The black phantom dog of death appears in several folklore stories around the United Kingdom.
The particular story that inspired this one was the story of Old Shuck based in Blythburgh and Bungay, Suffolk.
August 1577 saw a great and terrifying storm that forced the villagers of Blythburgh to take shelter in their Church, The Holy Trinity. As the storm raged massive claps of thunder could be heard and when a particularly large one rang out the church doors burst open.
Stood in the door way was a dog taller than a 6ft man, glowing red eyes, long black shaggy hair and snarling with rage. The Shuck jumped into the crowd of praying locals abs swiftly killed a man and his son,The Shuck ran back off into the night.
The same night,12 miles away Old Shuck struck again, in the village of Bungay. He killed a man and a boy taking prayer in the church.Bungay have embraced Shuck in a loving way and he appears all over thr village, even the coat of arms.