Veterinary Forensics. Animal Cruelty Investigations

Description

Veterinary Forensics, Second Edition is a practical reference on applying veterinary forensic findings in animal cruelty cases. Now providing a greater focus on findings in animals, the second edition continues to offer guidance with more detailed information on crime scene investigation, forensic testing and findings, handling evidence, and testifying in court. Key changes to the new edition include new chapters on abuse in large animals, poultry, and birds; a standalone chapter on entomology; a new section on large scale cruelty investigation; an expanded section on pain and suffering; more pathology information; and more photos, forms, and information throughout.

Logs and workbooks from the book are available on a companion website, allowing readers to download, customize, and use these forms in forensics investigations. Veterinary Forensics is an essential resource for veterinarians, pathologists, attorneys, and investigators working on animal abuse cases.

New to this edition

• New chapters on avian, poultry, and large animal cruelty
• A standalone chapter on forensic entomology and the valuable information that can be obtained from insects
• Additional information on the judicial process and reporting of abuse in the legal system chapter
• Expanded crime scene investigation and animal examination chapters to provide the formative basis for each subsequent chapter
• Additions and new information in each existing chapter
• A new section on the pain and suffering of animals provides the scientific basis for this issue
• Significant additions regarding crime scene investigation, grave excavation, animal examination, evidence collection and packaging, forensic testing, forensic report writing, and large scale cruelty response
• New photographs, tables, and figures throughout
• New and improved appendices containing valuable forms, checklists, and resources
• Case studies highlighting veterinary findings for a variety of instances of abuse from closed case files
• A companion website providing the logs and workbooks found in the appendices in editable format for use in forensics investigations

Table of contents

List of Contributors
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments

1 The Legal System: The Veterinarian’s Role and Responsibilities 1

• Introduction 1
• Defining Animal Cruelty 1
• Governing Laws 2
• How Veterinarians Become Involved 2
• Search and Seizure 7
• Handling the Media in Animal Cruelty Cases 7
• Confidentiality 7
• Filing Criminal Charges and Hearings 8
• Non-Criminal Cases 10
• Trial 11
• Compensation for the Veterinarian 15
• Conclusion 16

2 Crime Scene Investigation 17

• Introduction 17
• The Veterinarian’s Role and Handling of Animals at the Crime Scene 18
• General Considerations for Crime Scene Processing 19
• Environment: Weather Data 19
• Photography and Videography 20
• Evidence Recognition and Documentation 21
• Evidence Collection and Packaging 23
• Exclusionary Biological Testing 24
• Blood Evidence 25
• Burial Scenes: Grave Detection, Mapping, and Excavation 29

3 CSI: Examination of the Animal 37

• General Considerations 37
• Determining Non-Accidental Injury 38
• Behavioral Considerations of Animals 41
• Evidence Documentation, Collection, and Packaging 41
• Chain of Custody 41
• Photography and Videography 42
• Examination and Documentation of the Live Animal 43
• External Examination 43
• Forensic Necropsy 47
• Special Considerations 58
• The Forensic Report 62

4 Special Considerations in Animal Cruelty Cases 69

• Large Scale Cruelty Cases 69
• Trace Evidence 77
• Forensic Botany 79
• DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid 81
• Animal Death/Injury in Human Suspicious Death/Injury Cases 83
• Other Unique Identifiers of Animals 84
• Münchausen Syndrome by Proxy 84
• Suffering 86
• Pain 90
• Suggested Reading on Pain in Animals 95

5 Blunt Force Trauma 97

• Overview 97
• Bruising/Contusions 98
• Abrasions 101
• Lacerations 103
• Ligature Injuries 103
• Avulsion Injuries 104
• Fractures 105
• Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Injuries 106
• Fall Injuries 107
• Swinging/Dragging Injuries 108
• Grooming-Associated Injuries 108
• Blunt Force Injuries to Specific Body Regions 109

6 Sharp Force Injuries 123

• General Considerations 123
• Stab Wounds 124
• Incised-Stab Wounds 128
• Incised Wounds 128
• Chop Wounds 129
• Mutilations, Predator Attacks, and Dog Attacks 130
• Ritualistic Crimes 134

7 Burn-, Electrical-, and Fire-Related Injuries 139

• Interpreting Burn Patterns 139
• Recognition and Collection of Evidence 139
• Burn Classification 140
• Systemic Effects of Burns 141
• General Microscopic Examination Findings in Burns 141
• Thermal Burns 141
• Chemical Burns 144
• Electrical Burns 145
• Fire-Related Injuries 146

8 Firearm Injuries 151

• Introduction 151
• Overview of Firearms 151
• Wound Ballistics 154
• Determining Entrance and Exit Wounds 155
• Determining Gunshot Range 158
• Examination of Gunshot Victims 165

