Veterinary Forensics (eBook)

Melinda Merck, DVM, is owner of Veterinary Forensics Consulting, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia.

Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigations 5
Copyright 6
Table of Contents 9
List of Contributors 15
Foreword 17
Preface 19
Acknowledgments 21
1 The Legal System: The Veterinarian’s Role and Responsibilities 23
Introduction 23
Defining Animal Cruelty 23
Governing Laws 24
How Veterinarians Become Involved 24
Reporting 24
Factors that inhibit reporting 25
Factors that support reporting 26
Veterinary records 26
Where to report 28
Handling suspected abuse cases and developing an SOP 28
Search and Seizure 29
Handling the Media in Animal Cruelty Cases 29
Confidentiality 29
Filing Criminal Charges and Hearings 30
Expert qualifications 30
Rules of evidence and laws regarding expert witnesses 30
Types of experts 31
Social media 32
Credibility 32
Non-Criminal Cases 32
Trial 33
Subpoenas 33
Preparing for court 34
Testifying 35
Qualifying the expert witness 35
Demonstrative evidence 36
Cross-examination and attacking the expert 36
Anticipating the defense 37
Sentencing recommendations 37
Compensation for the Veterinarian 37
Conclusion 38
References 38
2 Crime Scene Investigation 39
Introduction 39
The Veterinarian’s Role and Handling of Animals at the Crime Scene 40
General Considerations for Crime Scene Processing 41
Environment: Weather Data 41
Photography and Videography 42
Evidence Recognition and Documentation 43
Evidence Collection and Packaging 45
Exclusionary Biological Testing 46
Blood Evidence 47
Overview 47
Presumptive blood testing 47
Detection of hidden blood evidence 47
Bloodstain pattern recognition, documentation, and analysis 48
Fire exposure and bloodstain patterns 51
Analysis of animal fighting blood evidence 51
Burial Scenes: Grave Detection, Mapping, and Excavation 51
Search techniques 51
Burial features 52
Ground penetrating radar and remote sensing 53
Odors of decomposition 53
Burial scene processing 54
Live vs. Deceased burial 56
Surface remains 56
References 56
3 CSI: Examination of the Animal 59
General Considerations 59
Determining Non-Accidental Injury 60
Overview 60
The psychology of animal cruelty 61
Abused animals in the veterinary practice setting 61
Taking a history in suspected abuse cases 62
Hearsay 62
Behavioral Considerations of Animals 63
Evidence Documentation, Collection, and Packaging 63
Chain of Custody 63
Photography and Videography 64
Examination and Documentation of the Live Animal 65
General 65
External Examination 65
Radiographs 68
Sample considerations 68
Clinical pathology 68
Blood loss calculation 69
Parasites 69
Forensic Necropsy 69
Overview 69
Gross necropsy 70
Special Considerations 80
Animal forensic osteology 80
The Forensic Report 84
Report format 85
References 88
4 Special Considerations in Animal Cruelty Cases 91
Large Scale Cruelty Cases 91
Incident command system (ICS) 91
General considerations 92
Crime scene processing 92
Animal mapping and identification system 93
The use of a color-coded system for triage and animal removal 94
Animal ID, animal removal, and transport teams 94
Medical teams 95
Organization of large scale grave excavation and on-site necropsy analysis 97
Additional considerations for large scale cases 99
Trace Evidence 99
Overview 99
Trace evidence on the animal 99
Collection and analysis of trace evidence 100
Forensic Botany 101
Overview 101
Collection of evidence 102
Forensic palynology 102
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid 103
Overview 103
Examination of the animal 103
Collection of DNA evidence 104
Animal Death/Injury in Human Suspicious Death/Injury Cases 105
Other Unique Identifiers of Animals 106
Münchausen Syndrome by Proxy 106
Overview 106
Symptoms 107
Outcomes 108
Evidence 108
Suffering 108
Overview 108
