TORONTO, March 5 (UPI) -- Two dogs were electrocuted and a third canine and a police officer were shocked by an apparent electrical malfunction in Toronto, authorities said.

The incident occurred about 2 p.m. Friday at the corner of Parliament Street and Queen Street East, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.


A witness, Corey Courveau, told the CBC he was working across the street when he heard a scream and saw one dog on the ground and its owner in anguish. He said he ran across the street to see if he could help and ended up running across the street to alert a veterinarian.

"The owner was obviously very, very distraught, very upset. She was bleeding. The dog bit into her as she was trying to comfort the dog.

"It's sad. It shouldn't have happened," he said.

A police officer tried to lift the dog only to suffer burns on her hands, the CBC said. Two other dogs were found shocked nearby.

Toronto Hydro said it was determined defective equipment from a Toronto Transit Commission utility pole had electrified the street.