The Psychic World of Dogs Part II
The Reverend John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, when he still lived with his parents lived in Epworth Rectory where the family experienced poltergeist activity. One of their servants, Mr. Brown, slept in the garret where he would hear footsteps and turkey gobbles. He took the family dog, a mastiff into his bedroom one night. The dog barked loudly before the phenomena began, then whined and ran around the room. I have written an article about the poltergeist, "The Reverend John Wesley and the Poltergeist."
Dr. Nandor was a very distinguished parapsychologist who was the first person to write about the interrelationship between the psychological and the psychic. In his book, Between Two Worlds, he writes about several cases of dogs as haunters.
Ballechin House, in Perthshire, Scotland was the scene of a haunting. Major Robert Steuart inherited the estate and moved there when he retired from the army. He walked with a distinct limp and had many dogs. When he lived in India, he began to believe in reincarnation and transmigration of souls into nonhuman bodies. His wish was that, upon his death, he would inhabit his favorite black spaniel's body.
After the Major died, his nephew, John, inherited the house. John and his family knew about his uncle's desire and had no wish for him to return, no matter how ludicrous this sounded. All of the dogs were shot to death.
Phenomena began shortly thereafter. People heard limping footsteps, knocking, raps and animal-like shrieks, rattles, groans, heavy breathing, thumping and other sounds. There was an icy coldness. Two apparitions were seen, one of a man and another of a misty form. Bedclothes were torn from beds. People saw the phantom of a black spaniel and there was other evidence of invisible dogs scampering in the house.
Lord Bute, a ghost hunter of the time, rented the house so two of his researchers, Miss Goodrich-Freer and Colonel Taylor could investigate. They, in turn, invited 36 guests to stay at Ballechin, but did not inform them of the paranormal activity.
Goodrich-Freer brought her Pomeranian, Spooks, with her. One night, the animal woke her up, whimpering. She followed his gaze and saw two disembodied black canine paws on the bedside table.
Another time, she and another woman were in the Major's room and saw a black dog she, at first, thought was Spooks. Then, she saw a second dog, which really was Spooks, enter the room with her
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