This book is a practical guide which provides insight and direction for every phase of an animal cruelty investigation. The step-by-step guidance on responding to particular issues and challenges related to animal cruelty cases is bolstered by the extensive library of checklists, form templates, specific case protocols, and lists of available resources. This book is designed to empower readers to respond to animal cruelty cases confidently and effectively by: - Introducing veterinarians to their critical role in animal cruelty investigations including forensic examination and necropsy, crime scene response, report writing, and testimony. Included are detailed Specific Case Protocols for common animal cruelty scenarios. - Helping animal shelters navigate the challenges of holding animals in protective custody, housing unusual species, and placing evidence animals in foster care. - Offering law enforcement agencies useful methods for investigating animal cruelty such as search and seizure protocols, witness interview techniques, and valuable forms and templates necessary to strengthen and ensure proper search warrant execution, evidence collection and handling, and chain of custody; all with a focus on animals as both victims and evidence. - Guiding prosecutors through the steps necessary to utilize the veterinarian’s findings during trial and providing insight into issues to be considered when reviewing search warrants, filing charges, proposing plea agreements, or filing pre-conviction forfeiture motions.
This book is a must-have reference and guide for veterinarians, technicians, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and all those involved in the protection of animals’ health and wellbeing. The successful investigation of animal crimes relies on each of these disciplines, not only carrying out their professional duties, but having a collective understanding of what each other needs in order to meet that expectation.
Table of Contents
List of Contributors xi
Preface xii
Acknowledgments xiii
About the Companion Website xv
1 Introduction 1
Emily Lewis
1.1 Making the Most of This Resource 1
1.2 Why Definitions Are Important 2
1.3 Terms and Phrases: Animal Cruelty Cases 2
1.4 Terms and Phrases: Veterinary Medicine 3
1.5 Terms and Phrases: Law Enforcement and Field Services 5
1.6 Terms and Phrases: Criminal Law 7
1.7 Looking Ahead 12
References 12
2 Animal Basics 14
Kris Otteman, Zarah Hedge, and Linda Fielder
2.1 The History of the Five Freedoms and Their Impact on Animal Welfare Laws 15
2.2 Veterinarians as Experts in the Field 15
2.3 With So Many Species, Where to Begin? 16
2.4 Defining Animals by Category 16
2.5 Animal Basics by Species 16
2.6 Basics That Apply to All Animals 23
2.7 Putting Your Basic Knowledge to Work 24
References 24
3 Fundamentals of All Cases 25
Linda Fielder
3.1 Interdisciplinary Roles 25
3.2 Environment 26
3.3 Sanitation 27
3.4 Food and Water 28
3.5 Nutrition 30
3.6 Documentation 31
3.7 Body Condition 32
3.8 Documenting Body Condition 33
3.9 Dental, Foot, and Hoof Care 33
3.10 Veterinary Care, Medications, and Treatment 35
3.11 Nonaccidental Injury and Trauma 36
3.12 The Link Between Animal Cruelty and Crimes Against Humans 37
3.13 Emergency Issues 37
References 37
4 Initial Investigation and Assessment 38
Linda Fielder
4.1 Types of Reports 38
4.2 Anonymous Reports 39
4.3 Required Information 39
4.4 Response Triage 40
4.5 Legitimate or Not? How to Decide 40
4.6 Responding to Calls: Initial Site Visit 40
5 Witness and Subject Interviewing 45
Linda Fielder
5.1 Preparation for the Interview 45
5.2 Interview Location and Setting 46
5.3 Miranda and Consent 46
5.4 Building Rapport 47
5.5 Ask Clear and Direct Open-Ended Questions 48
5.6 Suspect Interviews 49
5.7 Reading Body Language and Detecting Deception 50
5.8 Confessions 50
5.9 Ending the Interview 51
5.10 Documenting the Interview 51
5.11 Additional Resources and Training 51
References 51
6 The Veterinarian’s Role in Animal Cruelty Investigations 53
Kris Otteman
6.1 The Veterinarian is an Important Partner in Animal Cruelty Investigations 53
6.2 The Veterinarian’s Oath 55
6.3 How Veterinary Forensics Differs from Traditional Veterinary Medicine 55
