh solicitor addresses death of pet dog electrocuted on Squirrel Hill bridge
The City of Pittsburgh solicitor has addressed the death of a pet dog that was electrocuted while on a walk with its owner in January.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 7, emergency crews were called to the pedestrian sidewalk on the Murray Avenue Bridge in Squirrel Hill.
There, it was determined that a dog had been electrocuted after coming into contact with a metal plate secured within the sidewalk, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety.
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The city solicitor on Monday released a report from an independent investigator who found “there was a low voltage current flow at the first enclosure where the incident happened...The ground conductor inside of the first enclosure was not connected to any grounded attachment,” the report reads.
The investigator said when the dog’s paw made contact with the lid, one or more of his paws was in contact with the ground around the enclosure.
“This completed the path for the low voltage current to find ground,” according to the report.
It continues, saying the reason no people felt the voltage was because it was so low and the soles of their shoes prevented them from being a path to ground.
Bob Robinson-Dassel disputes that the voltage level was considered low.
“The city doesn’t seem to think it’s a very lethal dose voltage, but Nikki weighed 65 pounds,” he said. “Any child weighing close to that would have been electrocuted as well and maybe myself too.”
The report also revealed some of the electrical wiring under the metal plate appeared burnt and deteriorated and the conductors were bare.
Bob said he’s still traumatized by the horrifying incident and would break down crying about what happened to his seven-year-old border collie lab mix.
“Worst moment of my life,” he said. “Nikki screamed; she yelped. It was the worst...it’s something I’ll never forget. I just live with that every day.”
Bob now carries a small voltage tester to check for electric currents. He no longer walks on the side of the bridge where the plate is, especially with his new rescue dog Tucker.
The newly adopted two-year-old labradoodle has helped bring back Bob’s laughter and smile.
“Tucker has come into our lives and is making me a lot happier again,” Bob laughed.
Moving forward, the city said it will send an electrician instead of an inspector to investigate similar complaints.
Bob is glad the city is stepping up to address the problem. He’s hopeful what happened to Nikki never happens again.
“It should never have happened,” Bob said. “I feel it was through their negligence this had occurred. So if they’re talking the good talk now, I just hope they follow through.”
Bob said he doesn’t plan on suing the city because that wouldn’t bring his beloved Nikki back. He said all he wants is for the city to do what it says it’s going to do.
The inspector recommended a complete inspection of the city’s street light system.
The solicitor said that all proper repairs have been made to the junction box on the Murray Avenue Bridge.
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