Shocking Salem, Massachusetts, Fact: Even Dogs Were Executed During the Witch Trials

If you thought of a witch and her pet, chances are, you'd think of a black cat.

But during the Salem Witch trials, there were accused witches who had dogs for pets.

Sadly, the dogs were killed as a suspected "familiar," or helper to the accused, according to historyofmassachusetts.org.

The Salem Witch trials of 1692 were a dark time in our history, to be sure.

The historyofmassachusetts.org said there were more than 200 people, both men and women, accused of witchcraft and 20 who were put to death during the trials that began in February 1962 and ended in May 1963.

Witches are often associated with black cats, however, 2 dogs were put to death for being the witches' helpers.

Sometime in 1692, a girl in Andover accused a neighbor's dog of being a witch, according to historyofmassachusetts.org, and the animal was shot immediately.

The history website said that the dog was declared innocent after it was dead.

The Puritans who lived in New England at the time believed that the accused came from the devil, and you could not kill the devil. So, if the dog (or accused human) actually DIED, then... WHOOPSIE, the dog was actually innocent, and I'm sure lots of prayers were said for their soul.

It wasn't just dogs that were put to death either. It was cats, birds, cows and pigs as well, according to historyofmassachusetts.org. 

I have often thought of the Salem Witch Trials and why the people of that time fell for all of this nonsense.  Maybe like you, I've thought, there's no way I would be the one screaming for the death of these woman, men and pets, but I am not so sure about that.

The Puritans were very religious and probably very scared to be in a new country.

The lesson I have learned since I have known of this tragedy is not to be so eager to follow the crowd.

If you have not been to Salem, Massachusetts, it is a beautiful town, with many restaurants and shops, but I would encourage anyone visiting to not miss the gravestones.

Some are engraved with the accused last words.  I remember this one engraving that went something like, "God Knows I'm Innocent."

If dogs could talk, they would have said the same thing.