can dogs be suicidal?

I saw a tv programme about this and they think it's because of animals living under the bridge. Because the walls are high (and it's a flat approach to the bridge) dogs don't realise that they are up high, so when they get a whiff of (I think it's a rat or something, maybe squirrel...) animal then off they go to chase it, inadvertently jumping to their deaths!

They tested other theories like high pitch noises from the local nuclear submarine base (negative) and ESP stuff. For me the most plausible answer is the animal's one. I was quite surprised but then they soaked rags in the scent of whatever animal they thought was down there (they'd previously attracted the animals with bait - it appears that rats like tunnock's tea cakes best!) and then let dogs go and they raced to the rat one. Even the blind dog went there directly.

Of course - I live near that bridge in Dumbarton, and the weather is bloody awful... So perhaps they have SAD...

Well to be suicidal they would have to have reasoning power to decide that death is better than life. I think there something about the bridge that attracts dogs and something below that they want and they go over. Maybe an optical illusion for dogs, maybe they can not determine the depth in which they are jumping and thats why they jump. Suicidal? No

I read the story. I do believe that dogs can be depressed, but I don't think they are complex enough to be suicidal. I wonder if there is anything down there that they're after...

No your canines isn't suicidal, he probable changed into messing round at the same time as he slipped off the field and tipped it over. yet its not his fault yet yours for installation a state of affairs that he might want to get choked, you should somewhat supply him some better rope so as that he might want to flow, how might want to you want to be tied up like that?

I don't believe dogs can be suicidal. If they were with some of the owners I've heard on here, there would be an epidemic.

my stand is 50-50

mayb, after all dogs r still living things n i'm sure they av emotions 2 so if they r really depressed mayb.N, tt will b e fault of their owners! but i hope not. dogs are so lovely surely they won't b so stupid as 2 go kill themselves rather than die peacefully

ps i think e article is v horrible, dogs jumping off e bridge? those poor dogs, tey must have been possesed... so poor thing....

I once caught my dog pounding vodka and necking painkillers. So I guess so. I should have read the signs when he started listening to radiohead and dyed his hair black. Poor Mr Snuggles; where did we go wrong....?

Yes,so can cats. They know when their time has come and will actually run out into the street in front of a moving vehicle to kill themselves.

Definateley! Dogs can truly be suicidal. Specially Shiatsus(shitzu). Dogs are also have their own feelings like humans....

Yes,so can cats.