Stress 109
Boredom 110
Distress 110
Emotional maltreatment 111
Pain 112
The responsibilities of veterinarians in assessing animal pain 112
Do animals “feel” pain? 113
What is pain? 114
What can forensic scientists and veterinarians learn about pain from the biomedical research community? 115
Suggested Reading on Pain in Animals 117
References 117
5 Blunt Force Trauma 119
Overview 119
Bruising/Contusions 120
Overview 120
Thermal imaging: detecting hidden trauma 121
Postmortem finding of contusions 121
Patterned bruising 122
Aging bruising 123
Abrasions 123
Overview 123
Types of abrasions 123
Artifacts that mimic abrasions 124
Aging abrasions 124
Lacerations 125
Ligature Injuries 125
Avulsion Injuries 126
Fractures 127
Forces and determining directionality 127
Evidence of repetitive abuse 128
Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Injuries 128
Fall Injuries 129
Swinging/Dragging Injuries 130
Grooming-Associated Injuries 130
Blunt Force Injuries to Specific Body Regions 131
Head trauma 131
Neck and spinal injuries 139
Body cavity trauma 140
References 142
6 Sharp Force Injuries 145
General Considerations 145
Stab Wounds 146
Interpretation of stab wound appearances 146
Considerations in removal of the object 150
Evaluation of injuries 150
Incised-Stab Wounds 150
Incised Wounds 150
Chop Wounds 151
Mutilations, Predator Attacks, and Dog Attacks 152
Community considerations 152
Examination of the Animal Victim 154
Examination of the animal perpetrator 156
Ritualistic Crimes 156
Satanism 156
Vampirism 156
Voodoo 156
Santeria and Palo Mayombe 157
Crime scene investigation for ritualistic crimes 158
References 158
7 Burn-, Electrical-, and Fire-Related Injuries 161
Interpreting Burn Patterns 161
Recognition and Collection of Evidence 161
Burn Classification 162
Percentage of total body surface area 162
Burn degrees 162
Systemic Effects of Burns 163
General Microscopic Examination Findings in Burns 163
Thermal Burns 163
General findings 163
Radiant heat burns 164
Solar thermal necrosis 164
Microwave ovens 164
Cigarette burns 165
Scalding burns 165
Chemical Burns 166
Overview 166
General findings 166
Electrical Burns 167
Overview 167
General findings 167
Lightning electrocution 168
Taser® and stun gun electrocution 168
Microscopic findings 168
Fire-Related Injuries 168
Overview 168
Examination of fire victims 169
Entomology 170
Smoke inhalation and thermal injury 170
References 172
8 Firearm Injuries 173
Introduction 173
Overview of Firearms 173
Handguns 173
Rifles 174
Shotguns 174
Caliber nomenclature 174
Rifling 174
Ammunition 174
Firing of a weapon 175
Wound Ballistics 176
Determining Entrance and Exit Wounds 177
General characteristics 177
Intermediary targets 179
Caliber determination 179
Ricochet bullets 180
Stippling 180
Determining Gunshot Range 180
General characteristics 180
Handgun gunshot wounds 182
.22 Caliber rimfire weapon gunshot wounds 182
Centerfire rifle gunshot wounds 183
Shotgun gunshot wounds 184
Air weapon gunshot wounds 186
Captive-bolt gun gunshot wounds 186
Stud gun (nail gun) gunshot wounds 187
Examination of Gunshot Victims 187
Collection of gunshot residue 187
Collection of projectiles and wadding 188
Collection of casings 188
Determining trajectory 188
Documentation of examination findings 189
References 190
9 Asphyxia 191
Overview of Asphyxia 191
General Findings in Asphyxia 191
Suffocation 192
Smothering 192
Choking 193
Confined spaces/entrapment/vitiated atmosphere 193
Strangulation 194
Overview 194
General findings 194
Ligature strangulation (garroting) 195
Hanging 196
Manual strangulation (throttling) 198
Mechanical Asphyxia 200
Drowning 200
Overview 200
Effect of submersion on deceased victims 201
Gross and microscopic examination findings 202
Diagnostic testing 203
Diatoms 203
Strontium testing 205
References 205
10 Poisoning 207
