The most famous might be the phantom hounds. In some European folklore, these spectral dogs are often seen as an omen of death. They are large, black dogs with red eyes and they run across the moors at night. People who see them are said to be in for some sort of misfortune.
A haunted dog story comes from a small village. A stray dog was found dead near an old cemetery. After that, villagers would hear barking at night coming from the cemetery. Some thought the dog's spirit was lost and couldn't find its way out of the spooky place. Others believed it was guarding the cemetery from some unseen evil.
In general, no. Haunted stories are usually fictional or exaggerated. They might have some elements inspired by real events but are not completely true.
One of the top haunted stories is that of the Amityville Horror. A family moved into a house where a brutal murder had occurred. They reported all sorts of terrifying phenomena like strange noises, slime oozing from the walls, and seeing apparitions. It became a very well - known case of a haunted house.
One of the best haunted stories is about the Winchester Mystery House. It was continuously built and remodeled by Sarah Winchester. Legends say that she was haunted by the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. There are strange architectural features like staircases leading to nowhere, doors that open to walls, and secret passages, which add to the spooky allure.