GHOSTLY PETS
There are those that would deny that animals have souls like we human beings have. Quite why some people think that we are so unique is beyond me, we are animals too, human animals. We have souls in the same way that other living creatures have souls and the proof is to be found in the world of spirit.
One gentleman that has encountered the spirits of animals is Gerald of Sheffield in the county of Yorkshire U.K. One day Gerald was walking behind a lady at his local Bingo Hall when he saw a little Yorkshire Terrier dog following her, Yet this was no ordinary dog, it was glowing and shimmering like gold caught in the rays of the sun. Gerald watched in amazement as this little dog trotted just behind the lady. He felt he just had to say something and asked her if she knew there was a wonderful little dog with her. When Gerald described the dog to the lady she seemed quite surprised. ‘Why’ she said ‘that can’t possibly be, my little Yorkshire Terrier died three years ago’. It was then that Gerald knew he had seen the ghost of this lady’s pet.
Just a few days later Gerald was visiting his local college. Whilst he was there Gerald noticed a cat sitting on a chair looking so contented and happy, as cats do when they are comfortable. Gerald mentioned this cat to one of the college staff and described it in some detail to them. At first the lecturer thought Gerald was joking ‘You can’t have seen that cat’ he said ‘it died two years ago’. But Gerald had seen the college cat, dead or not.
When Gerald’s brother died he decided to join a Spiritualist Church to seek guidance and advice. The people at the Church were kind and helpful and told Gerald that his brother was now in the world of spirit and at peace. However, Gerald soon knew different. The very next day Gerlad was standing by the front window of his home when he felt that his brother, now deceased, was trying to contact him. As he looked out along the road, down which his brother had often walked, Gerald saw a beautiful shining bird flying towards him. This glorious bird flew right up to window and seemed to be smiling at him. For a split second Gerald was quite certain that this was the soul of his brother returning to say one last goodbye before flying off on its journey into eternity.
Since that day Gerald has had no doubts whatsover that animals have souls as we have. Indeed he subscribes to the idea that some spirits can return from the world beyond in the form of animals and birds as he believes his brother did. Gerald is not alone in such beliefs, there is an old belief that at the moment of physical death the souls of the good went into birds and that the souls of the bad went into other animals such as dogs.. Hence the saying ‘he has gone to the dogs’.
It can be argued that the psyche of a dog is different from the psyche of a human being, but only in so much as one might argue that in a corporeal sense. I believe all living things are a part of the unseen collective consciousness of the universe. Our human souls are simply hosted by a different physical body than the souls of the creatures that we call animals. But we too are animals, human animals, Homo sapiens. The physical difference between a man and a monkey, in genetic terms, is generally agreed as being no more than one percent.
However that 1% puts us in control, or does it? Perhaps we are assuming too much when we consider ourselves to be the dominant species on the planet. Mankind is still evolving, whilst cockroaches have remained unchanged in hundreds of millions of years. These insects share our food for free, live in our homes without rent and visit even the most palatial of hotels at will and without a gold card. At the risk of seeming facetious, they can’t be totally stupid, can they?
Many pet owners will tell you that their dog, cat or whatever is tuned in to them. Often we hear people say; ‘I’m sure he/she knows every word I say’. In my book ‘Psychic Pets’ (Published by Bloomsbury) I gave numerous true accounts of animals that had displayed seemingly paranormal powers to help and comfort human beings. Recently I received a letter from a Mrs. R.A. Henderson of Stafford in which she told me that one of her pet dogs returned to her from beyond the grave with a message of love. As Spiritualists we accept the truth of communication from the spirit world, why should we deny that animals can and do return, bringing with them joy and hope of life eternal. Let me tell you Mrs. Henderson’s incredible story. She owned two pet dogs, Timmy and Sally. Timmy passed to spirit and Mrs. H. was left to share her life with little Sally.
Sally was a black and tan long haired standard daschund and Mrs. H. owned her for twelve years. They were really close friends, especially since the passing of Timmy, and Sally seemed able to read her owner’s thoughts.They were as close as a dog and a human being could be. Then, one unfortunate day shortly after Sally’s 12th birthday, she escaped through a hole in the garden fence and was knocked down by a car. Sally died in Mrs. Henderson’s arms. That very evening she was laid to rest in a quiet grave dug in a far corner of the garden in which she had played.
Mrs. Henderson was deeply saddened by the loss of her friend. They had shared so much love together. That night she could hardly rest, let alone sleep. So, sitting in her easy chair she took a sleeping pill. Then still restless and unable to sleep, she took another. That did the trick. It was about 5 a.m. when Mrs. H. woke, there was something pushing against her leg, a furry something was rubbing itself along her shin. Looking down Mrs. H. saw it was Timmy, or rather the spirit of her old dog Timmy who had passed to the next life some time before. As Mrs. H. stared in amazement at the materialised dog she received a form of communication. It was as though Timmy had returned to tell his former owner not to worry, he was looking after Sally from the world beyond. A sense of joy flooded through Mrs. Henderson as she realised that her friend was safe in his new home.
