A routine walk turned into a nightmare for Chicago resident Jeff Fines and his dog, Earl, when a city manhole cover became the source of a dangerous electric shock.
The Incident
While walking through the city, Earl stepped onto a manhole cover and was immediately violently shocked. Fines described the horrifying moment: “In a split second he was spread eagle, all the way down, belly partly on the manhole cover, completely on the ground screaming. I have never heard him scream like that.”
A Hidden Danger
Instinctively reaching down to help his suffering pet, Fines realized the cause of the distress when he felt the electricity surge through his own body.
While Earl is reportedly recovering, he suffered burn marks on his stomach and a blister on his paw. Fines notes that the outcome could have been tragic if the victim had been more vulnerable.
“When the current went through my body… I’m like 190 pounds, a very healthy guy, my body can handle that. Imagine it’s a child, someone who’s elderly, someone who’s frail… It could’ve been far worse.”
Demanding Accountability
This is not an isolated incident; reports indicate a similar event occurred a year prior involving another dog. Fines has reached out to 311, the police, and the alderman’s office, demanding that electrical companies and contractors address this invisible hazard before a child or another pet is seriously hurt.
As of the latest update, the Chicago Department of Transportation has not issued a response.