Rescue dog's spooky brush with the supernatural at iPET Network HQ!
Sarah Mackay and Fern Gresty, run the national awarding organisation iPET Network, which provides Ofqual regulated qualifications for animal care providers.
The company's pet friendly head office in Northwich, Cheshire is a haven for staff-member's dogs, and was even the inspiration for the organisation's latest Dogs In The Workplace qualification.
But no amount of training could prepare them for a spooky encounter last week, which has had staff members considering their belief in the supernatural.
Pickle who is a 14 year-old rescue collie cross belongs to iPET Network's Compliance Manager / Internal Quality Assurer Annette Wood, and has made herself at home in the office for a long time.
But over the last week, a number of spooky disturbances have led Pickle to be on high alert, with staff convinced that the sweet dog has some kind of second sight.
"Pickle is such a sweet and calm girl, but over the last week she really has been on high alert. There are parts of the office where she just stares at things which aren't there, cocking her head from side to side as though someone is talking to her.
"Another day a staff member put down their mug, and stepped away for five minutes, when they returned it was in a completely different room and Pickle was standing next to it. It was full of hot tea, so we know she couldn't have moved it herself." Said Fern, who has been left stumped by the strange goings on.
With Halloween week up on us, the iPET Network staff are hoping that no other ghostly goings on will occur, and that Pickle's brush with the supernatural will be confined to just a few small episodes.
Fern added: "They say that dogs are highly attuned to this sort of thing, and Pickle can definitely see things that we can't. It's been quite a funny experience, but I would love to know what or who she is looking at and engaging with in our offices."
Northwich and Leftwich is are stranger to ghostly goings on, and Leftwich Hall, which was pulled down in the 1800s was known for sightings of the 'grey lady' who was thought to have been entombed in the wall of one of the rooms.
The Old Hall Road location is now the site of a farm, which is not far from the iPET Network's office in Clifton Drive, so this could explain Pickle's curious behaviour.