Introduction
Veterinarians are uniquely qualified to recognize signs of animal abuse, and are obligated by their oath and, in many states, the law, to report suspicion of animal cruelty to authorities for investigation. Veterinary schools teach students to diagnose and treat illness, injury, and disease, preparing them for clinical success post-graduation. Most programs do not include foundational curriculum to equip new graduates with the information they need to participate in animal cruelty cases with the precision and objectivity required to aid investigations and support legal outcomes.
While veterinary forensics is an emerging and vital field that bridges veterinary medicine and the legal system, foundational training in critical skills such as documentation, evidence collection, and collaboration with law enforcement allows all veterinarians to contribute to societal efforts to combat animal cruelty regardless of their area of practice or specialty. A significant gap currently exists between a veterinarian’s proficiency in their field and their confidence to apply those skills to the specific situation of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is a community health problem— particularly with its documented connection to interpersonal violence—and every veterinarian has the potential to be a first responder for an animal victim.
Despite its critical importance, teaching foundations in veterinary forensics poses challenges. Limited faculty expertise, resource constraints, and competition for curriculum time are common hurdles. To address these issues, schools can leverage external resources, such as online courses, and collaborations with forensics experts.
One such online course, Victim to Verdict: The Veterinarian’s Role in Animal Cruelty Investigations, was designed and launched in partnership with Oregon State University’s online learning platform and has been made available to veterinary students and practicing vets around the country. The course uses interactive scenarios and real-time decision-making applications to achieve the learning objectives, and is RACE approved for 6 hours of continuing education. By promoting the Victim to Verdict course as an official elective for veterinary students, Oregon State University’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine has been a pioneer in the movement to furnish students, and therefore the profession, with the education and tools they will need to fulfill their obligations in practice.
Veterinarians contribute to the response to animal cruelty in their community by confidently using their expertise to identify and document evidence found when examining the animal victim
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 263, 2; 10.2460/javma.24.12.0792
With more institutions exploring the utilization of resources like the Victim to Verdict course and embracing forensic skills as a component of a veterinarian’s core skill set, schools are preparing students to play a critical role in animal welfare. Graduates with basic forensic training are better prepared to recognize and report suspected cruelty and report feeling more empowered to uphold their ethical and professional commitment to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
