An Adopted Dog
They had become a mass of a crying and shaking huddle and all the family could do was pray that they would make it out okay. Everything had changed within a blink of an eye.
They were waiting for someone to signal to them that everything was clear but, until then, they were sitting ducks. She pulled her child closer but then got the fright of her life when she realized one of them wasn’t there.
Nighttime
Amelia hugged the 10-year-old dachshund, Poco, to her chest as they watched the news. Not many would have adopted a dog that old but it felt right to take him home.
They wanted to ensure that he was comfortable in his last years but they had no idea the impact he would have on their family.
He Was Frantic
Her southern Belfast house was silent during the night and she loved it. She was comforted by the sounds of Poco snoring and knowing that the kids were safely tucked away in bed. She scratched Poco behind the ear before going upstairs.
Just as Amelia was getting beneath the covers, she heard an odd sound that sent her jumping out of the bed.
Looking Through The Window
She heard Poco barking and realized his barks were more frantic than normal. He had to be barking as something more than just their neighbor passing by. He had been a quiet dog ever since they brought him home so it was strange to see him acting this way.
Her nerves were frazzled by the time she got downstairs. She rushed to pick him up and switch on the lights, hoping to find what had startled him so much.
It Didn’t Stop
She looked outside and could see no other animals or people passing by the house. She decided to check all the windows and doors throughout the house and found nothing.
Amelia had set him back down in the dark, quiet living room and looked down at him with a sour look. “Has your old age got you seeing things?” she asked him but she had no idea what mistake in judgement she had made.
A Camera
The barking didn’t stop. Poco would howl and bark at the most unexpected hours of the night. Amelia’s frustration had now been replaced with growing worry. She wondered if his barking had been spurred on by rats and shuddered at the thought.
She recalled her neighbors having problems with rats a few months prior. Calling for an inspector to come to the house would mean paying money she didn’t have. But then something in her mind clicked and she had an idea of what to do!
Coming From Above Her
The following night, she decided to set up a camera before saying goodnight to Poco and going upstairs. She waited for a while before his incessant barking started again.
She willed herself to stay put so that she didn’t interfere with the camera footage. She would have to look at it in the morning. But then she heard another peculiar noise.
Jerking Awake
The noise was coming from above her. The sounds coming from the ceiling accompanied by Poco’s barking sent shivers running down her spine.
Her mind told her that it was most likely a raccoon or a possum that had found a hole and climbed into the ceiling. She felt herself relax at the thought. If that was the case, the sounds and Poco’s barking would make sense. But she had no idea how far from the truth she was.
Listening To Her Instincts
Amelia jerked awake when another noise sounded at 3 AM. She placed the noise right above her, where she was lying in bed.
She held her breath as she listened to the inconsistent thumps coming from above her. She realized there was more sound coming from beside her bed and her eyes widened. It wasn’t a possum or raccoon making the noise.
Paranormal Activity?
Her heart hammered in her chest and her mouth grew dry. She felt like she had woken up from her dreams and found herself in a nightmare.
She told herself that she was probably overreacting and that she should stop but her instincts told her otherwise. This was real and she had to find out what was going on.
Checking The Footage
Amelia was too terrified to even move, let alone go and investigate. She did what most people would do – she threw her blanket over her head and desperately tried to go back to sleep.
The camera footage would reveal whatever Poco was barking at. But she’d have to wait until morning to get the answer.
Leaves?!
As soon as sunlight filled her bedroom, she threw on her bathrobe and hurried downstairs. She grabbed the recorder and hit play – eager to know what the fuss was all about.
At first, there was nothing. But when the yips started, she noticed movement. It started small and disappeared just out of frame.
Going To The Neighbors
The wind picked up and blew a bunch of leaves through an open window. Poco ran in circles. She rolled her eyes and stared at her crazy dog. Leaves?!
Amelia was about to stop the video when something else came into frame. This time, it sent chills down her spine and pulled her stomach into her throat.
First To Come Out
The mom bounded up the stairs, grabbed her kids, and then ran to the safety of next door. As she called the police and explained what she had seen, even her neighbors turned pale.
The next question, however, made her cry. “Mom, where’s Poco?” Oh my god! She had forgotten him in the house!
Into The Attic
Sirens wailed as the police showed up. By then her and her kids were complete, crying wrecks. It only got worse when they tried to run in and save their dog, but she had to hold them back.
