Why Do Dogs Kill Themselves at the Overtoun Bridge?
The mystery of the 600+ dogs that jumped off Scotland’s “suicide bridge”
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In 2015, Alice Trevorrow was walking with her 3-year-old springer spaniel, Cassie, on the Overtoun Bridge near Dumbarton, Scotland.
Out of the blue, Cassie became agitated, ran, and jumped off the bridge. The fall was 50 feet.
The behavior exhibited by Cassie has been observed for decades in over 600 dogs who set foot on that bridge. Cassie was among the lucky ones who survived. But her owner, Alice, was still very disturbed by the event when she described it to The Sun.
“There is no way my dog did it on purpose. There is something sinister going on here. It was so out of character for her.”
Each jump, whether fatal or not, seems to follow the same scenario. The dog is acting normal. It starts walking on the bridge. Right away, it starts growing agitated and manic. Then it runs to the side of the bridge and jumps. The fall ends on the rocks of the deep valley below.
The phenomenon occurs so consistently that the structure is now known as “Dog Suicide Bridge” in Scotland and it has warning signs on both ends that read, “Dangerous bridge. Please keep your dog on a lead.”
There is no conclusive explanation of what causes these tragedies. But there are two vastly different theories
The White Lady of Overtoun
The area of the Overtoun Bridge — a lush, quiet natural oasis — is what the pagan Celts used to call a “thin place.” A spot where the border between the living and the dead becomes fuzzy.
Paul Owens, a teacher of religion and philosophy in Glasgow who wrote a book about the phenomenon, had this to say:
“After 11 years of research, I’m convinced it’s a ghost that is behind all of this.”
But whose ghost?
In 1908, First Baron Overtoun died. His widow, Lady Overtoun, was inconsolable. She lived in grief and heartbreak for 30 years until she, too, passed away.
Since her death, people have reported sightings of her ghost. Still shackled by sorrow, she lingers in windows and walks around the mansion. And her sadness seeps into the dogs who come close so they become suicidal.
People who watched in horror as their pets leaped off the bridge are adamant that something unnatural and sinister was going on.
Another dog owner, Ms. Mackinnon, indicated to The New York Times that her collie, Bonnie, did not act out of her own free will when she jumped.
“Something overcame Bonnie as soon as we approached the bridge. At first she froze, but then she became possessed by a strange energy and ran and jumped right off the parapet.”
But it’s not only the dog owners who believe something supernatural is going on. Residents of Dumbarton mostly agree. The area is considered “spiritual.” Locals have grown up believing in ghosts and have seen or felt spirits in Overtoun.
And many people who walk on the bridge report it “feels strange.” Even dogs that do not jump tend to freeze up when they enter the area.
Mink and other animals
In 2010, animal behaviorist David Sands called on by the Dumbarton council to investigate.
His conclusion was simple. The strong scent of mammals — mice, squirrels, and especially mink — is what compels dogs to jump.
Sands further argued that the dogs are not even aware that they are leaping into a 50-feet deep gorge. They make no distinction between the even ground surrounding the bridge and the even ground on the bridge itself.
And the parapets of the bridge create an optical illusion for the dogs. They are wide and flat, covering any indication that what lies beyond them is a 50-feet fall.
Also, the walls of the bridge are tapered. Even if the dogs don’t aim for a long leap, they can easily fall off once they are on the parapet.
The mammal scent theory is very strong. But many remain unconvinced. If squirrels and mink evoke such a dramatic response in dogs, why aren’t dogs jumping off similar bridges?
Regardless of which theory you lean towards, here’s a final little fact. David Sands, the very man who ruled out the supernatural, admitted that something was still off. He is convinced in his findings but stated that the bridge does have “a strange feeling.”
