The Welthund near Stötterlingenburg and Lüttgenrode

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The village of Lüttgenrode is located about half an hour to the west of Osterwieck. It was built around a hill which is the site of the former convent Stötterlingenburg. There used to be a major forestry office next to the convent, in a building on the northern side of the hill. The house where this office was located is still standing, and its appearance shows the great prosperity of its inhabitants.

It is said of one of these forestry officials: He had a huntsman in his employ who once set his dog against a poor man who had been gathering a bundle of wood. And, when the poor man attempted to defend himself, the huntsman stabbed him with his hunting dagger. Soon after, he fell ill. In his fever-wracked state, he could not stop thinking about his monstrous deed. He then died before a priest could arrive and assist him in preparing for his death.

Since that day, the area has been haunted by an enormously large dog. Eyewitnesses (which, according to their earnest assurances, included most of the inhabitants of Lüttgenrode as late as 1850) compared its size to that of a calf or a donkey. This “Welthund” (“World Dog”) — called thusly because it has been spotted in many places — is also said to have a great resemblance to a donkey. It is described as being gray on its back, white on its stomach, and having large, fiery, swollen eyes. It is most commonly encountered by people during the winter after darkness has fallen, and most frequently between 10 and 11 o’clock at night. Its point of origin is within the gable of the foresters’ house. It rises from the ground beneath a chestnut tree where the huntsman was buried, for the huntsman was not granted a place in the graveyard because of the murder he committed. It always jumps over the fence at a particular spot, but returns via a different path. It never hurts anyone, but all dogs that sense its presence show their fear through whining or hiding, even if they do not see it. The huntsman who was transformed into the Welthund was also often seen in Heiningen Monastery, which might be explained by the fact that the forests there were under the jurisdiction of the same forestry official.

Source: Pröhle - Harzsagen Zweite Auflage, p. 59f

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Geographic Coordinates: 51° 58' 4.81" N, 10° 39' 59.79" E52° 4' 16.78" N, 10° 33' 21.93" E

caption Note: This story was published in the book Sunken Castles, Evil Poodles Volume 01: Lurkers at the Threshold. Get the book for further context and explanatory commentary!