Overview of Intentional Poisonings 207
Incidence 207
Demographics 208
Index of suspicion 208
Evidence and History 208
Clinical findings 208
Environmental and physical evidence 209
Diagnostics 210
Necropsy considerations 210
Toxicology testing 210
Agents Used in Animal Poisonings 212
Introduction 212
Ethylene glycol 213
Anticoagulant rodenticides 214
Bromethalin 215
Cholecalciferol rodenticides 216
Strychnine 217
Zinc phosphide 217
Sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) 218
Metaldehyde 219
Organophosphorus insecticides 219
Carbamate insecticides 220
Paraquat 221
Acetaminophen 222
Ibuprofen 222
Amphetamine 223
Marijuana 224
Cocaine 224
Phencyclidine 225
Alcohols 225
Caffeine 226
Summary 226
References 226
11 Neglect 229
Introduction 229
Environment Examination 230
Malnutrition: Improper Feeding 231
Malnutrition: Starvation 232
Overview 232
Process of starvation and the physical effects 233
Dehydration 235
Behavior 235
Laboratory testing 238
Bone marrow fat analysis 239
Gross and microscopic findings in live and deceased animals 240
Animal Hoarders and Animal Sanctuaries 241
Overview 241
Crime scene findings 242
Psychological harm 243
Exam findings 243
Puppy Mills 244
Heat Stroke 245
Overview 245
Exam findings 247
Gross and microscopic findings 247
Hypothermia 248
Overview 248
Exam findings 249
Gross and microscopic findings 251
Embedded Collars 252
Exam findings 252
Establishing timelines 252
Demodicosis 252
Untreated Injuries 252
References 252
12 Sexual Abuse 255
Overview 255
Considerations for Crime Scene Investigation 256
Assessment of Videos 257
General Examination Findings 257
Examination Procedures 258
Suspicious Examination Findings 260
Vaginal 260
Anorectal 260
Zoonotic Disease 260
Evaluation and Differentiation of Human and Canine Sperm and Semen 261
References 262
13 Animal Fighting 265
Overview of Dog Fighting 265
The Fighting Dog 265
Fighting Classifications 267
The Fight and The Dog Fighting Pit 267
Training and Fighting Paraphernalia 268
Canine CODIS: Fighting Dog Combined DNA Index System 269
Examination of the Animal 269
General considerations 269
Dog fighting injuries and scar charts 270
Special tests 272
Cockfighting 272
Overview 272
The fighting gamecock 273
Examination of the animal 274
Disease testing 274
Other Types of Animal Fighting 274
References 275
14 Postmortem Changes and the Postmortem Interval 277
Overview 277
Examination of the Body 277
Livor Mortis 277
Rigor Mortis 280
Algor Mortis 281
Decomposition 282
Flow Cytometry and DNA Degradation 287
Vitreous Humor 288
Intraocular Pressure 290
Gastrointestinal Evaluation 290
Citrate Content of Bone 291
Nasal Mucociliary Motility 291
Determining the PMI: Examination of the Crime Scene 291
References 291
15 Forensic Entomology: The Use of Insects in Animal Cruelty Cases 295
Introduction 295
Principles of Medicolegal Entomology 296
Initial fly colonization and development 296
Insect succession 297
Case history example 298
Cutaneous Myiasis: The Insect Colonization of Live Animals 298
Other Uses for Insects in Animal Cruelty Investigations 300
Wound site 300
Poisoning 300
Relocation of remains 301
DNA 301
Collection of Insect Evidence 301
Collection of blow fly evidence from a deceased animal 302
Collection of blow fly evidence from a live animal 305
Summary 306
References 306
16 Large Animal Cruelty 309
Introduction 309
Assessing Pain and Suffering 309
Investigation of Cruelty 310
Starvation 311
Forage 311
Hay 311
Straw 311
Silage/haylage 311
Concentrates 311
Feeding methods 312
Necropsy findings 312
Body Condition Scoring 312
Evaluation of Water 313
Hoof Care 313
Hoof care in horses 314
Hoof care in ruminants 315
Hoof care in small ruminants 315
Dental Care 316
Shelter 318
Accidental and Non-Accidental Injuries 319
References 320
17 Avian Cruelty 321
Pet Bird Cruelty 321
