Animal Ghosts Sightings Have Been Reported Throughout Paranormal History

My husband likes to joke that I am a "fur person". Meaning that I love anything with fur. This isn't exactly the truth though as there are actually a very limited number of animals that I dislike. Some people love cats, some love dogs and some love hamsters. If you are an animal lover then you can understand it when I say that there is a special bond between certain animals and their owners. One thing that paranormal investigators deal with that not everyone is aware of though is animal ghosts. Just like human spirits who hang around after they pass there is a smaller group of animal spirits.

Not all animal ghosts were pets, just like not all human ghosts hang around loved ones. Another similarity between animal and human spirits is that an animal did not have to be a pet just like a human did not have to be fond of the location they haunt. Sometimes they just seem stuck. As you can imagine, dealing with a non-English speaking animal can be a bit different from dealing with a human ghost, even an ornery one. Many animal ghost stories deal with a beloved pet who passed and returned to comfort the owner or family that it loved, but not all. Take for example one of the oldest animal hauntings in the world. The Roman Colosseum held a lot of fierce battles, many of which ended in the death of one or both sides. It is estimated that over 5,000 exotic animals were killed (from lions to bears) in these battles but no one is really sure of the exact number. Since the time when the Colosseum was being used regularly all the way to present day (approximately 1,920 years) staff, workers and visitors alike have claimed to hear and/or see such animals on occasion (along with many of the fighters).

Besides private homes (which boast a fair share of the ghostly animal population) there are several well known haunted locations that claim to have an animal ghost of some sort roaming around. Here is a list of just a few:

- The Cranbury Inn in Cranbury, New Jersey has many documented sightings of a cat and a dog (as well as several human apparitions).

- The Hotel Vendome in Prescott, Arizona has a cat they call Noble. Both the cat and her owner are known to haunt the halls and especially room 16.

- The Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse in Fairport Harbor, Ohio has a gray cat that has been seen by many. The staff used to try and wave off claims of seeing the cat until the mummy of a gray cat was found when new air conditioner vents were installed. The mummy is now on display at the museum.

- There is a phantom horse seen galloping in different areas of the grounds at Dover Castle (located in Dover, England). Both night security and groundskeepers have reported several sightings.

- While Gettysburg, PA is most known (ghost wise) for it's apparitions of soldiers there is one animal amongst the ghostly group. In fact, one of the most reported sightings is that of a dog. The dog is thought to have belonged to General Barksdale. The dog was killed crossing the battlefield while delivering a message.

As you can see, animal ghosts do not limit themselves to just one continent and indeed, there are hundreds of other reported animal hauntings that are not listed here from just about every place in the world. One of the neatest stories I have heard from a fellow investigator has to do with an investigation they were on. An investigator opened the cellar door and saw a cat run out past her. She immediately apologized to the client about letting her cat out of the basement. The client said she did not have a cat. However, since that evening the apparition of a cat has been seen around different parts of the house. Instead of letting the cat out of the bag it seems that she let the cat out of the basement.

Ghost animals are perhaps one of the more intriguing aspects of investigating the paranormal. Though it can be hard for some people to wrap their heads around the idea of their dearly departed dog coming back for a visit (or an extended stay). I remember once trying to explain the theory of animal ghosts to a client and his reply was, "So you're telling me that if I had a pet cricket who I was very heavily emotionally attached to he could come back after he kicks the bucket?" We both laughed. As of this point in my research I have learned of reports of several different kinds of animals seeming to return after they pass. Those animals are: dogs, cats, birds, a hamster, a few rabbits, several horses, one wolf, a camel, a bear, three lions and a ferret. Who is to say what animals form strong enough attachments to allow them to return (or never leave)? The same can be said for human ghosts as well. Nobody knows what mixture is needed to 'make' a ghost. Perhaps if we could figure that out we could all have our pets around just a little longer.