As animal shelters continue to bulge with unwanted pets due to the sub prime financial crisis, talk still circulates about unusual pet behaviour just before and at the time of an earthquake.

According to Mai Martinez of cbs2chicago.com, last "Friday morning's earthquake was the talk of the town by night among some pet owners, but not so much because of the quake itself.

"Instead they were talking about their pets unusual behaviors just before and during the earthquake.

"Theresa from Hobart, Ind., says her bird, Tweety, was going crazy in his cage just before the quake. And Nancy says her Bella was growling and pacing.

"They were just two of the many viewers to e-mail cbs2chicago.com with similar stories.

"She was pacing. She was barking. I thought someone was trying to get into my house actually," said pet owner Jamie Victorin.

"Pet owner Francesca Henderson said of her pet, "I was a little upset with her. I didn't know why she was barking and my alarm hadn't gone off yet."
"Of course when Henderson and other pet owners later learned an earthquake had hit down state, they were amazed that their pets may have sensed it."

Mai Martinez continued "those who work with animals on a daily basis, however, were not so surprised.

"There's been history written about dogs, cats, horses and even fish that can detect earthquakes before they even occur," said Dr. Shelly Rubin of Blum Animal Hospital.

"Dr. Rubin says it's not exactly clear why animals are able to sense natural disasters before they hit, but he believes it has something to do with their heightened senses.

Pet owners agree.

"She definitely felt it or sensed it, or whatever animals do," Victorin said.

Whether it can be scientifically proven or not, many people CBS 2 talked to Friday night say they just like the idea of having a cute and cuddly, early warning system curled up at the end of their bed."

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