Gerina Dunwich - 27 Nov

OTHER BOOKS BY GERINA DUNWICH

Candlelight Spells

Wicca Candle Magick

Circle of Shadows

The Concise Lexicon of the Occult

Wicca Craft

Wicca Love Spells

The Wicca Spellbook

The Wicca Book of Days

The Wicca Source Book

The Wicca Garden

A Wiccans Guide to Prophecy & Divination

Everyday Wicca

Magick Potions

Wicca A to Z

The Pagan Book of Halloween

Your Magickal Cat

The Modern Witchs Complete Sourcebook

Exploring Spellcraft

Herbal Magick

The Cauldron of Dreams

A Witchs Guide to Ghosts and the Supernatural

Dunwichs Guide to Gemstone Sorcery

PHANTOM
FELINES

and Other Ghostly Animals

GERINA DUNWICH

CITADEL PRESS

Kensington Publishing Corp.

www.kensingtonbooks.com

CITADEL PRESS BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.

119 West 40th Street

New York, NY 10018

Copyright 2006 Gerina Dunwich

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotions, premiums, fundraising, educational, or institutional use. Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington special sales manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 850 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022, attn: Special Sales Department; phone 1-800-221-2647.

CITADEL PRESS and the Citadel logo are Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

First printing: September 2006

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2006926714

eISBN 13: 978-0-8065-3956-0

eISBN 10: 0-8065-3956-9

ISBN 13: 978-0-8065-3974-4

ISBN 10: 0-8065-3974-7

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

M y fascination with ghosts and hauntings, along with a serious interest in witchcraft and most things of an occult nature, began as a child growing up in the Midwest. My first encounters with the paranormal all took place at my grandmothers house in Riverside, Illinois, which I (and other members of my family) truly believe was haunted by the spirit of my grandfather who died there. I felt something invisible was watching me whenever I was in that house, and while exploring the attic there once, a misty form materialized out of the shadows and chased me down the attic stairs. It frightened me at the time, but also increased my curiosity in that type of phenomena.

I became interested in animal ghosts after living in an old house in New York that was frequently visited by a supernatural bat. There I also witnessed a phantom feline (the so-called Devil Cat of Fort Covington) with my very own eyes. These unique experiences helped perk my interest in professional ghost hunting and eventually led me to form the Paranormal Animal Research Group, which investigates animal-related hauntings and studies animal sensitivity to paranormal anomalies.

As an investigator of the paranormal, Ive had the opportunity to meet and talk with numerous people from around the world whove also had encounters with otherworldly animals. Most of their experiences involve the spirits of deceased pets. However, experiences with phantom livestock, wild animals, and even animal spirit guides have been reported as well.

A number of these individuals have graciously allowed me to include their personal stories in this book. Some are guaranteed to give you goose bumps, some will warm your heart, and some are sure to bring tears to your eyes. But the one common thread that links these stories together is the amazing fact that theyre all true! I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as I have.

And if by chance you should feel something invisible brush against your legs, lick your hand, or move across your bed in the middle of the night, do not be alarmed. It might just be a phantom feline, a haunting hound, or some other ghostly animal visiting you from beyond the grave.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to give thanks to all the individuals who contributed stories about animal ghosts. Without you this book could not have been possible. And a very special thank-you to Al for all of the support and inspiration youve given me.

Never dismiss the possibility of the existence of apparitions for not only does this attitude resemble that of the proverbial ostrich, but it could result in some unpleasant experiences if you come face to face with a ghost. Andrew Green, parapsychologist.

T hroughout the centuries, tales exist of animal apparitions appearing to the living as a warning of impending danger or death. Animal spirits have also been known to appear, either visually or in dreams, to act as guides or to comfort people in their grief over the death of a beloved pet. There are even terrifying stories about animals returning from the dead to seek revenge against their tormentors and killers. But the main reasons why most animal ghosts (particularly those of pets) appear to the living are to let their loved ones know they are all right in the next world, or simply to bid them farewell. This type of paranormal phenomena most frequently occurs when there exists a strong emotional bond between individuals and their pets.

Often, after the animals mission has been accomplished, its spirit finds peace and is never seen or heard again. (That is, of course, until the animal and its loved ones are reunited on the other side.)

Just as there are houses and other areas that are haunted by the ghosts of persons who died or were killed there, so, too, are there many places where the ghosts of cats, dogs, birds, and other animals have been encountered. The Whaley House and Arundel Castle are two such places.

Preserved as a historic museum, the Whaley House in San Diego is officially recognized as a genuine haunted house by both the United States Chamber of Commerce and the State of California. Within this mid-nineteenth-century mansion, visitors have sighted the fleeting apparition of a dog on a number of occasions. On the other side of the Atlantic, a spectral white bird is but one of the many ghosts that haunt Englands eleventh-century Arundel Castle. When a death is imminent, the bird appears and flutters against the windows.

Another interesting place where animal ghosts have been sighted is the L.A. Pet Memorial Park (originally called L.A. Pet Cemetery), which is located in Calabasas, California. Founded and dedicated on September 4, 1928, it is the oldest facility of its kind on the West Coast. Its beautifully landscaped hillsides are the final resting place for many of Hollywoods animal actors (such as Hopalong Cassidys horse, Topper, and the Little Rascals pit bull, Petey) as well as the pets of movie stars and the rich and famous. Over 40,000 animals, ranging from hamsters to lions, are interred there. However, the majority of the graves belong to dogs and cats.

Many different animal ghosts have been sighted at L.A. Pet Memorial Park over the years. But the one that draws the most attention is Kabara Great Dane whose master was the Italian film star and heartthrob, Rudolph Valentino. The dog, which died in 1929 (three years after Valentinos death) is said to be a friendly and playful ghost that appears from time to time and licks the people who walk by his grave. Some visitors to the cemetery have also reported hearing the sound of a dog panting in the area where the Great Dane is buried.