Ghost Dogs of the South Hardcover - 2001

From the publisher

There is a magical relationship between people and dogs. Sometimes, that relationship is so strong that the dog defies death and returns from the grave. Because stories about humans and their dogs are so popular, it is only natural that hundreds of ghost dogs would appear in recorded folklore.From their years of research, the authors have chosen 20 tales that explore this topic. Although the snarling hound from hell might come to mind, the authors have chosen to concentrate on the friendlier, more benign dog.Drawn from the folklore of 12 Southern states, the stories include that of a stray dog who wanders the countryside granting wishes to anyone who rubs his belly; the coal miner's dog who warns miners of impending disaster; the talking dog who chases people away from his owner's mailbox by yelling words at them; and the dog who returns to an Alabama town each Halloween to join in the trick-or-treating. There is also the story of the Mississippi River mermaid who steals a dog to help her chase away the catfish. And the tale of the Virginia woman who unknowingly marries a ghost but discovers her situation when her dog cannot see the man who shares their house.An added delight is the unique illustrations in this collection. The authors have selected shots of people and their dogs from their collection of antique photographs.