9 Asphyxia 169

• Overview of Asphyxia 169
• General Findings in Asphyxia 169
• Suffocation 170
• Strangulation 172
• Mechanical Asphyxia 178
• Drowning 178

10 Poisoning 185

• Overview of Intentional Poisonings 185
• Evidence and History 186
• Diagnostics 188
• Agents Used in Animal Poisonings 190
• Summary 204

11 Neglect 207

• Introduction 207
• Environment Examination 208
• Malnutrition: Improper Feeding 209
• Malnutrition: Starvation 210
• Animal Hoarders and Animal Sanctuaries 219
• Puppy Mills 222
• Heat Stroke 223
• Hypothermia 226
• Embedded Collars 230
• Demodicosis 230
• Untreated Injuries 230

12 Sexual Abuse 233

• Overview 233
• Considerations for Crime Scene Investigation 234
• Assessment of Videos 235
• General Examination Findings 235
• Examination Procedures 236
• Suspicious Examination Findings 238
• Zoonotic Disease 238
• Evaluation and Differentiation of Human and Canine Sperm and Semen 239

13 Animal Fighting 243

• Overview of Dog Fighting 243
• The Fighting Dog 243
• Fighting Classifications 245
• The Fight and The Dog Fighting Pit 245
• Training and Fighting Paraphernalia 246
• Canine CODIS: Fighting Dog Combined DNA Index System 247
• Examination of the Animal 247
• Cockfighting 250
• Other Types of Animal Fighting 252

14 Postmortem Changes and the Postmortem Interval 255

• Overview 255
• Examination of the Body 255
• Determining the PMI: Examination of the Crime Scene 269

15 Forensic Entomology: The Use of Insects in Animal Cruelty Cases 273

• Introduction 273
• Principles of Medicolegal Entomology 274
• Cutaneous Myiasis: The Insect Colonization of Live Animals 276
• Other Uses for Insects in Animal Cruelty Investigations 278
• Collection of Insect Evidence 279
• Summary 284

16 Large Animal Cruelty 287

• Introduction 287
• Assessing Pain and Suffering 287
• Investigation of Cruelty 288
• Starvation 289
• Body Condition Scoring 290
• Evaluation of Water 291
• Hoof Care 291
• Dental Care 294
• Shelter 296
• Accidental and Non-Accidental Injuries 297

17 Avian Cruelty 299

• Pet Bird Cruelty 299
• Avian Abuse Defined 299
• Intentional Abuse 300
• Unintentional Abuse 301
• Veterinary Abuse 302
• Poultry Cruelty 303
• General Exam Findings in Pet Bird and Poultry Cruelty 307

Appendices 311

• 1. Colorado Veterinary Medical Association Protocol for Mandatory Reporting of Animal Cruelty and Animal Fighting 311
• 2. Case Status Form 318
• 3. Evidence Log/Chain of Custody Form 319
• 4. Photo Log 321
• 5. Animal Cruelty Forensic Supplies 322
• 6. Clandestine Burial Crime Scene Checklist 324
• 7. Veterinarian Crime Scene Checklist 326
• 8. Deceased Animal Intake Questionnaire 327
• 9. Live Animal Intake Questionnaire 328
• 10. Live Exam Form 329
• 11. Necropsy Exam Form 330
• 12. Fixed Tissue List for Histopathology 333
• 13. Canine Body Condition Score for 1–9 and 1–5 Scales 334
• 14. Feline Body Condition Score for 1–9 and 1–5 Scales 335
• 15. Dog Diagram: Condition of Skin, Haircoat, and Nails Form 336
• 16. Cat Diagram: Condition of Skin, Haircoat, and Nails Form 338
• 17. Cat Skeleton Lesions Form 340
• 18. Dog Skeleton Lesions Form 341
• 19. Cat and Dog Skeletal Inventory Form 342
• 20. Live Exam Report Template 344
• 21. Necropsy Report Template 345
• 22. Forensic Medical Protocol for Large Scale Cases 348
• 23. Large Scale Medical Supply List 352
• 24. Large Scale Live Animal Exam Form 356
• 25. Rapid Bird Exam Form 358
• 26. Botany Field Report 359
• 27. Dog Bite Investigation Worksheet 360
• 28. Basic Small Pet Bird Care in Temporary Shelters 366
• 29. Tuft’s Animal Care and Condition Scale for Dogs 368
• 30. Tufts Animal Care and Condition Scale for the Environment 370
• 31. Dogfighting Terminology 372
• 32. Cajun Rules for Dogfighting 374
• 33. Dogfighting Scar and Injury Chart 376
• 34. Cockfighting Scar and Injury Chart 377
• 35. Examples of Vitamins, Drugs, and Medical Supplies Used in Dogfighting 378
• 36. Entomology Form for Animal Cases 380
• 37. Webliography 383

Index 387