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Trespassing bees, murderous zebras, reasonable cows ... Ever since biblical times, animals have been clashing with human laws.
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.
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.
Filled with lively and sometimes bizarre case studies, this is a fascinating and entertaining read – for all lovers of misbehaving creatures.
Katy Barnett lives on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and three children. She was born in Australia, lived in England from the ages of two to four, and then again from the ages of fourteen to eighteen. She completed her secondary schooling in Manchester, England (Withington Girls’ School has probably still not recovered from the experience). She has travelled the world extensively since childhood (including Europe, Asia, North America and parts of Africa).
By day, Katy is a Professor at Melbourne Law School with extensive academic publications in private law. She has been a visiting scholar at Brasenose College, Oxford. Previously, she worked in the courts as a researcher and an associate to judges, and as a solicitor. She practices her storytelling by describing legal cases to students (her PhD thesis featured a gaol break by a notorious double-agent, Elvis Presley’s gold-plated piano and Jimi Hendrix). She has degrees in Law and Arts (Honours in Law, majors in English Literature, History and Medieval Studies in Arts).
By night, Katy writes about dystopian worlds, an interest she has pursued since her mid-teens. She also loves drawing, etching, calligraphy and other creative, crafty activities. For exercise, she walks and tries to keep up with her children.
"The book – erudite, informative, entertaining – takes the reader on a journey from antiquity to the present."
– Australian Book Review
"[...] an accessible work full of fascinating insights into the lives of animals and the laws that constrain them, liberate them, and much in between."
– Law Society Journal
"[...] an entertaining primer on the law."
– The Sydney Morning Herald
"[...] a pleasure to read."
– The Conversation
