We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Behavior

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Do Animals Ever Face Criminal Charges?

Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 3,188
References
Share

Animals might not always act in the best interests of humans, but rarely does is a whole species put on trial. One such case occurred in 1508, when the village of Autun, France, wanted to prosecute rats for eating all of the barley. As nutty as it sounds, the court set a trial date, but of course, none of the rats showed up.

In their defense, jurist Bartholomew Chassenée argued that many of the rats probably didn't know about the trial because it hadn't been announced widely enough. So, a second trial was set -- after proper village-wide announcements had been made -- but again the rats were no-shows. Chassenée was ready, stressing that the rats might have known about the trial but were too frightened to attend. After all, cats, dogs, and maybe even people lay in wait. His argument was upheld, and a third trial was scheduled.

Unfortunately, we have no solid evidence as to what happened next, although records suggest the rats were never found guilty, and thus got away squeaky clean.

Oh, rats:

  • A rat's teeth never stop growing, which explains why they go around gnawing everything from cinder blocks to lead.

  • Rats typically live in groups, in which they play, groom one another, and even laugh in a high-pitched way.

  • Rats develop a clear idea of their environment by touching their whiskers against objects; their whiskers are more sensitive than human fingertips.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://direct.wisegeek.com/do-animals-ever-face-criminal-charges.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.