Forensic Animal Abuse Evaluations

Over the past decade, researchers and professionals in a variety of human services and animal welfare disciplines have established significant correlations between animal abuse, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, elder abuse and other forms of violence. Mistreating animals is no longer seen as an isolated incident that can be ignored. Animal cruelty is often an indicator or predictor crime and a “red flag” warning sign that other family members in the household may not be safe. We now know that causing pain and suffering to the animals and specifically animal abuse can be a sentinel indicator and predictor of concurrent or future violent acts. This webinar will focus specifically on new developments of performing comprehensive forensic animal abuse evaluations and accurately assessing risk to animals and people. Case specific examples will be utilized to highlight evaluation considerations.