How Forensic Veterinarians Help Prosecute Animal Abuse Cases

Veterinary forensics is a recently emerging branch of veterinary medicine. Learn about the critical role veterinarians play in animal abuse cases. In some ways, the role of the forensic veterinarian can be compared to that of a human medical examiner, however the duties of a forensic veterinarian are broader — they include the triage of live victims, examination and treatment of live victims, necropsy of deceased victims, evidence identification, and assessment of the scene and its effects on the victims. The forensic veterinarian can also be an invaluable resource in the evaluation of evidence and crime scene reconstruction. Those investigating and prosecuting crimes against animals will benefit from learning about the role a forensic veterinarian can play in the case. This free 60-minute session is part of the Prosecuting Animal Cruelty webinar series.