By Nathan Duke
The city Department of Transportation said it is still investigating the electrocution of a dog who came into contact with a light pole Sunday in Long Island City.
The dog, a 7-year-old Siberian husky, was shocked to death after touching the light pole during a routine walk with its owner, Celia Sing, in Long Island City, the Daily News reported.
A DOT spokesman said the agency was still looking into the cause of the incident.
“Safety is our top priority,” he said. “We're still trying to determine the cause of the stray voltage at the location, which our engineers have made safe.”
The spokesman said Con Edison is responsible for the delivery of electricity, but the DOT is responsible once electricity reaches the wires in its light poles.
City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) said he viewed the incident as further proof that the city should consider creating a Stray Voltage Task Force. Vallone said he introduced a bill that would require the formation of a task force several years ago, but there have not been hearings on the proposal.
“I think this is even more of an impetus for the city to have its own task force,” he said. “We need to combat the problem of stray voltage.”
