Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

Jaevion Nelson, Gleaner Online Reporter

The howling of the dog they say, tells that someone will die soon. While in the South Asian Tsunami of 2004 flamingos and elephants were seen fleeing to the Mountains before the tsunami attack.

Hurricane Dean Watch has already received similar reports this time around. But can pets really help us in this way?

Charmaine Johnson, Manager at Pet Paradise store in Red Hills, St. Andrew, said that birds in the store before the arrival of Dean, were quite agitated and chirped loudly and vigorously. Meanwhile Ms. Johnson’s own shiatsu-poodle: “was a nervous wreck, he was panicking and trembling at the sway of the trees. He kept coming to me to lift him and give him protection.”

“I am now convinced that animals can tell what will happen,” she added.

Photo: a dog inspects damage caused by Hurricane Dean to a home in Central Kingston.

So remember, especially with the hurricane season lasting until November 30, that next time your dog or birds get ‘excited’, it might just be a warning from Mother Nature.