{"id":21288,"date":"2020-06-17T14:42:09","date_gmt":"2020-06-17T14:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/?p=21288"},"modified":"2022-04-05T18:30:55","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T18:30:55","slug":"identifying-signs-of-animal-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/veterinary-forensics\/identifying-signs-of-animal-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Identifying Signs of Animal Abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the end of 2019, the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act was signed into law, strengthening federal laws against animal abuse. In addition, every U.S. state has felony-level animal cruelty laws on the books. Why are these laws important? Because animal cruelty is all around us, and as veterinarians, we may find ourselves on the front lines of these crimes. There is a well-known link between animal abuse and child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse, and often crimes against animals are associated with other crimes, such as illegal gambling, firearm violations, and illegal drug use. Therefore, recognizing signs of potential animal abuse is imperative because if we cannot recognize these signs, we will not be able to fully serve our clients, our patients, or our communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Animal Abuse Signalment<\/h2>\n

In terms of abuse as a whole, any animal is susceptible. That said, some characteristics are seen more commonly than others, especially in certain circumstances. For instance, young animals tend to be abused more commonly than older animals, intact animals more than spayed or neutered animals, and male dogs more than female dogs.1<\/sup> <\/span><\/p>\n

Dogs are more frequently sexually abused than cats.2<\/sup> Pit bull\u2013type breeds are more commonly abused than other breeds of dogs1<\/sup> and are more commonly used in dogfighting. However, regardless of signalment, any animal is at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Animal Abuse Presentation<\/h2>\n

Animal abuse victims may be presented to a veterinarian in multiple ways. They may be brought in by an animal control officer, law enforcement officer, good Samaritan, or owner. The person who brings in an abused animal may or may not be aware of the abuse. That person may be the abuser or they may be a victim as well, which can be critical when determining how to respond to suspected animal abuse. Depending on the situation, it could be vital to consider staff and client safety in the presence of someone who may be violent. It is equally vital to be compassionate and caring for someone who may be a victim of interpersonal violence. It is possible that the owner may not realize the animal is being abused. In all of these instances, if we do not speak up for the animals, the cycle of violence may continue.<\/span><\/p>\n

When obtaining a history, veterinarians should ask open-ended questions and be aware of assumptions that they commonly make during the process.3<\/sup> A suspicion of abuse is formed not by one lesion or client statement but rather by the totality of the evidence. The veterinarian\u2019s job is not to decide if animal abuse has occurred; rather, it is to report suspected cases of abuse. Even in states with mandatory reporting laws for animal abuse (<\/span>BOX 1<\/b><\/span>),4<\/sup> veterinarians are required only to report cases of suspected abuse; the final determination will be made by the legal system. Often these cases require investigation by animal control or law enforcement to determine the full story. Rarely will the veterinarian have all the necessary investigational information available during the initial examination.<\/span><\/p>\n

BOX 1 States With Mandatory Reporting Laws4<\/sup><\/div>
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