Animal Ghosts; Or, Animal Hauntings and the Hereafter Informative Summary

Overview:

Elliott O’Donnell, author of “Animal Ghosts; Or, Animal Hauntings and the Hereafter,” argues that animals deserve a place in the afterlife, based on their often-noble characters and the suffering they endure at the hands of humans. He uses accounts of animal phantasms, particularly in haunted houses, as evidence to support his belief. The book is divided into three parts, examining domestic animals, wild animals, and birds, highlighting their psychic faculties and roles in the realm of the supernatural.

O’Donnell presents a series of compelling narratives, from hauntings by a maimed black cat in the Oxenby Manor House to a spectral pack of hounds in Russia, each offering a glimpse into the world of animal ghosts. He explores the idea of animal projection, suggesting that animals can separate their physical and spiritual bodies, and delve into the psychic abilities of cats, dogs, and horses, particularly their capacity to scent the presence of spirits.

Key Findings:

Animal phantasms, like human ones, exist and can be seen or heard in haunted places.
Certain animals, such as cats, dogs, and horses, possess psychic abilities, including the ability to sense spirits and death.
The presence of animal ghosts in a haunted location often points to a specific historical event or tragic death, sometimes involving cruelty or mistreatment.

Learning:

Animal Spirits: This text challenges the reader to consider the possibility that animals, like humans, possess souls and experience an afterlife.
- Details: O’Donnell provides numerous accounts of animal apparitions, offering evidence that animals may continue to exist after physical death.
Psychic Faculties of Animals: The book highlights the unique psychic abilities of various animals, emphasizing their sensitivity to the supernatural.
- Details: O’Donnell explores the roles of scent, sight, and hearing in animal perception, suggesting that these senses allow them to perceive spirits and death in ways humans cannot.
The Importance of Kindness to Animals: By showcasing the suffering endured by animals, O’Donnell argues that we have a moral obligation to treat them with kindness and respect.
- Details: The book’s numerous tales of animal ghosts, often rooted in violence or abuse, serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of cruelty and neglect.

Historical Context:

“Animal Ghosts” was written in 1913, a period marked by increasing scientific inquiry and skepticism about the supernatural. However, belief in ghosts and the supernatural remained prevalent, particularly in rural areas. O’Donnell’s work reflects this cultural tension, presenting a blend of traditional beliefs about animal spirits with a scientific approach to collecting and analyzing evidence.

Facts:

Cats are highly sensitive to the supernatural. Their unique psychic abilities are believed to be connected to their ability to scent ghosts.
A black Persian cat named “Ruff” died in a cupboard, and later, the house was haunted by a black cat. This supports the belief that cats can haunt the places where they died.
Cats can sense death approaching. This is attributed to their heightened sense of smell, which allows them to detect the presence of the phantom of death.
Dogs can also see ghosts. They often exhibit fear and distress in haunted places, indicating sensitivity to the supernatural.
A phantom dog saved a woman’s life by scaring off two attackers. This demonstrates the potential for animal spirits to act as protectors or guardians.
Some dogs have the ability to project themselves. This suggests that the animal’s spirit can travel independently of the physical body.
Horses also possess psychic faculties, including the ability to sense spirits. They can be spooked by the presence of ghosts in haunted areas.
Horses often neigh outside the house of someone about to die, indicating their ability to sense death approaching.
A phantom horse and rider appeared in front of a man on the road, and later, the man discovered that the horse had been killed in that very location. This supports the idea that animals can haunt places where they died.
Wild animals, like tigers, can have ghosts. A tiger spirit, cursed by a leper, brought death and disease to those who crossed its path.
The white tiger in the jungle was a result of leprosy, a condition that can turn animals white. This is a real phenomenon that connects the animal with the disease.
Apes can also haunt places. The ghost of a poisoned gorilla returned to torment its former keeper in the moon’s desolate landscape.
Birds, like owls, ravens, crows, and swallows, are sensitive to the supernatural. Their behavior often indicates the presence of spirits or death.
A black owl was seen in the mill-house, and later, the Popenkoff family was found dead, their skin torn as if by a bird. This suggests that the owl’s ghost sought revenge for its death.
Crows, ravens, and owls are often considered birds of ill omen, associated with death.
Robins, wrens, and doves are birds of good omen, symbolizing peace and happiness.
The stormy petrel is believed to predict storms and loss of life at sea.
The whistler is a bird of death, a belief reflected in literature.
The yellow-hammer was thought to have the devil’s blood in its feathers, making it a symbol of bad luck.
The cock’s crowing at midnight was once believed to signify the passage of death.

