With the earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami in Indonesia and other natural disasters, people often wonder can a dog sense a natural disaster?

Scientifically, the evidence about whether a dog can sense a natural disaster seems to be inconclusive. Some owners claim that their dogs have warned them immediately before an earthquake has occurred. In 2003 a Japanese doctor claimed that public health records showed an excessive amount of dog barking before the 1995 Kobe earthquake but seismologists were skeptical.

A geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey office claims that he can predict earthquakes based on the number of missing pet ads in earthquake-prone areas — his theory being that pets often leave an area before a big earthquake. However, a three-year study found no evidence to support his claims.

On the other hand, many people remarked on the surprising …