Jacob Rice, Ghostly Activities founder, encountered a hat man that began draining his lifeforce. Get the scoop and what happened to the dog after the jump.

A Random Spring Morning

It was your standard weekend morning in Los Angeles. The sun shining, the air calm, and the weather warm. The golden rays of sun spilling through my bedroom window to wake me and Rhea, my senior boxer, up for the day.

But I couldn’t get up.

As I lie in bed, something had zapped my energy. I was so groggy; I couldn’t make out much in the room. My vision was blurry and I couldn’t focus my vision. I looked over the room, trying to see if something had pinned me. An earthquake hit while I was asleep. Did something fall and hit me in the head?

And I thought, could this be what carbon monoxide poisoning is? Did I have a stroke?

When I finished that thought, I began to feel the dull ache crawl up my feet and hands. I became numb over my body in seconds. In one last move, I turned my head to the doorway to yell for help.

I couldn’t mutter a word. My throat became numb, and my body stiffened.

As a single tear rolled down my face, a shadowy figure with a hat formed near the doorway.

And the pain began.

A Thousand-Volt Charge

It felt like a thousand-volt charge danced around my body. I couldn’t grit my teeth with each charge due to the paralysis. The only thing I could do was lie there, gagging and gasping for breath. It was asphyxiating me, and I felt colder and colder by the second, like the heat left my body.

At this point, Rhea had begun to stir. She raised her black-and-white muzzle and started licking my hand. After a couple of licks, she looked me in the eyes and cocked her head. It’s like she knew something bad was happening.

She stood to all fours, sniffing me, poking me with her muzzle, then turned her head and looked to the doorway.

A deep growl came from her and her fur stood on end. Rhea then lowered her head and showed her teeth. My baby girl only does that when she’s about to tussle.

Don’t Mess With Rhea

The shadowy figure with the hat stepped forward, but Rhea had other plans.

She leapt off the bed and lunged at the figure, mouth open, jowls pulled back, and teeth bared. Her growling and barking seemed to merge into a chaotic concerto of sharp whines, bassy growls, and a clanging of gnashing teeth. I was shocked my 11-year-old pooch still had that protective drive!

Rhea went for its arm, but as she made contact, the shadowy figure dissipated into a black mist and faded away.

My little girl continued to bark and turn in circles. She stopped sniffed the floor, then jumped back on the bed. Her tail wagging and her shovel-sized, slobbery tongue licking my face.

The paralysis broke at this point, and I took in a deep breath. I would be fine. Rhea would be fine. But I needed to find a way to stop this from happening again.

I knew about old hags and had ways to protect myself from them, but this? This encounter? I had no idea where to start.

It took about 3 days for me to feel better, which meant 3 days of giving extra love and treats to my protective little girl.

Note: This story happened in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles in April 2014. Rhea passed away in September 2015 after a battle with cancer.

What Is A Hat Man?

According to Monster Wiki, a hat man is a ghost-like entity that manifest like a shadow person. It usually appears in a trench coat and fedora.

Unlike other ghosts, it has a physical form, and people have felt it should they touch it. A hat man does not have physical features: It is a completely black, shadowy figure. However, a few reports state this entity can have white or red eyes.

Other reports claim a hat man simply observes humans going about their business and walks away when their interest wanes.

That was not my case. This son-of-a-bitch was trying to drain my energy, and Rhea luckily stepped in and attacked it. I may need to get some salt-rock buckshot and dole out shotgun justice like the Winchester Brothers.

As for its manifestations, it appears this entity can appear anytime it wants to, day or night.

How To Protect Yourself From A Hat Man

This is the only time I’ve encountered a hat man, but I’ll assume that supernatural protection techniques will help deflect its attacks.

Here are some articles to help with paranormal protection from malevolent entities:

• Plants that protect against evil
• Crystals and stones that ward off evil
• Salt for protection
• 8 ways to clear negative energy and spirits
• Sage and smudging does the trick

And, of course, you can get yourself a big, slobbering pooch like Rhea.