Animal abuse is well established as a gateway crime linked to other forms of antisocial behaviors and broader criminal violence. Increased awareness of the link between animal abuse and criminal behavior has led many states to mandate cross-reporting between agencies overseeing the welfare of families and of animals.

Investigating Animal Abuse Crime Scenes: A Field Guide is designed for first responders such as animal control officers and police officers as well as forensic scientists and other criminal justice professionals who are tasked with processing and analyzing animal crime scenes and evidence. The book serves equally as a useful resource for those in the field and laboratory, in addition to those professionals who are further along in the investigative and judicial process.

The book addresses the key areas that must be considered in a thorough investigation of an animal abuse crime. This starts with general crime scene procedures that include securing and releasing the scene, search and seizure issues, chain of custody, documentation, searching for evidence and the use of enhancement technologies. While many readers may already be familiar with such concepts, they are addressed in the context of unique factors relating to animals and animal abuse cases. The book then addresses the recognition, collection and preservation of different types of evidence that may be located at animal abuse scenes, with examples of the most important evidence for specific case types.

The critical role of the veterinarian, and the key aspects of veterinary forensic medicine, receives in-depth consideration. This includes issues such as examining animal victims of crime; determining cause of injury or death through the forensic clinical exam or necropsy; and techniques for evidence documentation, collection, and preservation. The physical and emotional abuse of animals is outlined throughout a series of chapters focused on specific types of animal abuse. Finally, report writing and testimony, from the perspectives of both the crime scene investigator and forensic veterinarian, are addressed. Further, three appendices provide useful checklists and templates for all animal abuse crime scene responders and veterinarians.

Investigating Animal Abuse Crime Scenes fills the growing need for a handy, comprehensive field reference that specifically focuses on the crime scene processing, investigation, analysis of evidence, and the subsequent adjudication of animal abuse cases within the court system.


Authors

Contributors

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1 The Role of the Animal Control Officer and First Responders

LEIGH ANNE WILSON

2 Securing the Scene and First Actions

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

3 Search and Seizure

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

4 Documenting the Crime Scene

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

5 Locating Physical Evidence

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

6 Collection and Packaging of Evidence

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

7 Special Considerations for Crime Scene Investigation and Evidence Processing of Animal Abuse

AMANDA FITCH

8 Large-Scale Animal Abuse Cases

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

9 Animal Abuse Involving Large Animals

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

10 Releasing the Scene

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

11 Biological Evidence

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

12 Trace and Chemical Evidence

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

13 Pattern Evidence

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

14 Drugs and Controlled Substances

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

15 Digital Evidence

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL

16 The Forensic Veterinarian at the Crime Scene

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

17 Physical Examination of Living Victims

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

18 Postmortem Interval

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

19 The Forensic Necropsy

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

20 Nonaccidental Injury

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

21 Neglect and Hoarding

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

22 Animal Sexual Abuse

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

23 Animal Fighting

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

24 Forensic Toxicology

MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

25 Report Writing and Court Testimony

VIRGINIA M. MAXWELL AND MARTHA SMITH-BLACKMORE

Appendix A: Evidence Collection and Packaging Summary

Appendix B: Nonveterinary Crime Scene Kit

Appendix C: Example Veterinary Forensic Forms

Index