6.4 Veterinary Confidentiality and Medical Records Requests 56
6.5 Public Information Considerations 57
6.6 Conflicts of Interest 58
6.7 Be Familiar with the Laws 59
6.8 How to Find and Build Knowledge in the Area of Animal Law 59
6.9 Understand What the Prosecutor and Law Enforcement Need to Know 60
6.10 How Animal Cruelty Investigations Surface and Become Active Cases 61
References 62
7 The Veterinary Exam and Treatment Plan 63
Kris Otteman and Zarah Hedge
7.1 Request and Review Evidentiary Material 64
7.2 Initial Steps 65
7.3 Examination Key Elements 71
7.4 Ongoing Responsibilities of the Veterinarian 83
References 86
8 Setting Expectations and Monitoring Compliance 87
Linda Fielder
8.1 Education and Guidance vs. Citation 87
8.2 Passive Neglect and Lack of Resources 88
8.3 Education 89
8.4 Setting Expectations 90
8.5 What You Can and Cannot Require 91
8.6 Conducting Rechecks 92
8.7 What If Nothing Improves or Conditions Worsen? 92
8.8 What About Animal Hoarders? 93
References 94
9 Search Warrants and Seizures 95
Emily Lewis
9.1 Exceptions to the Warrant Requirement in Animal Cruelty Cases 95
9.2 Prewarrant Considerations 98
9.3 Drafting of the Affidavit and Search Warrant 103
9.4 Before You Serve the Warrant 110
9.5 Preservice Briefing 114
9.6 Serving the Warrant 115
9.7 Start Documenting the Scene 117
9.8 System for Evidence Documentation and Processing 118
9.9 Processing the Animals 121
9.10 Forms 123
9.11 Discovering Evidence of Other Crimes 127
9.12 The First 24 Hours After the Search Warrant Execution 127
References 128
10 Evidence Collection 130
Emily Lewis
10.1 What is Evidence? 130
10.2 How Evidence in Animal Cruelty Cases Differs from Traditional Property Crimes 130
10.3 How to Package the Evidence 136
10.4 What to Do with Evidence Until Trial 152
10.5 Evidence at Trial 154
10.6 Evidence After Trial 155
References 157
11 Veterinary Forensic Necropsy 158
Kris Otteman and Zarah Hedge
11.1 How a Forensic Necropsy is Different 158
11.2 The Importance of the Forensic Necropsy 158
11.3 Necropsy at the Owner’s Request 159
11.4 Packaging and Storing Remains Prior to Necropsy 159
11.5 Forensic Necropsy Equipment and Protocols 160
11.6 Case History 160
11.7 Preparing to Perform the Necropsy 160
11.8 The Necropsy Report 175
11.9 Next Steps 179
11.10 An Important Reminder 179
References 179
12 Report Writing 180
Emily Lewis
12.1 Introduction 180
12.2 General Principles 180
12.3 Crime Report 183
12.4 Veterinarian Reports 184
12.5 Witness Statements 189
12.6 The Case Packet 192
12.7 Conclusion 195
13 Protective Custody (Live Animals) 196
Linda Fielder
13.1 The Challenge of Live Animal Evidence 196
13.2 The First 24 Hours 197
13.3 Know Your Agency’s Capacity 198
13.4 Facility Set-Up and Security 199
13.5 Training Staff and Confidentiality 200
13.6 Paperwork and Record Keeping 201
13.7 Providing Security Without Isolation 202
13.8 Foster Care and Offsite Boarding 203
13.9 Routine and Emergency Veterinary Care 204
13.10 Death in Care and Euthanasia Considerations 204
13.11 Offspring Born in Care 205
13.12 Conclusion 206
References 206
14 Media and Fundraising 207
Emily Lewis
14.1 Media Coverage 207
14.2 Handling Negative Press 214
14.3 Internal Communications Policy 215
14.4 Fundraising 215
References 220
15 Forfeiture, Surrender, and Related Legal Remedies 221
David Rosengard
15.1 Seized Animals and Reasonable Minimum Care 222
15.2 The Impact of Seizure Expenses - and Responsive Solutions 223
15.3 Voluntary Relinquishment 223
15.4 The Seized Animal as Contraband 224
15.5 Preconviction Forfeiture 226
15.6 Preconviction Forfeiture: Bond-or-Forfeit Statutes 227
15.7 Bond-or-Forfeit Statute Examples 228
15.8 Bond-or-Forfeit statutes Are Constitutionally Compliant 229
15.9 Restitution 230
15.10 Forfeiture via Sentencing 231
15.11 Cost-of-Care Liens 231
15.12 Conclusion 231
References 232
16 Trial 233
Jake Kamins
16.1 Trials: An Overview 233
16.2 The Players 234
16.3 How a Typical Criminal Case Gets to Trial 238
16.4 Pretrial Matters 241
16.5 The Trial 242
16.6 Topics for Prosecutors 246
16.7 Conclusion 249
Introduction to the Appendix 250
Appendix A: Specific Case Protocols 251
Appendix B: Forms and Checklists 329
Appendix C: Templates and Agreements 391
Appendix D: Resources 425
Index 441
