Thanks for the post Ann.

We live in potential/active earthquake country also and I have always wondered if science could ever have the technology of being able to preemptively and accurately predict earthquakes minutes before they occur. If this was possible, there would be many lives saved as it would give most people time to evac buildings etc.

As for animals predicting earthquakes, I have only one near similar experience. In 2001, we had a small tremor which was enough to shake the house and rattle windows but not do any damage. My brother's dog who had been sleeping on the floor some distance away, all of a sudden jumped up and and got two nervous barks off before we felt the tremor. In all the excitement (and subsequent run for the outdoors and potential safety) we did not think much of the dog incident until later when we were talking about it. At the time immediately before the tremor, we were not paying any attention to the dog, we could only estimate that he jumped up maybe 3-4 seconds before us humans felt the start of the tremor.

Was it only coincidental that the dog jumped up then barked before the tremor? Can't say for sure one way or the other but sure makes one think...