In June 2024, a woman in Columbia, Maryland, took her dogs out for a routine late-night walk—only to find herself locking eyes with an 8-foot-tall, white-furred entity lurking at the edge of a powerline field. It didn’t growl. It didn’t charge. She just watched. When she retreated into her apartment and locked the door, the knob rattled seconds later. A silent message was delivered: You are not alone. That same month, new reports have surfaced from Alabama, West Virginia, Oregon, and North Carolina—dozens of them—each describing eerily similar encounters with upright, canine-like beings.Are we truly facing a rise in cryptid canine activity? Or are we simply becoming more aware—more connected—through the digital lens of our curiosity and fear? In tonight’s presentation, we’ll explore the possibility that something fundamental is happening… but also ask the more complex questions. Are we witnessing a surge of actual phenomena—or a modern myth evolving in real time?Let’s begin by walking the timeline: From historic Rougarou tales whispered in Louisiana’s swamps, to the snarling beast that shattered a kitchen door in Clarksville, Maryland, to a man in Oregon who swears a creature watched him release a mouse into the woods before vanishing into the trees. These accounts span generations and geography—but now, they’re being shared faster, louder, and more often than ever. Could social media, Reddit threads, YouTube videos, and even AI-generated visuals be shaping our perception? Could the so-called "Digital Dogman" be a modern folklore fed by virality, deepfakes, and algorithmic belief bubbles?At the same time, there are real-world shifts that can’t be ignored. Wildlife habitats are shrinking. Climate extremes are forcing animals into new territories. The post-pandemic boom in hiking, camping, and rural living has driven humans into areas we once left alone. More people may be simply encountering what’s always been there—or misinterpreting what they want to believe is there. And let’s not forget the psychological factors: heightened global anxiety, uncertainty, and our deep-rooted tendency to anthropomorphize shadows in the dark.Still, we can’t dismiss the sincerity of the people coming forward. Whether it’s a mistake, a trick of the light, or something we haven’t yet classified—what matters is that witnesses are being shaken to their core. And that demands our attention. So tonight, we look at it all: the genuine reports, the hoaxes, the social media influence, the science, the speculation—and the enduring mystery. Stay with me. And if you’ve seen something you can’t explain, I want to hear from you.👤 I'm Lon Strickler, creator of Phantoms & Monsters, and I’ve been a paranormal researcher and intuitive investigator for over 45 years. My work has been featured on Ancient Aliens, Paranormal Witness, Monsters and Mysteries in America, and Unsolved Mysteries, as well as numerous radio appearances on Coast to Coast AM and more.🔍 If you've had an unexplained encounter—whether cryptid, alien, supernatural, or other—I want to hear from you. Submit your experience and evidence via:👽 Submit a report: [email protected]📞 Call: 410-241-5974🌐 Blog: https://www.phantomsandmonsters.com🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTubeDo you have perks suggestions? We’re listening — P&M is built by the community, for the community.👉 Click "Join" on our channel homepage to become a Phantoms & Monsters Insider today!☕ Support the show: Buy Me a Coffee - https://bit.ly/3TRBrGM💸 Donate via PayPal: https://bit.ly/4bXQgP8📚 My Books: View on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3Imf4XuCredits: All content licensed and/or used with permission.#Dogman #CryptidCanine #CryptidSurge #PhantomsAndMonsters #LonStrickler #CryptidTruth #WerewolfSighting #DogmanMystery #ParanormalPodcast #CryptidPodcast #UprightCanine #MarylandDogman #PennsylvaniaDogman