Electrified Manhole Cover Blamed in Death of Dog

Authorities are investigating the mysterious death of a Boston terrier yesterday in Lower Manhattan. The terrier, named Bob, was killed after stepping on a snowy manhole cover on Rector Street while on a walk with a young female dog walker.

It is unclear exactly how the dog died, but police received a 911 call at 3:30 p.m. from someone who said the dog had been electrocuted.

At 3:40 p.m., an office manager working nearby, Pamela Barnwell, approached a sobbing young woman, who explained that the small dog she was walking began crying and bleeding from its feet after stepping on a manhole cover.

Ms. Barnwell said that the dog walker was inconsolable.

Bob was rushed to a local pet care shop, Petropolis, where the owner, Tazz Latifi, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

"I was just devastated, but hopeful that the dog could be revived," Ms. Latifi said.

After 20 minutes, Bob, still unresponsive, was taken to Battery Park Animal Hospital, Ms. Latifi said.

Bob's owners, who moved to the city two weeks ago, were distraught, the owner of Walkee Doggie Inc., the company hired to walk Bob, Seth Edelstein, said.

Yesterday evening, Con Edison workers were at the scene and had cordoned off portions of the sidewalk on Rector Street.

A spokesman for Con Edison, Chris Olert, said a work crew examined the surrounding area and found no stray voltage.