From the Prospect Heights Message Boards:
jimbo79 writes: “My dog seems to have identified stray voltage in front of 398 Sterling Place. We used to pass that way twice a day on our walks. About a month ago, I noticed would hold back as I approached this spot, and then race ahead as fast as he could, in both cases as far as the length of the leash would allow. I shrugged it off at first but then he became reluctant to even leave the house at walk time. Then I realized he was showing the same behavior that he showed at the Underhill Avenue hot spot in 2004…”
“Back in 2004, this dog exhibited the same behavior, laying back then skipping ahead, each day as we passed a spot on Underhill between Sterling and St. Johns. I thought it was weird that he always did that at the same spot, but didn’t think it was serious. Then one day when there was a lot of melted snow and salt on the sidewalk, my other dog (RIP), who never before had seemed to react, fell over on his side, writhing in pain…”
Call ConEd ASAP! Several dogs I know had similar reactions a few years ago on a spot of Sterling. ConEd checked it out and, yes, the spot was hot. Dogs and people have died from contact with these hot spots.
Call 311 if you can’t track down a number for ConEd. They should be able to connect you to someone who can fix this problem.