Throughout history they've become renowned for their uncanny ability to sense certain things, most notably impending disaster.

Countless animals have been attributed with helping to save lives, often in incredible feats of endurance. But is it possible for them to read our minds, know our intentions?

New research from London suggests they can, and over great distances and periods of time.

Animal X met up with the man at the centre of this research, Dr Rupert Sheldrake who, as well as looking into pets anticipating their owners return is also investigating pets that can predict earthquakes.

His studies show that approximately one dog in two appears to know when their owner's coming home, even from as far away as New York to England. And he says it's possible for mice to predict earthquakes, as all animals in some way can sense an oncoming quake.