4/1/2024: Canines & Cauldrons–The Role of Dogs in Witchcraft

As I was exploring the Salem Witch Trials on Google, I came across the following information:

“The last of the Salem witch trials was held in May of 1693. In total, between 144 and 185 people were accused of witchcraft. All the accused were pardoned by the end of 1693. Fifty-four confessed. Fourteen women and five men were executed, along with two dogs.” Wait, what?? SAY IT ISN’T SO! 

Unfortunately, it is so. After cross-checking this information with numerous sources, it is true that two furry friends were accused of witchcraft and killed during the trials. As a dog lover who has a bigger heart for animals than for humans, I was devastated to learn that two defenseless canines fell victim to the Salem craze. What could they have possibly done to deserve this? Out of sadness and curiosity, I did some research on the role of dogs in the Salem Witch Trials as well as their significance in the broader world of magic. Here is what I found. 

Dogs played a surprisingly large role in the Salem Witch Trials. During this time, people believed that witches used animal familiars as helpers to conduct their evil practices. Common familiars included cats, birds, frogs, pigs, dogs, cows… almost any animal could have been deemed a “familiar.” Some people also believed that witches kidnapped animals and rode them around to their meetings at night, resulting in injuries, strange behavior, and death of the animal. Thus, if an animal suddenly fell sick or started to act weird out of the blue, it too could be diagnosed as being bewitched. Another telltale sign was that “victims” who accused witches of tormenting them would describe how animal familiars joined in such afflictions– they claimed a bird flew around their room or a dog looked at them in a strange, wicked way. This was especially prevalent with dogs, as they were a common familiar associated with the Devil. 

Dog #1: In October of 1692, an afflicted girl accused a neighbor’s dog of trying to bewitch her because “it looked at her weird.” The villagers shot the dog immediately. Only after its death did the famous Puritan minister, Cotton Mather, declare the animal innocent and exonerate it for its crimes. Mather reasoned that if the dog really was the Devil, it would not be possible to kill it. So, logically, this dog must have been innocent. I could have told you that!

Dog #2: Around the same time, another dog started acting strangely. The afflicted girls of the village decided that John Bradstreet must have been out riding on that dog and tormenting it, which would make it act weird. Although the dog was not officially accused, it was still shot on the spot due to its association with Bradstreet, who quickly fled the village. 

Interestingly, in addition to being accused of witchcraft themselves, dogs were also used to identify witches. As we discussed in class, these unsuspecting dogs were forced to eat “witch cakes” baked with the urine of a victim with the hope that the dog would become possessed and reveal the witch’s identity. Beyond this, I found that dogs are widely used in some niche areas of witchcraft and sorcery even today. For example, witches may utilize a black dog's hair for love magic and attraction spells. The eyes of a dead dog may be mixed into revenge spells. A dog’s canines could be used for alleviating pain. Personally, the only thing I would use dogs for is a happiness spell. 

While all of this has been disturbing to learn, the fact that these two dogs were killed for simply “acting strange” demonstrates the unfathomable hysteria, chaos, and legal disarray that haunted Salem. Absolutely no one was safe from accusations– even dogs. Though disheartening, this information helps me better understand the extent of the Salem paranoia that, at first glance, seems ridiculous to modern eyes. 

To lighten the mood, here is a photo of my dog, Indie, in her spooky Halloween costume. Considering that she “acts strange” all the time, I wonder if the people of Salem would have accused her of witchcraft too…

Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice. “Animals in the Salem Witch Trials.” History of Massachusetts Blog, 3 Oct. 2021, historyofmassachusetts.org/animals-in-the-salem-witch-trials/#:~:text=Dogs%20were%20also%20used%20to,responsible%20for%20bewitching%20the%20girls.

Kristina García et al. “Possessed: The Salem Witch Trials.” Penn Today, University of Pennsylvania, 21 Mar. 2022, penntoday.upenn.edu/news/possessed-salem-witch-trials#:~:text=Nineteen%20people%20were%20executed%2C%2014,beliefs%20and%20theology%2C%20says%20Brown.