Animal cruelty: How to respond to a suspected case
Veterinary professionals evaluate animals and their circumstances daily, which gives us a lot of experience in assessing what’s “normal.” When something seems off, it may signal the need for closer evaluation—including the possibility of neglect or abuse. This webinar highlights red flags that may raise suspicion of animal cruelty, and explores what to do if you suspect that cruelty or mistreatment is occurring. You’ll also discover the role that veterinary professionals play in the legal process of cruelty investigations.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Recognize clinical signs and circumstances that could indicate animal maltreatment.
- Learn how to develop and apply standard operating guidelines for responding to suspected cruelty cases.
- Understand the veterinarian’s role in responding to suspected cases of animal cruelty.
| Jodi Lovejoy, DVM Dr. Jodi Lovejoy earned her DVM from Purdue University in 1993 and practiced mixed-animal veterinary medicine until joining the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) in 1995. Over her 30-year career at BOAH, she served as a district field veterinarian, animal welfare specialist, and director of the commercial dog breeder and broker program. As BOAH’s animal welfare specialist, she assisted law enforcement and animal control in hundreds of animal welfare investigations, testified in court, and provided guidance for other BOAH veterinarians. She is certified as a master animal cruelty investigator and provides training on animal welfare topics to law enforcement, animal control, humane societies, and veterinary associations. She also is a resident in the American College of Animal Welfare diplomate program. |
| Rachel Touroo, DVM, MS Dr. Touroo has assisted hundreds of animal cruelty cases throughout the United States and has been qualified as an expert witness in multiple states and federal court. She is a past president of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association, a member of the American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) Standards Board Crime Scene Investigation Consensus Body, and an active affiliate member of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science’s Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction Subcommittee. She also is a fellow of the AAFS and previously served as an associate editor for Forensic Science International: Animals and Environments. She has published book chapters and peer-reviewed scientific articles, and regularly lectures at national conferences on veterinary forensic science and medicine. |
