Chicago authorities warned dog owners that their pets risk death if they relieve themselves on light poles and don’t wear shoes on city streets during the winter.
The bizarre caution comes after a dog was reportedly killed in the Windy City over the weekend after it stepped on an electrified manhole cover.
Officials said such instances are ‘rare’ but much more probable in wintertime.
Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly told CWB Chicago the incident in Downtown Chicago resulted from a pinched wire.
The pinched wire ’caused a manhole cover and light pole to become electrically live,’ Reilly said, adding that a second dog was also shocked hours earlier but survived.
Reilly warned that winter conditions could cause grave danger to his constituents’ pets, as ‘stray voltage can occur when exposed wires come into contact with moisture, creating a hidden electrical hazard.’
‘While such incidents are rare, factors like rain and salt can increase the risk,’ he added.
To avoid a similar fate, Chicago’s Department of Transportation recommends ‘pet owners take extra precautions like dressing them in shoes or booties and not allowing them to urinate on light poles.’
The dog’s fatal electrocution over the weekend made headlines in Chicago as locals reacted with horror at the canine’s shocking death.
A dog in Downtown Chicago was fatally electrocuted on Saturday when it stepped on an electrified manhole cover, leading officials to warn residents that winter conditions could imperil their pets
Authorities cautioned Chicago dog owners to make their pets wear shoes and to keep them away from light poles when they pee to avoid a similar fate
The city’s Department of Transportation responded to the scene on Saturday after the dog was electrocuted and reportedly fixed the pinched wiring issue within an hour.
A spokesperson for electricity provider ComEd told CWB Chicago that the malfunctioning equipment did not belong to the company, but it assisted the Department of Transportation in fixing the issue.
‘DOT’s Division of Electrical Operations takes stray voltage very seriously,’ the agency said in a statement.
‘A crew was immediately dispatched once alerted to the incident at Ontario and Dearborn [streets], and made the necessary repairs to ensure the area is safe.
‘Stray voltage, while rare, can pose a hidden and unpredictable danger.
‘Because it’s invisible and difficult to detect, for pet safety owners should prevent their animals from directly touching metal objects such as light poles and manhole covers.
‘This is particularly important during winter when snow melts and salt can increase the conductivity of these surfaces.’
Officials warned winter conditions could cause grave danger dogs, as ‘stray voltage can occur when exposed wires come into contact with moisture, creating a hidden electrical hazard’
A woman who was first on the scene of the dog’s fatal electrocution said she and her co-workers raced outside after hearing ‘several yelps.’
‘By the time we were notified a dog was deceased outside, it was too late to start CPR otherwise we would have,’ said the woman, identified as Kristen A.
‘Several bystanders were kind enough to stay with the young gentleman who owned the dog who was inconsolable.
‘We covered the dog with a sheet until the police arrived. The rest of the family arrived and were even more inconsolable, understandably.’
