The Overton Bridge is an arch bridge located near Milton, Dumbarton, Scotland which was built in 1859 and has
become famous for the number of unexplained instances in which dogs have apparently committed suicide by
leaping off of it.
Until the middle of the last century, there was nothing unusual above the bridge. But, in the middle of XX century
there started to occur completely unexplained events — when dogs started jumping from one of its parapets,
most of which died because the height of the bridge is 15 meters.
Surprisingly, the few surviving dogs despite the pain and the wounds again went back to the same place and
repeated the attempted suicide, as if they were forced by some unknown force.
About once a month, all kinds of dogs were trying to commit suicides. Of course, the appearance of mystical
legends quickly appeared. After the death of hundreds of dogs, the bridge became known as the "suicide bridge".
Local people have started to tell that the dead dogs were being pushed by two ghost-spirits. In 1994, a man threw
his son off the bridge claiming that it was the anti-Christ. Later, the man attempted suicide there as well.
However, scientists have put their version of that strange phenomenon. It is a fact that under the bridge live
minks and dogs sensing their smell just followed the hunting instinct.
While this theory does not explain the repeated jumping of dogs that run counter to the instinct of selfpreservation.
However, those who believe in par psychological phenomena, suggest that the Overton Bridge is a place where
the barrier between the world of the living and the world of the dead is “thin” and dogs pay with their lives for
their excessive curiosity.
Others say that a small river under the bridge is more important and the water in it is "fed" by dog’s blood.
Whatever the explanation for the famous Dog Suicide Bridge actually this could be debated for years without
satisfaction.
By Dana Gerasimova