West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
In the 1950s locals nicknamed the Overtoun Bridge “Dog Suicide Bridge”, as dogs began jumping off the bridge and into the ravine below for no discernible reason. Since that time at least 50 dogs have inexplicably fallen to their deaths with hundreds more suffering a number of severe injuries. Owners typically report similar instances wherein their dogs appear to first be in a sort of trance, staring at something over the bridge and then suddenly without warning, leaping over the side to their fate. Many owners attesting to their dogs’ character, assert that they have always been very obedient and that the sudden change in behavior denotes something sinister about the bridge.
Many locals, not just dog owners, believe that the Bridge and nearby the Overtoun house are inhabited by dark spirits as a result of the druidic practices performed on the grounds centuries ago creating a sort of home for dark spirits. Spirits that call to the animals and cause them to jump.
In 2014, David Sands, a canine psychologist said that the occurrences could be a combination of two factors. The first he believes is that the foliage surrounding the bridge gives the dogs the illusion that they are looking out on even ground. The second is that the dogs are acting instinctively to the high concentration of mink scent in the area and suddenly leaping out toward their prey.
Bob Hill an owner of Overtoun House stated that while he believes that the grounds do possess a kind of spirituality, David’s ideas make much more sense, especially when you include the fact that the walls of the bridge are tapered and would make it an unexpected and slippery slope for any dog who chose to make the rash decision to jump onto it.
Visiting
Overtoun Bridge, Garshake, Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, G82 2SH, United Kingdom
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