Animal Hauntings

n 1983 Stephen King horrified the nation with his horror novel Pet Sematary. The tale of pets coming back from the grave captivated the minds and imaginations of thousands. Some have claimed the book is more fact than fiction, citing their own experiences with hauntings. The difference, however, is these people say it is not animals haunting them, but spirits haunting them and their pets.

Animal Planet has surprisingly gotten in on the current paranormal show craze, carrying their first ever paranormal show simply called The Haunted. The shows chronicle pet owners' experience with hauntings, talking about how they have affected both them and their animals. For example, in a recent episode a couple was interviewed about their experiences from running a restaurant out of a paranormally very active building. The couples' small dog at one point was the object of the malevolent entity's aggression.

Many psychics and other paranormal believers claim animals are more sensitive to paranormal activity than most humans. Dogs, cats, and horses have all been said to be able to tell when less-than-friendly spirits are nearby. The reactions of these animals can sometimes cue owners that something is occurring on the property.

The Haunted on Animal Planet focuses on animals' reactions to hauntings, not on animals haunting humans as some misinformed reviewers have asserted. The show is on par with some of the better paranormal shows on TV, not sinking to the hokey or profane as some shows have done. At first the concept of animals and the paranormal may take some off guard. Some pet owners, though, may already be interested to hear more. Perhaps a pet has displayed odd behavior before, acting in a way that does not square with the animal's personality.

On The Haunted's website, Animal Planet has teamed up with Lauri Moore - a psychic and paranormal investigator - to create a test for pet owners who want to know if their pet is haunted. The test is made up of several questions surrounding a pet's behavior. At the end a result is produced and advice is dispensed accordingly.

Not all spirits that haunt are human. Some have described being haunted by animal spirits. A local example would be reports of dog sounds in the Old Mill here in Salt Lake City. According to local legend a dog and homeless man perished in one of the fires that gutted Old Mill. Now both dog and man haunt the building with other spirits.