Testimonies

Two Dogs Shocked on Amsterdam Avenue

2/19/10 – Anonymous.  Amsterdam Ave. between 76th and 77th Street.  Unconfirmed

Last week a member of our dog run was walking her two dogs on Amsterdam Ave. between 76th and 77th Street and both dogs received strong shocks -- luckily no one was seriously hurt.  It was very scary -- the current hit the dogs as they were walking through a slushy puddle on the sidewalk.  I called the Con Ed emergency hotline (800-752-6633) and reported it for her and the police and a Con Ed truck were on the scene in less than 15 minutes.

Dog Nervous Passing Scaffolding

1/21/10 – Anonymous.  Columbus Avenue (East side of Street to midway down the block).  Confirmed.  Weather, cold (38) dry.

I'm not sure if it's shocks, but my dog won't walk from the middle of 77th (starts from where the street is dug up and scaffolding) to around the corner on Columbus Avenue past Isabella's until just past Kenneth Cole's.  She won't walk or move and looks scared and I have to pick her up.  She is medium and black and weighs about 18 lbs

Isabella's Still Nervous – updated 2/16/10

I had another experience with my dog last night as I walked her from 76th St. & CPW to 75th St. and along the downtown side of 75 St. towards Columbus.  About 5 ft in she wouldn't walk again (I think she may be super sensitive?).  I picked her up and saw a large electrical box on a pole there on the sidewalk (a transformer?) I don't know if it was looming over her and that spooked her, so I carried her about 5 feet further and then she was okay.

Two Greyhounds Shocked by Lamppost in Chicago, Il.

1/7/10 – Joanna Zarach.  1390 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, Il, 60614, East of North Southport Avenue, Chicago, Il  Confirmed.  Weather: Snowy.

I was walking my two greyhounds on a city sidewalk and one of them started yelping and went down on his legs, the terrible screams that dogs make when they are in terrible pain continued as his entire body was rigid.  I dropped to my knees into the slushy snow to try to help him/figure out what was wrong when I felt a current of electricity - at that moment, I realized that he was being electrocuted.  I pushed his rigid/motionless body off of the sidewalk and onto the street to get him as far way from the spot near the lamppost as possible.  He lay there motionless, strangers started running to help.  Someone called 911, my other dog stepped forward and also started to get electrocuted I pushed him off as quickly as I could as well and was on a receiving end of a panicked dog bite.  The first dog started to come to, but of course he was laying in a wet snow puddle in the middle of the street in 24 degree weather.  I asked someone who lived across the street to bring some blankets, and I handed my 2nd dog to someone to hold.  My 1st dog started to get up and the kind strangers offered to take them to the lobby of their building where they would at least get out of the freezing weather.  One of them carried the 1st dog indoors.  I left the dogs there with the good Samaritans (all dog owners), ran a block to get my car and husband and got them to the vet.  The dogs are okay, but they are in the animal hospital under observation.  Police didn't seem to care that there was live current even though I wasn't the only person who could feel it - a gentleman could feel a zap through his shoes.  Called the city to report this incident since the power company told us it was not their responsibility.

Worksite Shocks Passerby and Her Pooch

4/1/09 – Anonymous.  123 West 45th St., (north side) between 6th & 7th Avenue.  Confirmed.  Weather: Light drizzle.

Worksite has been set up for the last couple days working under the street.  My miniature poodle and I walked past them and she started SCREAMING and her little body was everywhere.  I got ahold of her and the shock went through my body as well.  The Superintendent gave me his name.  He acted like nothing happened, although people poured out into the street because Beau Beau's screaming was loud and ongoing. There were also immediately at lease six police officers on the scene.  I started screaming at the Superintendent asking why the section wasn't roped off.  He said they had gotten a complaint but they didn't know where the hot spot was.  The cops were horrible as well.  I thought I was watching my dog being electrocuted to death and I screamed for help.  One cop said "What do you want us to do?  We're not vets."  I was stunned at their behavior.  Of course, THEN the Superintendent cordoned off the sidewalk.  I took Beau Beau to Animal Medical Center at 62nd and York.  She doesn't appear to have internal bleeding and her lungs were clear, but they said to keep an eye on her as they're worried about a pulminary adema.  Beau Beau is obviously in a lot of pain.  The entire situation was HIDEOUS.