How could she have forgotten him! One officer pulled something out of their home. They all held their breath.
A Man
The officers had walked into the attic, but it didn’t take long for them to realize that something was very wrong.
A foul, pungent smell hit them and they saw piles of garbage strewn all over the floor. All the old coats that Amelia kept up there were stacked next to the heating unit in the corner of the room. Then they saw it.
Protective Poco
Something was lying on the floor, in the corner behind the boxes. It stirred as soon as the officers walked in. They all looked at each other in complete shock for a few seconds.
Then, the man realized he’d been caught. He leaped up, but the officers were quicker. They restrained him and dragged him out of the house.
Hiding Out
He was a large man. He struggled against the cops all the way into the cruiser. He was massive and angry. The next officer appeared, and this time he carried good news.
Old Poco snarled and barked at the man – ready to bite him down to nothing. Amelia caught a glimpse of the man’s face and a terrible realization hit her. The officer brought their dog over … as well as some shocking news.
She Knew Him
As the family held their best friend, Amelia listened with a wide, gaping mouth to the officer. The man was a wanted criminal and somehow had snuck into their attic to hide from the law.
There he stayed night after night, sneaking out for bits of food and water. There was one final revelation.
The Truth
When Amelia saw the man’s angry face, she recognized him. But surely it wasn’t possible? 12 years ago, he had done a few odd jobs around this very house.
The pair had dated briefly, but when she found out about his criminal record she quickly broke things off. How long had he been in the attic for? She felt absolutely sick.
Spying
The police searched the attic and made a terrifying discovery. The man had obviously been living there for weeks.
“He had packed all the old coats and jackets into the heating unit and was sleeping in the heating unit,” Tracy explained. The police also found plastic cups, which the man had been using to relieve himself – but then, an even more frightening discovery was made.
Red Flags
The man had adjusted the air vents in the ceiling so that he could watch Amelia while she slept. Shewas horrified when she realized he’d been spying on her for weeks. “It’s got me flabbergasted,” she said in an interview. “How can you look at someone through an air vent?”
Even worse, nobody had any idea how the man had crept up into the attic. The only way in was through a hatch in the hallway, between the children’s bedrooms.
Letters
The man Amelia had dated all those years ago had acted aggressively toward her when she broke up with him. He wanted a second chance, but Amelia refused, so he stole her truck.
Amelia reported him for the theft and cops caught him. But he still wouldn’t let it go and continued to harass her from prison.
Intuition
Amelia’s ex sent letters from prison, insisting that he’d changed and begging her for a second chance. When he was released, she tried to file a protection order against him.
But nobody knew where he was, so the papers weren’t served. Then, she heard a rumor that he’d moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. But she found out where he actually was in the worst way possible.
Shaken
Amelia had even gone as far as trying to get a protective order against the man, but even that hadn’t stopped him. She wished she had acted on her instincts sooner and listened to Poco when he told her something was wrong.
“I had an intuition about it but I ignored it, I brushed it aside. I didn’t want to seem paranoid, but I should have trusted my instincts because I was right,” she said.
One Thing For Sure
Amelia felt shaken and horrified. She clutched Poco and her children tighter as they watched the police haul the man away. She couldn’t believe he’d been living in their home for weeks.
She couldn’t stop thinking about what would have happened if Poco hadn’t alerted her to the intruder night after night. What would have happened?
Meant To Be
Theft…or worse. That’s what could have happened if she hadn’t listened to Poco and come up with the camera idea. It was a strange combination of nausea and relief.
She looked down at their scruffy boy as he wagged his tail – already over the situation. There was one thing Amelia was certain about…
Warning Signs
Poco wasn’t just any old pooch looking for a loving family to spend the last of his years with. When they stood in that shelter, something had nagged at them that he was the one to take home.
Now, Amelia understood why. He didn’t just bring joy into their lives. He had, quite literally, saved theirs.
What To Do
At first , stalking may seem harmless. The person may call you or send emails and text messages – all of which are perfectly legal.
However, this behavior can quickly cross the line into stalking and harassment. If the behavior is frequent, the contact is unwanted, and it makes you feel uncomfortable or threatened, get the police involved.
Divorced or separated spouses and exes commonly experience being stalked by their ex-partners. If you are ever in this situation, the best thing to do is get the police involved as soon as possible.
Surround yourself with supportive people and tell everyone what’s going on. You should also always have a safety plan if things go wrong.