WASHINGTON (WUSA) – An investigation is underway into the deaths of two dogs who were apparently electrocuted while walking on a sidewalk in the nation’s capital.
WARNING: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some readers.
Ben Stearn says he saw a puppy on the sidewalk jumping up and down just before 4 p.m. Monday. At first, he thought the dog was bothered by salt on the street that road crews put down after the day’s snowstorm.
The dog jumped up and down a few more times then stopped moving.
“I heard this horrible yelping and crying,” Stearn said. “The dog was jumping in the air, and then, it would flop down and jump up again. This went on several times, and then, he flopped down and didn’t move.”
Stearn tried to wipe the puppy’s paws then realized he was feeling a sharp pain.
“I bent down because I was going to feel for a pulse. I felt a sharp pain in my hand, and I thought I had hit something sharp,” he said.
As it turned out, Stearn was getting an electrical shock.
Officials say the dog was later taken to the animal hospital, where it was pronounced dead.
Hours later, authorities received a report of a second dog getting electrocuted.
The local power company is investigating what happened. Crews have closed off part of the street where the incident occurred. It’s unclear when it will be safe to walk on for people and pets.
Copyright 2025 WUSA via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.