Con Edison Investigates Worksite – updated 4/8/09

Con Edison reports that they arrived at the site shortly after the incident was reported, and found stray voltage was present on the Customer's wiring.  Con Edison mitigated the stray voltage, made the area safe and notified the Customer to make permanent repairs.

Dog Shocked on Sidewalk

3/2/09 – Anonymous.  98th and Madison, SW corner.  Unconfirmed.  Weather: Snow on ground.  

Saw a St. Bernard flip over out of nowhere yelp louder than I have ever heard any animal scream before.  The dog began twitching uncontrollably and defecated on itself. The owner did nothing.  After about a minute of agony, the dog got up and walked away.

Brooklyn Man and His Best Friend Zapped

3/2/09 – Aric Roman, Union St. (south side) between 6th Ave & 7th Ave.  Confirmed.  Weather: Snow on ground.

Walking west down on the sidewalk. Suddenly my dog yelps with one step, then jumps up and drops to the ground in fetal position – he was in convulsions yelping as loud as a coyote, and defecating uncontrollably.  This lasted for at least 10 seconds.  Not knowing what to do, I was rubbing his feet, as it had just snowed heavily, and there was a lot of "salt" on the ground.  He "bit" me the whole time, probably believing I was causing the pain – it didn't work.  In a panic, I picked him up, scraping my hand on the ground, I felt a "tinge in my right arm.  In my arms, his convulsions and agonizing screams finally stopped.  I placed him about 15 feet away, and thankfully he began to revive. Proceeded to "run" home in a cowering position, and is now a bit timid towards me.  I now have some burns in my arm pits, a sore shoulder and arm, and continuing headaches.  PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!!

Once Bitten Twice Shy – Aric's update 12/1/09

After the incident, my dog never really trusted me again.  Upon entering our Brownstone, he would stay up curled on our bed, only energetic coaxing would bring him to me.  Upon hearing his leash, he would retreat.  None of this occurred with my former fiancé, as she has maintained a great relationship dog.  I had a Spring filled with increasing pain, headaches, GI problems, lack of taste and smell, lack of appetite (which to date I've lost close to 50 pounds).  I developed and maintain a fairly extreme case of PTSD, I have short term memory problems, a form of retro-grade amnesia, insomnia and an array of Cognitive and Personality disorders. All this lead to a break up, and subsequent move from the NYC/Brooklyn area . . .   Frankly, the city gave me heavy jitters and sometime panic, which I hadn't had before. Enter Summer.  I moved to the LA area to heal and put my life back together.  The severe physical/emotional/psychological pain has made it very difficult to obtain and maintain continued employment (I have been a top-tier personal trainer for over 15 years, and now have difficulty with basic exercise).  The money is there to fix it, the bureaucracy and back-room deals have stopped it.  The infrastructure is crumbling, and Obama has given the money to the city, WHERE IS IT?  SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO TASK FOR THIS.

Rascal Electrocuted by Fire Hydrant in Brighton, Ma.

1/26/2009 – Dan Stevens, Brighton, Ma.  Confirmed.  Weather: Wintery Mix

I was just walking down the street to the 7-11 on the corner of Chestnut Hill Ave and Beacon Street.  I tied my pitbull (Rascal) up on a fire hydrant because the store doesn't let animals in. Rascal's leash was made of metal, one of those choker collars because he's still young and sometimes needs reinforcement.  Anyway, when I was inside the 7-11 I heard yelping and barking outside.  I ran out and Rascal was lying on the ground twitching, the leash must've conducted a current to his collar.  That was the last time I got to look into poor Rascal's eyes.

Scaffolding Doubly Shocks One Dog - Williamsburg

Unconfirmed Report, January 21, 2009

A woman was walking her dog beneath a construction scaffolding on Bedford Avenue, (by UVA) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, when it suddenly let out a loud yelp and started shaking.  Not knowing what had occurred, she walked her dog along the same route a few hours later, and was surprised to find her dog yelping and shaking at the same location, and immediately realized her dog had been shocked.  The FDNY determined the scaffolding was 'live' with electrical voltage.  She reports that her dog is doing fine, that the site has been repaired and is now safe.

