A multidisciplinary investigation of chronic animal abuse: Collaboration between veterinary forensics and forensic anthropology
Martha Smith‐Blackmore, Jonathan D. Bethard
Abstract
An unknown juvenile female mixed breed dog was found non-ambulatory on a dead-end street in an urban setting adjacent to a public park. During initial veterinary examination, she was assessed to have untreatable injuries and was humanely euthanized. The forensic veterinarian requested consultation from a forensic anthropologist to assist with documenting antemortem skeletal trauma. Analyses of skeletal tissues indicated numerous injuries in various stages of healing diagnostic of non-accidental injuries. Veterinary forensic cases may benefit from collaborative analysis of bony remains by forensic anthropologists.
Topics & Concepts
Forensic scienceMedicineAccidentalForensic anthropologyForensic pathologyVeterinary medicineJuvenileFamily medicinePathologyBiologyGeographyArchaeologyPhysicsAcousticsAutopsyGeneticsHuman-Animal Interaction StudiesRabies epidemiology and controlAutopsy Techniques and Outcomes