The Overtoun Bridge Dog Suicides

Since the 1950s, over 600 dogs have leaped to their deaths from Overtoun Bridge near Dumbarton, Scotland. The dogs jump from the same spot—always on clear days, always long-nosed breeds like Collies and Retrievers. Some dogs that survive climb back up and jump again. Local legends attribute it to the ghost of Lady Overtoun or supernatural forces. In 2010, animal behaviorist David Sands investigated. He discovered the bridge's granite walls block the dogs' view of the 50-foot drop. More importantly, the undergrowth below is infested with mink, whose scent is irresistible to hunting breeds. Dogs smell the mink, leap over the wall expecting ground, and plunge to their deaths. The combination of scent, blocked sightlines, and breeding creates a death trap. The council installed signs warning dog owners to leash their pets. The suicides have decreased but not stopped. Overtoun Bridge remains a place where biology, architecture, and tragedy intersect in the cruelest possible way.