Most people will have heard of Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles. The story tells of a giant hound appearing on the moors and howling into the night. The sighting of the hound always preceded the death of a member of the Baskerville family. Of course this story was fiction or was it?
Ghostly tales of our canine friends have been told since time began. Stories from all over the world have caused us to cast a wary eye over our friendly pooch. Does it not sometimes startle you when your dog utters a low growl for no apparent reason? Has your dog never suddenly stared at the wall with its hackles raised? Mine has caused me to check the house and garden from top to bottom with this strange behaviour.
In Irish folklore, the Devils dog waits for sinners to die so he can chase and torment their wicked souls.
Scottish folk tales mention witches worshipping a small black dog that would place itself high on a rock and stare at them forcing them to bow to Satins will.
Centuries ago in Greenland any child that died was buried with the head of a dog, as it was believed the dog would guide them into the next world.
In Saleem, Massachusetts (1692-1693) one of the self confessed witches claimed the Devil appeared to her in the shape of a spotted female dog.
The Shawnee tribe believed that their Grandmother and her dog lived close to the Land of the Dead. She spent the whole of the day weaving a basket. Not just any basket for when the basket is finished then so to will the world end. Each night however her little terrier dog unravels her days work and so gives the world another day of life. Beware for if you should upset the dog then he will not rise from his bed and the consequences will be dire for all mankind.
The sacred order of The Freemasons were believed to have sold their souls to the Devil. The Devil then appeared to them in the form of a large black Poodle.
Lastly, South American tribes believe that human life was released from the underworld by a dog scratching up at the earth from below.
Fact or fiction, we will never know. Next time man’s best friend raises his head to howl mournfully at the moon, …Try not to shiver…