Veterinary Forensics in Shelter Medicine

Animal shelters may incidentally receive animals that are subsequently recognized as potential victims of abuse, or they may serve as a resource that local law enforcement investigators can turn to for documentation of an animal’s condition in cases of neglect or cruelty.

Animal shelter veterinarians may play a role in managing evidence and housing surviving animals while criminal proceedings are pending.

Veterinarians working in any setting should be aware of local animal cruelty law, the typical injuries and conditions that constitute animal abuse, reporting requirements, and principles of basic evidence management.

Typical cases of animal abuse include the following:

• acts of commission (abuse), which involve causing harm to an animal (eg, harm by blunt or sharp trauma, drowning, or electrocution)

• acts of omission (neglect), which involve failing to provide an animal with necessary care (eg, failure to provide adequate nutrition, shelter, or veterinary care)

• crimes of perversion (eg, organized or staged animal fighting, animal sexual abuse)

Veterinarians should familiarize themselves with local animal cruelty laws, relevant agencies to report suspected cases to, and typical court processes in their jurisdiction.

All veterinarians have the skills to perform adequate forensic examinations and document their findings. Although it might be assumed that a specialist or designated agency is better suited to perform the examination, the receiving veterinarian has a duty to document the animal's condition at initial presentation. In cases of illegal animal maltreatment, the animal itself, as well as anything within or derived from the animal or its environment, can be considered evidence.

Continuing education is available for veterinarians to improve their ability to document suspected animal cruelty cases and become more comfortable with giving courtroom testimony.

Growing awareness of the link between animal cruelty and violent crimes against people has led local law enforcement to increasingly investigate allegations of animal maltreatment. Shelter veterinarians are uniquely positioned to be a community resource for documenting cases of suspected animal abuse on behalf of local law enforcement.

Veterinarians offering forensic necropsy services and consultation on legal matters involving animals should familiarize themselves with the evolving standards of veterinary forensic practice and seek specific training in this area. Animal shelters offering veterinary forensic services, including scene response with law enforcement, animal documentation, rehabilitative care, and evidence maintenance, should develop protocols and memoranda of understanding with local law enforcement entities, in consultation with legal representation.

When veterinary care is provided to alleviate an animal's pain and suffering, steps taken to treat the animal should be documented, and evidence of its condition during the treatment period should be preserved. When there is a simultaneous need to document evidence and treat pain and suffering, the animal's welfare should take precedence. However, in most cases of animal abuse, and especially in most cases of neglect, initial documentation can be completed before taking steps to relieve suffering (eg, offering water, shaving matted hair) that might alter the evidence.

Veterinarians should report suspected animal abuse to the appropriate agency, in accordance with local criminal justice structure. This could be the local sheriff’s office, the police department, the animal control office, or a humane agency. In general, veterinarians are considered experts in a court of law, because of their knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education; therefore, they can testify in the form of an opinion.