At a Glance
- A Pittsburgh woman says her chocolate lab was shocked by an energized streetlight on Smallman Street
- City officials confirmed damaged wiring turned the pole into a live electrical hazard
- A prior 2024 incident killed another dog, raising questions about missed inspections
Why it matters: Pet owners and pedestrians face hidden electrical dangers from aging city infrastructure.
A routine jog turned into a near-tragedy when Montana Mitchell‘s 85-pound chocolate lab, Denim, was shocked by a live streetlight pole in Pittsburgh, prompting a citywide utility audit and a possible lawsuit.
Mitchell told KDKA-TV that on Jan. 8 she and Denim were cooling down on Smallman Street near 11th Street when the dog suddenly screamed, lost control of his body and foamed at the mouth.
“He had been thrown to his side, his legs were pushed out, and it looked like he was being tased,” she said.
Because Mitchell wears the leash around her waist, she first felt a small buzz and thought the shock originated from her electronics. She ripped out her AirPods and removed her Apple Watch before realizing the current was coming from the pavement.
“I leaned over and started taking off his harness and his collars. That’s when I really felt the jolts of the shock,” she recalled. “It went up and down my arms, through my chest, and down my spine.”
A bystander stopped to help and drove the pair back to Mitchell’s car. She later posted on Facebook that the stranger was a “true guardian angel.”
City officials confirmed to KDKA, WTAE and WPXI that something had struck the bottom of the streetlight, shifting internal wires and energizing the pole. Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure stated that rain allowed the current to travel through the concrete; Mitchell’s rubber soles insulated her, but Denim’s paws were in direct contact with the wet cement.
Investigation timeline
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Jan. 8 | Incident reported; pole disabled same day |
| Jan. 9 | Third-party consultant begins probe |
| Jan. 10 | City announces citywide pole assessment |
A spokesperson for Mayor Corey O’Connor told News Of Losangeles the utility pole’s sheath had been damaged, pinching wires until they contacted the metal casing. The pole was repaired and repeatedly tested before being re-energized.
“Mayor O’Connor finds these incidents unacceptable and it’s our first priority to keep Pittsburgh safe,” the statement said.
Mitchell initially hesitated to go public, but changed her mind after learning that another dog, Nikki, died from electrocution under a different Pittsburgh streetlight in 2024. A consultant hired after Nikki’s death found an energized metal plate caused by a faulty conductor. At that time the city pledged biennial inspections; KDKA and WPXI reported those checks may never have occurred.
Denim spent a brief period at an emergency veterinarian and is now recovering at home. Mitchell told KDKA she is meeting with attorneys this week to decide on possible legal action.
“I can let this scare me, or I can let it inspire me to take action so no one else experiences this,” she wrote on Facebook, adding that she forced herself to run again-mentally difficult but necessary to move forward.
The city has deployed inspectors to examine every utility pole, plate and related infrastructure pedestrians might touch. Results of the third-party investigation will guide further safety upgrades.
