Dog electrocuted from Seattle sidewalk power plate - Canine Kingdom

given the number of these cases, i now advise my clients NOT to allow dogs to leg-lift on light poles along the curb,
since *urine* is a conduit for electricity just as water is - or even to avoid walking onto utility plates that are set
into sidewalks, but to go around them, instead.

this may seem an excess of caution, but as looking at them won't tell us if they're safe, i prefer to be safe, even
if it seems a bit silly or prissy.

NORTHERN cities & suburbs with snow or ice are more dangerous than southern zones without freezing & salt -
SALTS applied to the road or walkway also vastly increase the risk, due to the ionic charges & conductivity.

RAIN is another added-risk - but it's possible for a dog or horse or human to be shocked on a sunny day,
in a tropical area; deaths & serious injuries have occurred.

AGING INFRASTRUCTURE or POOR MAINTENANCE are the last 2 factors - shorts in wiring, salt corrosion,
metals reacting to one another [galvanic corrosion], & so on. If it looks shabby or aged, avoid it.

anyone who has suffered electrical-shock may need Mouth-To-Mouth, as breathing stops.
dogs can be revived safely - move the dog's body OFF the electric-source any way U can,
time is crucial.
NONconductive anything - drag with the leash, shove with a stick, Anything to hand.
check for breathing - cup a palm over their nostrils to feel for air; if there is NONE,
roll the dog onto their side, extend the neck, open the mouth, flatten the TONGUE,
close the mouth one-handed & blow with the other hand circling the nostrils
to direct Ur breath into the dog's nostrils, or put Ur mouth on the upper-edge of that
cone-hand & blow into it. as if blowing up a balloon.

WATCH down the dog's body for the ribs to lift - let the air exhale as U inhale,
repeat until the dog breathes on their own; a flat palm behind the ELBOW can check
for a heartbeat, but the shocked animal must have O2; if they aren't breathing,
that heart will soon stop.

even after they revive, a vet-visit is imperative to check for unseen damage.

i hope that no-one needs this info - but these events are becoming more frequent. Please be careful.

__________________
terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007