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"The animals have no voice but ours..." |
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CSI: Animal Welfare Style April 18, 2008 I have a thing for the crime scene shows. CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, all those procedural dramas. Not only is it rather fascinating to see how the plot plays out each week, it’s also wildly interesting to discover how investigators use science and technology to track down the perpetrator. Plus, it’s not like those fellows are really hard on the eyes, if you know what I’m saying. Interestingly enough, in recent years, forensic science has made its way into the animal world as well. The ASPCA, with national headquarters in New York City, actually has a forensic veterinarian on staff and her job is to process evidence in animal cruelty cases, including blood work, blood splatter and trace evidence. Just like you see on CSI. I have often said there are many cases of cruelty that go unprosecuted because we don’t have a Gil Grissom to get the fingerprints or body of evidence needed for a slam-dunk conviction. Granted, the majority of shelters and humane societies don’t have a budget to include a forensic vet and the subsequent supplies and resources that would be needed, but I think it gives hope for the future that forensic science has been useful in terms of animal welfare. I’ve read that because of the popularity of crime scene shows, even your average juror is expecting to be presented with scientific evidence to include in their deliberation for a verdict. People already have an understanding of epithelials, insect evidence and what blunt force trauma means. Because of that, taking specific evidence into a courtroom, even when associated with animal cruelty, could help prosecutors get a conviction. The forensic vet for the ASPCA, Dr. Melinda Merck, has been included in a wide variety of cases, including the Michael Vick saga last year, according to the ASPCA. She testifies in court, uses tools like toxicology and ballistics tests, and is terribly happy when she discovers insect evidence because she says that’s the best source to determine the time line of a crime. She has even performed autopsies on animals to conclude the cause of death. It’s literally like taking CSI and using the procedures you see on the show to help animals. One of the worst cases Merck has ever seen, according to the ASPCA website, came when two teenagers hogtied a puppy and placed the animal into an oven, essentially to watch it die. Because of her work with forensic science, Merck was able to provide evidence (worn down nails and scratch marks on the interior oven door) to help illustrate the horror the puppy had gone through and put the youths behind bars. Taking the evidence to a jury and humanizing it – showing that animals can feel pain and hurt and fear just like we do – is a huge step for animal rights and welfare and I, for one, say hallelujah. I have read, though, that there’s some opposition to the field of forensic veterinary science essentially because of the mindset “it’s just an animal.” Cruelty work and investigation costs money and requires resources. For agencies that have investigators, it can be difficult financially to keep cruelty departments going. And, sadly, there are still folks out there who think that type of time and money shouldn’t be spent on saving animals. Although, I have to think that forensic veterinary science could help save people as well. There have been scientific studies to show that people who are able to hurt animals could eventually move on to hurt humans as well. Indeed, many of the infamous serial killers admitted to torturing animals when they were young. When you look back over the history of this planet, it’s absolutely amazing to realize where science and technology have taken us. The discoveries we can make and the convictions we can get thanks to tests and evidence and procedure are stunning. If we can take this newfound wisdom and knowledge and use it to put animal cruelty perpetrators behind bars, we could not only make this world better for our four-legged friends, but a place where they may be able to finally know some justice. ***** Jennifer Vanderau is the Director of Communications for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at cvasoc@innernet.net. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, call the shelter at 263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org. Animals available for adoption can be viewed at www.petfinder.org. CVAS also operates thrift stores in Chambersburg and Shippensburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the stores.
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CVAS, Inc.