Avian Abuse Defined 321
Intentional Abuse 322
Unintentional Abuse 323
Veterinary Abuse 324
Case examples of veterinary abuse 325
Poultry Cruelty 325
Evaluation of housing and husbandry 326
Euthanasia and humane slaughter 328
General Exam Findings in Pet Bird and Poultry Cruelty 329
References 331
Appendices 333
1. Colorado Veterinary Medical Association Protocol for Mandatory Reporting of Animal Cruelty and Animal Fighting 333
Cruelty Law and Definitions 334
General 334
Statutory definitions 334
Cruelty to animals 334
Animal fighting 334
Mandatory reporting 335
Sample Protocol for the Veterinary Professional 335
If you are suspicious 335
Related family violence concerns 336
Signalment 336
Verbal account of injury 336
Reporting in the medical record 336
Photography 336
Physical findings 337
Diagnostic tests 337
Euthanasia 337
Releasing evidence (either physical evidence or the body) 337
Primer for Reporting (AKA: Help! How do I Get Started?) 337
Areas on the Magnet 337
In an emergency 337
1) Local law enforcement 337
Patterns of Non-Accidental Injury 338
2) Local animal care agency 339
3) Bureau of animal protection 339
Additional Contacts 339
2. Case Status Form 340
Updates 340
3. Evidence Log/Chain of Custody Form 341
4. Photo Log 343
5. Animal Cruelty Forensic Supplies 344
General 344
Evidence Identification, Collection, and Packaging 344
Scene Documentation: Mapping, Photography 344
Grave Excavation/Surface Remains 345
Entomology Collection 345
6. Clandestine Burial Crime Scene Checklist 346
7. Veterinarian Crime Scene Checklist 348
Death Scenes 348
8. Deceased Animal Intake Questionnaire 349
Environment Description 349
9. Live Animal Intake Questionnaire 350
Environment Description 350
10. Live Exam Form 351
11. Necropsy Exam Form 352
12. Fixed Tissue List for Histopathology 355
13. Canine Body Condition Score for 1–9 and 1–5 Scales 356
References 356
14. Feline Body Condition Score for 1–9 and 1–5 Scales 357
References 357
15. Dog Diagram: Condition of Skin, Haircoat, and Nails Form 358
Comments 358
Physical Care Scale 359
Reference 359
16. Cat Diagram: Condition of Skin, Haircoat, and Nails Form 360
Comments 360
Physical Care Scale 361
Reference 361
17. Cat Skeleton Lesions Form 362
Comments 362
18. Dog Skeleton Lesions Form 363
Comments 363
19. Cat and Dog Skeletal Inventory Form 364
20. Live Exam Report Template 366
21. Necropsy Report Template 367
22. Forensic Medical Protocol for Large Scale Cases 370
General 370
Veterinary Teams 370
Scene Assessment 370
Examinations 370
Live Animals 370
Deceased Animals 372
Medical Supplies and Equipment Considerations 372
23. Large Scale Medical Supply List 374
24. Large Scale Live Animal Exam Form 378
25. Rapid Bird Exam Form 380
26. Botany Field Report 381
27. Dog Bite Investigation Worksheet 382
28. Basic Small Pet Bird Care in Temporary Shelters 388
Diet 388
Housing 388
Restraint 388
Common Medical Problems 388
Other 389
29. Tuft’s Animal Care and Condition Scale for Dogs 390
30. Tufts Animal Care and Condition Scale for the Environment 392
31. Dogfighting Terminology 394
32. Cajun Rules for Dogfighting 396
Cajun Rules 396
33. Dogfighting Scar and Injury Chart 398
34. Cockfighting Scar and Injury Chart 399
35. Examples of Vitamins, Drugs, and Medical Supplies Used in Dogfighting 400
Vitamins and Supplements 400
Drugs 400
Medical Supplies 400
Anabolic Agents (Examples) 401
Peptide Hormones (Examples) 401
Masking Agents 401
Masking Agents: Diuretics (Examples) 401
Certain Stimulants (Examples) 401
36. Entomology Form for Animal Cases 402
37. Webliography 405
Avian 405
Consultation Services 405
Equipment 405
Forensic Testing 406
General Information 406
Large Animal 407
Legal 408
Organizations 408
Index 409

"Let's hope you won't have to use it too often
but definitively a very useful tool." (Tomorrow's
vets, 1 September 2013)