February 15, 2007 -- You may remember the news from a few years ago about Jodie Lane, the woman on the Lower East Side fatally electrocuted while walking her dog. Well, it's happened again, as reported in today's New York Times, a dog has been electrocuted in our neighborhood, at Greenwich Street and Rector Street. Unfortunately, electric shocks from poorly insulated ground wiring are not uncommon. The problems are particularly severe on snowy, rainy or slushy days, especially when there is salt on the ground, because both water and salt can act as a conductor.

We have not heard reports of shocks in Battery Park City itself yet this year, but we had a number of incidents a few years ago, when at least 6 dogs suffered serious electric shocks as they stepped on or near electrical box covers in BPC streets like the one pictured here. The electric shocks occurred on South End Avenue near where Foxhounds used to be; on the northwest corner of South End and Rector Place; and on the northwest corner of South End and Albany (near what is now the Gatehouse Diner). BPC Dogs has alerted the Battery Park City Authority of this danger. In at least one case a few years ago, BPCA cut off power to an area street while repair work was performed.

If you notice any electric shocks in the streets or sidewalks of BPC, please call 311. Please also let us know at BPC Dogs (email us). And, for good measure, please alert the Battery Park City Authority as well (212-417-2000).

We continue to be concerned, however, that the problem may be inherent in the design and/or maintenance of these street level electrical boxes, which are scattered all over BPC. We understand from other dog associations that one dog in Greenwich Village was killed by similar electrical shocks two years ago.

After learning of electric shocks in our neighborhood, BPC Dogs members took another look at the streets and discovered other potential dangers, including exposed wiring on lamp posts, such as the one pictured here on South End Avenue near Liberty Street.

Please avoid walking your dogs near lamp posts and street or sidewalk electrical boxes. Although the danger to dogs is most obvious, these electrified boxes are also a hazard to humans, particularly children.

Check this page of our website periodically for updates on our progress with the BPCA in fixing this hazard.

Once again, if you have had similar experiences or know of any similar or other dangers to pets in BPC, please call 311, and email your information to Paula Galloway immediately.