The Eerie "Bridge of Death" in England: Over 600 Dogs Leaping to Their End

If a place witnesses multiple unexplained deaths, it's bound to earn a reputation for being ominous!

In a quaint town in England, there exists such a bridge. It serves as a pathway to Overton House and is known as the Overton Bridge. Since the 1950s, it's been said that around 600 dogs (some sources claim 300) have leaped off this bridge and plunged into a 15-meter-deep gorge.

At least 50 dogs have been reported dead, while the survivors have suffered varying degrees of injuries, with some left permanently paralyzed.

Thus, the Overtoun Bridge has gained notoriety as the "Bridge of Death" and the "Dog Suicide Bridge," garnering widespread media attention worldwide. Suicide? Without hesitation, a leap

Welsh Springer Spaniel Cassie jumped off a bridge in 2014, her owner recalled: Cassie had been staring at a particular spot on the bridge before jumping without a moment's hesitation.

Cassie was considered a well-behaved and gentle dog who didn't need to be leashed normally, so her unusual behavior left her owner baffled.

After the leap, Cassie emitted a terrifying whimper, a stark contrast to her resolute and fearless demeanor before the jump.

Fortunately, Cassie ultimately survived. Border Collie Bonnie jumped in 2016. That day, the family and Bonnie were playing nearby. As they approached the bridge, Bonnie suddenly behaved strangely.

"It was as if some magical force was compelling her. She didn't even wait for us; she just ran off. Usually, she'd wait for us to walk together and then jump from the railing."

The owners said everything happened too quickly; they didn't even have time to think before she jumped. Even now, recalling the scene from that day fills them with dread.

However, the tragedy at Overtoun Bridge hasn't stopped.

Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Corgis... more dogs have jumped from here for reasons unknown!

To the owners, these dogs behaved extremely unusually, as if some evil force were tempting them. What force compels dogs to leap?

Several theories have been proposed regarding unusual dog behavior.

The most widely circulated is the lure of the "lady in white".

Mr. Owens is one of its proponents, having researched the mysterious death for decades and even written a book, concluding that it was the influence of a lady in white.

In essence, he believes it's a result of supernatural forces.

This lady in white is believed to be the former lady of the house who despised dogs during her lifetime. After her husband's death in 1908, she refused to leave due to grief. Following her own demise, there were claims of sightings of her wandering around the windows or the courtyard.

Locals, especially after a mentally troubled father threw his two-week-old child off the bridge in 1994, choosing the spot due to its perceived malevolence, largely support this theory.

Since then, more and more people have become convinced of its validity. Animal Scent Lure

As a science blogger, it's clear that the notion of "Aipiao Theory" is too absurd to be convincing.

From a scientific perspective, while dogs are indeed intelligent, they are unlikely to exhibit "suicidal" behavior.

This is because scientists believe that while some animals do possess self-awareness and an understanding of death, they are unable to perform a series of complex behaviors leading to their own demise, as humans can.

If it's not a deliberate act of self-harm, then what force compels the dog to jump?

In 2014, canine psychologist David Sanders suggested that inducing abnormal behavior in dogs could be the result of various factors acting in concert.

• Firstly, dogs suddenly become very excited, possibly attracted by the presence of minks near the bridge.
• Minks have a special gland that emits a strong musky odor, and their urine also has a strong scent, which dogs are easily attracted to.
• The mink theory has been corroborated by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the UK, who, in another survey they conducted, confirmed the presence of nests of rats, squirrels, and minks around the bridge.
• Another study also confirmed that, compared to other scents, canines are more easily attracted to the scent of minks. Secondly, dogs have a low field of vision, leading to illusions.

Scientists believe that because dogs are shorter and have a lower field of vision, they are completely unaware of the 15-meter drop below when they are drawn to a unique scent. The lush trees below the bridge create an illusion for the dog: instead of a chasm, it perceives level ground beneath the bridge. There's one more thing, related to the bridge's structure.

On either side of the bridge, there are cantilevered observation decks with gaps, making it easy for excited dogs to fall off.

Lastly,

Regardless of the truth, it doesn't matter anymore.

The Bridge of Death is now a famous attraction, and to maintain its air of mystery, locals recount the story of the villa woman to sightseers, then solemnly warn them:

"This is a dangerous bridge, please keep your dog on a leash!"