Dog electrocuted by wire in Turtle Creek; couple calling for accountability

TURTLE CREEK, Pa. — A Turtle Creek couple told Channel 11 News on Thursday afternoon that they were walking their two dogs when one was electrocuted by a live wire.

McKenzie Reiser and her boyfriend, Marcus, were walking along Mercer Street in Turtle Creek when a wire hanging from a pole blew into their three-year-old Pitbull, Fatty.

The wire was live, and it electrocuted the dog, killing it instantly.

“There was a downed wire that blew into his butt, and he turned around and bit it because it shocked him and we couldn’t get it back out of his mouth,” explained Reiser.

Reiser said neither of them saw the wire, and both tried to pull the dog from it, but unfortunately, it was too late.

“It happened within five seconds,” she said.

The couple is demanding accountability from Duquesne Light Company.

“I feel devastated, I don’t even know how to feel right now, I’m trying not to blame anybody because I understand it was a storm. However, I feel like Duquesne [Light Company] should have driven around, especially with it being that close to a school,” Reiser said.

Propel has a school campus just a five-minute walk from the street.

Reiser said this could have been prevented. She told Channel 11 that neighbors had notified the electric company, but nothing was done.

“[Neighbors] said they called four times, and this was after Duquesne Light had fixed our power; they should have driven around and looked for downed wires,” she said.

Duquesne Light Company is investigating the incident.

Vocelli Pizza in Monroeville has offered to cover the cost of the dog’s cremation.

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