History Main / MakeTheDogTestify

* In ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'', [[Main/NPCs NPCs]] witnessing a crime committed by the player is what triggers a police response. Confusingly, players firing a gun while out alone in the wilderness will find themselves getting a Wanted level. Dataminers eventually discovered that the game's ''animals'' can "call" the police.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/GrandmaGotRunOverByAReindeer'' Christmas special, the main character, Jake calls Santa's Reindeer to the stand.

* In the ChivalricRomance ''Literature/{{Bisclavret}}'' -- in an era where legal proceedings were less formal -- Bisclavret, trapped in wolf form and living at the StandardRoyalCourt, fiercely attacked first the knight who had married his wife after he was so trapped, and then his wife. Since everyone at court knew what a gentle and noble beast he was, the king concluded they must have committed some crime against him and imprisoned them until they confessed.

* In the world of Literature/{{Xanth}} where MixAndMatchCritters and sentient animals are the norm rather than the exception, even its inhabitants think the justice system is going too far when Roxanne Roc is brought to trial for [[FelonyMisdemeanor cursing within the "hearing" range of the Simurgh's (as yet unhatched) chick]] and she is induced to testify against herself. [[spoiler:As it turns out, it was a SecretTestOfCharacter over whether the people of Xanth would choose ToBeLawfulOrGood. The Demon Xanth, who rules Xanth and gives it magic powers, bet "Lawful", whereas another demon bet "Good".]]

* ''{{Series/JAG}}'': When Colonel Sarah [=MacKenzie=] is defending a crewman on drug charges found on him by a drug-sniffing dog, the client claims it was just a potent breed of oregano not marijuana. As the dog is the only reason for the charges, as the handler's testing equipment wasn't working and they destroyed the product already, Mac requests the dog verify his abilities to the court. She has ten identical bags filled by an outside independent lab, nine with the oregano the client claims to have had and one with the marijuana. The judge was skeptical, but Mac notes that these odds are in the dog's favor as normally the dog must sniff something out in a crowded airport with hundreds of bags in movement. It is permitted and the old dog fails the test by selecting an oregano-filled bag. The case is dismissed and client freed.

* ''Series/JAG'': When Colonel Sarah [=MacKenzie=] is defending a crewman on drug charges found on him by a drug-sniffing dog, the client claims it was just a potent breed of oregano not marijuana. As the dog is the only reason for the charges, as the handler's testing equipment wasn't working and they destroyed the product already, Mac requests the dog verify his abilities to the court. She has ten identical bags filled by an outside independent lab, nine with the oregano the client claims to have had and one with the marijuana. The judge was skeptical, but Mac notes that these odds are in the dog's favor as normally the dog must sniff something out in a crowded airport with hundreds of bags in movement. It is permitted and the old dog fails the test by selecting an oregano-filled bag. The case is dismissed and client freed.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Stop or My Dog Will Shoot", Snake winds up being freed on a technicality due to improperly filed paperwork. This was because said paperwork was [[WhatAnIdiot filed by the police dog]] responsible for his capture, Santa's Little Helper, and consists of paw print markings on an official form.

* In ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'', NPCs witnessing a crime committed by the player is what triggers a police response. Confusingly, players firing a gun while out alone in the wilderness will find themselves getting a Wanted level. Dataminers eventually discovered that the game's ''animals'' can "call" the police.

* Police in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom were called by prosecutors to give a witness statement from "PC Peach", who was actually PD Peach, one of the force's dogs. In a CrowningMomentOfFunny, [[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9876199/Police-under-investigation-over-dogs-witness-statement.html one of the officers wrote up a statement as Peach]], stating, "I chase him. I bite him. Bad man. He tasty. Good boy. Good boy Peach."

[[quoteright:350:[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ParrotTestimony_3277.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"Witness! You can't just say "hello" and expect us to get anywhere! I want you to ''testify''!"]]

Not related to TropeyTheWonderDog in any way. Compare PollyWantsAMicrophone.

* Police in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom were called by prosecutors to give a witness statement from "PC Peach", who was actually PD Peach, one of the force's dogs. In a SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfFunny, [[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9876199/Police-under-investigation-over-dogs-witness-statement.html one of the officers wrote up a statement as Peach]], stating, "I chase him. I bite him. Bad man. He tasty. Good boy. Good boy Peach."

** ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonVsPhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' sees the triumphant return of this trope. Worth noting that it wasn't Phoenix's idea this time, it was a witness's.

* In French legend, Aubry de Montdidier, a knight of King Charles V, was murdered by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Macaire Robert Macaire]]. The only witness was Montdidier's dog. In court the dog reacted violently to Macaire, leading the king to order [[TrialByCombat a duel between Macaire and the dog]]. The dog won, and Macaire confessed to the murder and was hanged. The murder was said to take place in 1371.

* In the ''Series/BlackAdder'' episode 'Witchsmeller Persuivant', the titular Witchsmeller calls Blackadder's horse to testify when Blackadder is being tried for witchcraft.

** In ''Ultimate VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', Phoenix Wright is able to "cross-examine" and prove the guilt of [[VideoGame/{{Okami}} Amaterasu]] (a wolf, though one who's [[GodInHumanGorm the physical incarnation of a sun goddess]]) and [[ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Rocket Raccoon]] (a raccoon, albeit a talking alien raccoon).

* In a since-removed bug in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', the player could get arrested by the town guards if a horse or chicken saw the deed. Even if it is your own horse. Apparently, guards appreciate testimony [[{{Pun}} straight from the horse's mouth]]. [[http://awkwardzombie.com/index.php?page=0&comic=012312 This was used]] in ''Webcomic/AwkwardZombie''

** In ''Ultimate VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', Phoenix Wright is able to "cross-examine" and prove the guilt of [[VideoGame/{{Okami}} Amaterasu]] (a wolf) and [[ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Rocket Raccoon]] (a raccoon, albeit a talking alien raccoon).

