The Mysterious Dog Suicide Bridge in Scotland

Overtoun Bridge is possibly one of the greatest enigmas in the world that no one has successfully unraveled. Constructed over 150 years ago and designed by architect Henry Ernest Milner, this bridge is infamous as a place where dogs arrive seemingly to leap or end their lives, although the reason remains unclear.

Since the 1950s, about 50 dogs have perished jumping from this 15-meter-high bridge. During the same period, approximately 600 other dogs attempted similar jumps but survived. Of those who survived, many returned to the same spot to leap again at the first opportunity.

No one knows why this happens, but all jump incidents share two common factors: all dogs had long snouts, and they all jumped from the same place—the right-hand side of the bridge, between the last two railings. According to reports, all jumping dogs are from relatively long-nosed breeds, such as German Shepherds or Scottish Terriers. Additionally, all incidents occurred on bright days.

So what exactly causes this? The most common theory is that the smell of squirrels, mice, and especially minks, which often make their homes under the bridge, attracts the dogs. In tests conducted to solve the mystery, ten puppies from suitable breeds were given ten different scents to sniff, and seven clearly preferred the scent of minks. This theory fits for several reasons: minks arrived in the bridge area in the 1950s when the jumps began, and their scent is stronger on bright, dry days.

However, this theory still does not explain why the jumps occur at this bridge and not others, nor why always from the same fixed point. Another question that arises is whether dogs are capable of intentionally ending their own lives. According to canine psychologist Dr. David Sands, they cannot. Nevertheless, there have been isolated historical instances where animals, including cows, a dolphin, and even a dog, have committed suicide.

In 2005, Dr. Sands visited the bridge with a documentary crew to try to solve the enigma. "Forget the dogs, even as a human, I have a strange sensation here, all my senses are on fire," he said. Sands conducted several tests at the location but found no conclusive answers to the mystery.

A local resident, 20-year-old Jenna, agrees that there is something eerie about the bridge even for humans. "The first time I came to the spot, I felt the air get thin and my stomach turn, like when you miss a step," she recounted. "The second time, I simply felt like something bad was going to happen. There was a woman with a dog right at the edge, and it wouldn’t budge. Later I learned that same weekend, two dogs jumped from there and died."