Since ancient times, stories have abounded concerning the existence of ghost animals. From the Native American animal spirits, to the menacing demon dogs of medieval England, to present day encounters with animal apparitions, there can be little doubt that animals, like people, live after death and pass back and forth between this world and the next.

In the realm of the paranormal, experiences concerning deceased pets who revisit the living are common events. Like the ghosts of humans, pet ghosts return for various reasons. Sometimes they appear to say goodbye. Sometimes they want to reassure their grieving owners that they are all right, and that their spirits are always with them. And sometimes, as they often did in life, they are guarding their beloved humans, delivering a message or a warning.

“Haunted Pets” covers a wide range of encounters with animal ghosts. Some of these encounters are comforting; others are terrifying. In general, when pets return in ghostly form, they provide comfort and protection to the living. But there are other less benign phantom creatures who have been known to haunt places of violence, or exact revenge upon humans for evil deeds which, while long past, have somehow evaded justice.

Mary Beth Crain