When the witness is an animal

MANILA, Philippines - Animals may be unable to speak but they can still provide vital evidence and help solve crimes. Science and law enforcement work together to bring criminals to justice in Animal Witness, where pets are more than just companions. Where there are no human witnesses to a crime, pets are called upon to play a crucial role in the investigations, proving that you don’t need to be able to talk to tell the truth.  Criminals often think they are home scot-free when there are no witnesses. However, evidence can sometimes come in the most unexpected forms. With firsthand accounts from scientists, police, and animal activists, each episode of Animal Witness  takes you through an investigation of a crime where the main witness was not human. From four-legged friends such as cats and dogs to fish, birds and even insects, these animal witnesses provide investigators with crucial information that solves crimes ranging from smuggling to drug trafficking and murder.

Here are a two episodes that aired this month:

Pointing The Blame

On September 14, 2000, a triple homicide is committed at the home of Theresa Sears. The only witnesses to the crime are two German Shorthaired Pointers named Hannah and Scout. Investigators find an interesting piece of evidence on the sidewalk near the point of entry to the home: a partial footprint in dog faeces.

Animal Arson

Investigators in tiny Mill Creek, Pennsylvania uncover evidence of arson after a house fire claims the lives of a toddler and the family Rottweiler. From the start, detectives target homeowner Stephen Treiber as their chief suspect. But they’ll need something stronger than just a hunch to make their case. To do this, they’ll need to rely on an unusual witness to solve the crime. From beyond the grave, Treiber’s own dog — a Rottweiler named Janie — will help investigators and prosecutors link her owner to the devastating fire through DNA evidence.