I currently live in Leicester, UK in a house share. For part of the week (usually weekends) my housemate looks after Pippin - a 16 and a half (yes, what an age!) little Terrier cross dog for his friends. Even though I have only lived there since March, I have taken to this little dog and his mischievous ways and will often walk him, feed him etc. On Sunday 16th June my housemate and Pippin's owners plus some others went to Spain for the week. They asked me if I could look after Pippin for the Sunday and then another friend was taking him for the week as I had work and would be out of the house for long hours and so unable to look after him. Of course I said yes!
So that Sunday after doing some chores, I took Pippin for a short walk, came back, dropped him back at home and went out on some errands for an hour or so. On my return Pippin was upstairs asleep as was usual when no one is in the house. By this point some of my washing I had hung out was dry, so I went out to the garden to get it in. I looked back at the door (conservatory doors with large panels of glass in them) and clearly saw Pippin in the doorway through the glass. The doors were semi closed as although it was bright and sunny, it was slightly windy and the wind had blown them. I said hello then a few seconds later walked to the door to see if he wanted to come outside to pee (he sometimes needs help down the step due to his legs and often needs to pee as he has age related kidney problems).
I got to the door and Pippin wasn't there! I walked through the kitchen, checked the living room and no sign of him. Walking up the stairs I was shocked to find him laid down on the landing. Distance wise (only approximates) it is 20 feet from the part of the garden where I was to the doors, then another 15/20 feet to the foot of the stairs (one flight). I estimate it took me no longer than 30 seconds from 'seeing' him to actually getting to him. I say I was shocked because as he is an old dog with short legs, he doesn't move fast. It also takes him a while to get up/down stairs. In fact, when he will let us we prefer to carry him up or down them to save him getting tired as it's a lot of effort. He didn't appear to be out of breath or panting. I guess it isn't impossible that it was actually him, but my gut feeling tells me it wasn't. I simply don't think he could move that fast to get through the house and back up the stairs in that short amount of time. To add, when he's aware someone is in the house he would usually stay downstairs to see if any food/treats are forthcoming! I don't know what made me feel this, but when I didn't see him downstairs, as I was walking up the stairs I was worried I would find him dead. I guess my brain just couldn't process him moving that fast and knew that what I saw through the glass wasn't the real Pippin?
I guess my story gets stranger with the news that today (26th June) sadly Pippin will be put to sleep later today. It's making me think back to the 16th and I wonder if he was out of body (if this is even possible for animals?) Was this something to do with his decline? Did he die and then 'come back'? If any readers have any thoughts I would be interested to read them. Whether the 16th was Pippin in another form or not, I do hope I see Pippin in the house again very soon.