** Also counts as an InvokedTrope, [[spoiler:as the parrot was trained to say that phrase in order to frame Perry's client]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' "Who Shot Mr. Burns Part 2", the only ones to witness the shooting were Santa's Little Helper (A dog) and Maggie Simpson (A baby). The beginning of the episode showed the police ''trying'' to determine at the very least if they saw Smithers near the shooting, to no avail. [[spoiler:Ironically, it was Maggie who shot Burns (Accidentally?)]]

-->'''Judge''': Now will someone please remove the wit- the ''animal'' from the courtroom!

* In the world of Literature/{{Xanth}} where MixAndMatchCritters and sentient animals are the norm rather than the exception, even its inhabitants think the justice system is going too far when Roxanne Roc is brought to trial for [[FelonyMisdemeanor cursing within the "hearing" range of the Simurgh's (as yet unhatched) chick]] and she is induced to testify against herself. [[spoiler: As it turns out, it was a SecretTestOfCharacter over whether the people of Xanth would choose ToBeLawfulOrGood. The Demon Xanth, who rules Xanth and gives it magic powers, bet "Lawful", whereas another demon bet "Good".]]

-->'''Harry''': I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Was that a yea or a nay?
-->'''Witchsmeller''': [[IncrediblyLamePun It was a neigh]], My Lord, but I don't believe a word of it. I call for a recess. He may think he can fool us, [[ColdBloodedTorture but we have ways of making him talk]]!

* Played with in the ''Series/{{Warehouse 13}}'' episode ''Past Imperfect''.
* [[VigilanteJustice Vigilante justice variation]]: This is how Series/{{Dexter}} finds out that [[spoiler: Leon, and not the gang's no. 2,]] was responsible for [[spoiler: Brother Sam's death]] in season 6. [[spoiler: The dog didn't bark at the assailant, as seen on the security footage. The dog normally barks at everybody.]] Of course, since he kills [[spoiler: Leon]] by [[spoiler: drowning him in the ocean]], it may count as CharacterDevelopment.

-->'''Scooby:''' (about Mandy) She made fun of the way I talk. I mean, look at me! I'm a stinkin' dog!

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' "Who Shot Mr. Burns Part 2", the only ones to witness the shooting were Santa's Little Helper (A dog) and Maggie Simpson (A baby). The beginning of the episode showed the police ''trying'' to determine at the very least if they saw Smithers near the shooting, to no avail. [[spoiler: Ironically, it was Maggie who shot Burns (Accidentally?)]]

* Used by the [[WitchHunt Witchsmeller Pursuivant]] in ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'', who called Blackadder's ''horse'' to the stand as part of the KangarooCourt, referring to him as "Satin [[SesquipidalianLoquaciousness the Loquacious]]". After the horse whinnies when asked a question...
-->'''Harry''': I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Was that a yea or a nay?//
'''Witchsmeller''': [[IncrediblyLamePun It was a neigh]], My Lord, but I don't believe a word of it. I call for a recess. He may think he can fool us, [[ColdBloodedTorture but we have ways of making him talk]]!

* Used by the [[WitchHunt Witchsmeller Pursuivant]] in ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'', who called Blackadder's ''horse'' to the stand as part of the KangarooCourt, referring to him as "Satin [[SesquipidalianLoquaciousness the Loquacious]]". After the horse whinnies when asked a question...
-->'''Harry''': I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Was that a yea or a nay?\\

* On ''Radio/TheRickyGervaisShow'', resident {{Cloudcuckoolander}} Karl Pilkington tells a story, where a series of thefts from an office were supposedly solved by putting the suspects in the same room as a ''houseplant'' from the scene of the crime. The houseplant supposedly "reacted" to the thief's presence.

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

-->Lawyer: Is it true that the defense, treated you ''like a dog?''
-->Dog: "Rurr..."

* OlderThanFeudalism: In ''The Wasps,'' by Creator/{{Aristophanes}}, Anticleon uses a mock trial involving his pet dogs as an allegory to prove a point about the Athenian judicial system. Then the dogs actually start testifying. Then again, the defendant is also a dog (accused of stealing cheese). Since the dogs ''can'' talk, the court goes one further by calling mute inanimate objects to witness.

* A similar bug in ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'', also now patched, merits an honourable mention. When vampires were introduced, they added a game mechanic in which dwarves would accuse each other of attacking and draining the blood from a dwarf who'd just been found dead, and the player would then have to try to determine which dwarf was truly responsible. Thanks to an unfortunate oversight, literally anyone in the room at the time the murder was committed could end up being accused of being the culprit, including babies and livestock.

** In ''Ultimate VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', Phoenix Wright is able to "cross-examine" and prove the guilt of [[VideoGame/{{Okami}} Amaterasu]] (a wolf) and [[Comicbook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Rocket Raccoon]] (a raccoon, albeit a talking alien raccoon).

--->'''Phoenix:''' The defence summons its new witness, Mister Cracker the Parrot!\\

'''Judge:''' I cannot see this trial getting any more confusing. Very well... The defence may summon this avian witness!

* On ''Radio/TheRickyGervaisShow'', resident {{Cloudcuckoolander}} Karl Pilkington tells a story, where a series of thefts from an office were supposedly solved by putting the suspects in the same room as a ''houseplant'' from the scene of the crime. The houseplant supposedly "reacted" to the thief's presence.
* In WebVideo/AssistMe, [[VideoGame/{{Okami}} Amaterasu]] (played by a male Pomeranian) speaks out against Doctor Doom in court for [[PokeThePoodle eating her treats.]]
--> '''Doom''': What?! Doom was curious!