Another Electric Shock - Village

Unconfirmed Report, January 15, 2009

Yesterday while walking on Broadway and East 4th Street near NYU, I saw a man with a small pitbull approach the corner to cross the street.  His dog immediately started screaming in agony and he bent down to see what was wrong with her.   A crowd gathered but he kept looking at her feet, thinking she had stepped on something.  She continued to scream.  I ran across the street and yelled to him to get his dog away from the corner.  I noticed he was standing right next to a silver light post and the bottom was open and a wire was hanging out.  His dog was being shocked.  There was also a fair amount of salt on the sidewalk near the light post, which I'm sure acted as a conductor.  After a while, his dog recovered and I told him to walk clear of light posts and the metal grates in the street.  He said he never knew about this.  . . .  The fire department showed up and cordoned off the area and said they would notify DOT.

Poodle Electrocuted on Myrtle Avenue

12/10/2008 – Janet R., saddened Brooklyn resident.  Unconfirmed.  Weather: Cloudy

Hi Street Zaps, I was walking my miniature poodle, Donna down Myrtle Ave., casually. Donna was leisurely walking as well, perfectly content on this Winter day.  As usual, I let her leash lengthen as to give her more freedom.  She was always such an affable dog, especially when I allowed her to run around Prospect Park.  Needless to say, she grazed up against a light-post, and electrocuted herself.  I will never sleep again.

Mother Comments On Thanksgiving Tragedy

11/27/08 – Nichole M. Baiz, 2997 Heritage Court, Mishawaka, In.   Confirmed.  Sunny.

My 5 year old son, Izaya Michael Baiz-Hickey was out playing with a neighbor boy when they came across an unlocked transformer box.  My son died instantly after touching something inside of the box.  My son's beautiful body burned until fire fighters could come and extinguish him.  I was unable to have an open casket or even kiss my son goodbye after he passed because his injuries were too severe.  It's a horrible thing to have happen to anyone.

Lamppost Shocks Pinscher

11/5/08 – Anonymous.  Montgomery St. & Evertrust Plaza, Jersey City, NJ.  Confirmed.  Weather: Cold, Clear.

I was walking my miniature pinscher (10lbs dog) and we were almost home.  She stopped at a pile of leaves in front of a lamppost (without a cover and exposed wires) to do her business.  She jumped back, yelped, and I carried her home.  I saw a mark on her leg which I thought was a cut and so I took her inside to clean it.  I quickly realized it was a burn mark and not a cut.  We monitored her and noticed continuous shaking and blood in her stool, she was lethargic and couldn't eat or drink water.  We rushed her to the weekend emergency pet hospital where they had to do a full body work up of blood and told us she was in shock.  They gave her subcutaneous fluid and she slowly came back to normal.  It cost us 1K and I had to take a full day off work to monitor her.  It was very scary and we felt like we had no recourse to make sure this doesn't happen to another living being again!

The Only Living Survivor Speaks Out

1/24/08

Phil Vanaria "miraculously survived" a nearly fatal shocking episode in August 1997.  He did nothing more mundane than use a pay phone in the West Village on one muggy summer day.  Read his heart wrenching account of how that horrifying experience altered his life, and his ongoing ordeal in trying to tell his whole story at the New York City Council on Read the Full Story.

Protest Stray Voltage

Marcus Garvey Park, 120th St. between Lenox and 5th Ave, South Harlem on Sunday, 6/8/08 at 11 a.m. by the Mushy & Mama Foundation For the Love of Dogs.

What is human grief in dog years?  On the anniversary of the electrocution of her beloved Mastiff, Mushy, the New York Post reporter, Denise Buffa issued a pivotal statement.  Read Denise's Full Statement.

Dog Shocked by Fire Hydrant

9/6/07 – Anonymous.  Confirmed.  Weather: Clear sky

 I was walking on the North side of 44th Street approaching 11th Avenue when my dog got a strong electrical shock as we passed by the fire hydrant about 20 feet West of 11th Avenue.  The hydrant is on the North side of 44th Street.  I found no manhole covers, caps or grates on the sidewalk.  I notified Con Edison and was pleased that they checked the area, determined the cause of the shock had to do with new electrical wiring beneath the side walk and got the issue resolved in 24 hours.  My dog ended up limping for 4-5 days and is now ok.  I've told everyone with dogs in the neighborhood about it.

Santitation Worker Shocked by Lamppost

2000 - Anonymous.  Confirmed.  Weather: Raining

I was a sanitation man working up town N.Y. City about 122 St. on rainy day wearing rubber boots and gloves, put my hand on the lamppost and pick up a garbage can made of metal.  My gloves were wet inside from sweat, my body was in shock arms and legs.  I could not let go for a few seconds, my lower body hurt for acouple of days.  How much voltage went throw my body . . . am i lucky am alive.