Overtoun Bridge
West Dubartonshire, Scotland is a picturesque town just west of Glasglow. It has charming museums, lovely greenspaces, and, of course, Overtoun Bridge. Connected to Overtoun House, a 19th-century country house, Overtoun Bridge has a more sordid history than one may imagine...especially if you love dogs.
It seemed to have begun in the 1950s, but, for the last 60 or so years approximately fifty dogs have escaped their owners and jumped off Overtoun Bridge. However, i is believed more than 600 dogs have jumped off the bridge yet survived with minor injuries. What’s strange is the ones that survive the fall sometimes make their way back only to jump off again. Why they dive from safety off the fifty-foot bridge is a mystery that no one has quite solved yet.
Unfortunately nicknamed the ‘Dog Suicide Bridge’, ‘Overtoun Bridge is alleged to be haunted or cursed by an unseen force, or, perhaps, a force only dogs can see. Over the years the bridge and the strange phenomena tied to it have brought it international infamy. There have been various investigations, ranging from ghost hunters to psychologists to try and discover what makes dogs leap from it.
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals decided to send a team to the bridge in order to get to the bottom of the Overtoun Bridge. Animal psychologist Dr. David Sands and animal expert David Sexton headed to the bridge and came to an interesting conclusion - an overpowering scent of mink could be the culprit luring them off the bridge.
Others believe that, perhaps, the area is a place where the veil is thin...maybe especially so for dogs. Water is usually believed to be a conductor for the paranormal energies that prove compelling for humans. So, is it possible that this bridge over water could be a place where the veil is thin for dogs...even if humans cannot perceive it?
Either way, many dog owners avoid walking across this strange bridge...just in case.
Thank you to Kevin R for suggesting this Blogstonishing topic!
The above image is Overtoun House and bridge, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, by Rosser1954 and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International.
