On May 16, 1692, a 45-year-old Amesbury, Massachusetts, man named John Kimball testified against Susanna Martin, a 71-year-old widow, stating that she had caused a "black puppy" to appear before him alone in the woods, claiming that he was terrified by the dog, further cementing the idea of dogs being associated with witchcraft and the devil.
Folklore traditions long predated the Salem witch trials, with beliefs regarding dogs being in league with the devil and possessing supernatural powers contributing to the escalating paranoia within the Salem community.
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