Statistics:

No less than four houses in a single Whitechapel street are haunted by cats. This indicates the commonality of cat hauntings in certain areas.
The house in Birmingham haunted by the grey dog was occupied by a man who supplied human bodies to medical students in 1829. This provides historical context for the haunting and potential origins of the spectre.
Mr. Jeremiah Dance disappeared from the Crow’s Nest house in Virginia, and his ghost was subsequently seen with two poodles. This suggests the prevalence of animal ghosts and their association with their former owners.
The spectre of a horse haunted Eastover Hall, and the Colonel eventually discovered prehistoric horse remains in a cave on the property. This links the haunting to the presence of ancient animal spirits.
A black bull was heard bellowing in the shed where it was killed on certain nights of the year. This exemplifies the common belief that animals can haunt the places where they died.
In the 1740s, a man was found dead on a cross-road, and later, people claimed to see him riding a grey horse in that location. This connects the haunting to the historical event of the man’s death.
The phantom coach in the forest was believed to be a sign of misfortune, and the man who rode in it experienced the death of his wife. This suggests the ability of animal spirits to foretell negative events.
A leper cursed the man who left him to be attacked by a tiger, and later, the tiger became known as the “white tiger,” spreading leprosy to its victims. This is a supernatural twist on a real connection between the disease and the animal’s change in appearance.
A large white bird appeared to a woman three times, each time preceding a death in the family. This reinforces the belief in birds as messengers of death.
Marthe Popenkoff was found dead in a lonely spot, her skin torn as if by a bird, and later, her children were found dead in the same manner. This links the murders to the spirit of an owl that the children had killed.
Peter Popenkoff, the man accused of killing his wife and children, was found dead in prison with similar lacerations to his skin. This supports the theory of the owl ghost seeking revenge.
The spectral coach and horses in Pembrokeshire were believed to be “laid” in a lake many years ago. This highlights the effort to banish or appease animal spirits.

Terms:

Astral Body: The immaterial or spiritual body believed to be capable of independent travel and projection.
Elementals: Spirits that are not associated with a physical body, often attributed to specific elements or forces.
Vice-Elementals: Elementals that are often generated by negative thoughts or actions and are considered to be demonic or evil.
Clair-audiant: A person with the ability to hear but not see spirits.
Earthbound: A spirit that is unable to move on to the afterlife, often remaining attached to a specific place or person.
Planchette: A small, heart-shaped device used in automatic writing, believed to be a medium for spirit communication.
Syncope: Fainting or loss of consciousness due to a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Séance: A gathering for spiritual communication, often involving a medium.
Retribution: Punishment or vengeance for a wrong committed.
Omen: A sign or event believed to foreshadow something in the future.

Examples:

The Black Cat of the Old Manor House, Oxenby: A maimed black cat, seen by Mrs. Hartnoll and the Wheelers, is believed to be the phantom of a cat cruelly tortured by a former owner of the house.
The Grey Dog of —— House, Birmingham: A tall, stout man with a large, grey dog by his side appears in the house, believed to be connected to a resurrection man and his dog.
The Dog in the Cupboard: A blueish-glowing dog appears in different parts of a house and disappears in a cupboard, possibly the ghost of a dog starved to death in that location.
The Headless Cat of No.— Lower Seedley Road, Seedley, Manchester: A headless cat appears in a house, likely the phantom of a cat cruelly killed by a boy named Arthur.
The Phantom Dachshund of W—— St., London, W.: A rough-haired dachshund vanishes near a house where a doctor is believed to engage in vivisection, possibly the spirit of a dog killed by the doctor.
The Strange Disappearance of Mr. Jeremiah Dance: A man with two poodles is seen in a lane, and later, his remains are found in a hollow oak tree, along with the skeletons of his two dogs.
The White Horse of Eastover: A phantom white horse appears to a man, and the Colonel learns that prehistoric horse remains were discovered on the property.
The White Tiger: A tiger spirit, cursed by a leper, brings death and leprosy to those who cross its path, eventually being killed by the man who was cursed.
The Case of Martin Tristram: A man with a bushy beard appears to Martin Tristram in a haunted room, where a man was killed by an ape.
The Swallows: A large cat and a baboon are seen haunting a house, likely the spirits of a highwayman and his horse, who both met violent ends.

Conclusion:

“Animal Ghosts” presents a compelling argument for the existence of animal spirits and their ability to haunt locations and influence the world of the living. By using a combination of personal experiences, historical accounts, and anecdotal evidence, O’Donnell encourages the reader to question traditional assumptions about the nature of life and death. He emphasizes the need for compassion and respect for all living creatures, reminding us that they may have souls as complex and enduring as our own. His work serves as a potent reminder of the interconnectedness of the physical and spiritual realms, challenging us to acknowledge the mysterious powers that may dwell both within and beyond our understanding.

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