An illuminating and entertaining history of the law’s treatment of animals

Trespassing bees, murderous zebras, reasonable cows ... Ever since Biblical times, animals have been clashing with human laws.

What to do with animals that injure or kill people, in particular, has long troubled humans. In medieval Europe, ‘killer’ animals – horses, cattle and most often pigs, which were notorious for eating young children – were put on trial. Even in the early twentieth century, circus elephants who lashed out at their keepers in America were summarily executed for their crimes.

In Guilty Pigs, animal law experts Katy Barnett and Jeremy Gans guide readers through the philosophy and practice of animal-related law, from the very earliest cases to the issues we are debating today, including the responsibilities of pet owners and the application of human rights to animals. They also cover hunting rights, using animals to solve crime, protecting animals from abuse and neglect, and the unique nature of owning a living being.

Filled with lively and sometimes bizarre case studies, this is a fascinating and entertaining read – for all lovers of misbehaving creatures.

Katy Barnett is a professor of law at the University of Melbourne. She is the author of the young adult novel The Earth Below and co-author of Remedies in Australian Private Law.

Jeremy Gans is a professor of law at the University of Melbourne. He is the author of Modern Criminal Law of Australia and The Ouija Board Jurors: Mystery, Mischief and Misery in the Jury System, a true crime book. He is a co-author of Uniform Evidence.