BOSTON -- After four claims of electrically charged sidewalks shocking city dogs in recent weeks, Boston is demanding answers from electric company, NSTAR.

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Jorge Quiroga Reports On Hearing

NewsCenter 5's Jorge Quiroga reported that the problem has not just been reported in Boston. A pet owner in Melrose, Mass., claimed their 11-year-old dog was shocked near a light post this past weekend.

NSTAR officials will meet with Boston officials at a city council meeting Monday. Meanwhile, the company is checking 30,000 manhole covers for possible hot spots before another is injured or killed.

NSATR said they are greatly concerned but not at fault for the electric hot spots that have zapped Boston dogs this winter.

On Monday, the company took out a full-page ad in The Boston Globe to defend itself.

The ad read in part, "It is unacceptable when construction crews can damage our system walk away from a dangerous situation and then assume no responsibility."

"Every one of these recent incidents has not involved a failure of NSTAR equipment, a failure of NSTAR personnel, or a failure of our systems," said NSTAR spokeswoman Christina McKenna.

At least three dogs have been shocked by surges of electricity while walking near NSTAR manhole covers, including a dog killed in Charlestown. Another dog was shocked but survived in Chinatown last week.

NSTAR blames outside contractors.

"Of course the most egregious and blatant violation is the one in Chinatown, in which a construction company not only damaged our line, but tried to make a makeshift repair and literally covered that repair back up by paving over it," said McKenna.

But the city takes a different point of view, saying that a preliminary investigation cites NSTAR's "lack of oversight and preventive maintenance."

If you have concerns about hot spots in your neighborhood, you can contact NSTAR at: (800) 592-2000 or through their Web site.