Why YSK: Did you know that throughout history, there have been cases where animals were actually charged with criminal acts? It’s pretty surprising, right? These stories give us a unique glimpse into how societies have dealt with the actions of animals and how the legal system has responded. By learning about these cases, we can see how our attitudes towards animals and ideas of justice have evolved over time.
“According to Johannis Gross in Kurze Basler Chronik (1624), in 1474 a rooster was put on trial in the city of Basel for “the heinous and unnatural crime of laying an egg”, which the townspeople were concerned was spawned by Satan and contained a cockatrice.”
I find this strangely hilarious. I can just imagine this scene taking place.