Читать книгу Animal Cruelty Investigations - Группа авторов - Страница 106

Kris Otteman, Zarah Hedge, and Linda Fielder

While laws require that animals must receive basic minimum care, the legal definition of what constitutes basic care varies by species. The husbandry needs of a horse look wildly different from those of a guinea pig. In providing accurate and thorough investigations of animal cruelty cases, it is important for each of the experts involved to have the appropriate level of baseline or deep expertise pertaining to the specific species they will be involved with. This knowledge of animal basics provides guidance and analysis when answering the most common questions facing investigators, law enforcement, prosecutors, animal control officers, and veterinarians responding to concerns regarding abuse or neglect of an animal. When approaching these cases, it is important to ask: “Is the appearance of the animal within normal limits? Is the diet appropriate for the age, condition, and species involved? Is the care provided meeting the basic husbandry needs of the animals and the standards set forth in the county or state code, rules, or laws?” A foundation in animal basics will guard against failures in addressing animal cruelty. This chapter will offer an introduction to animal husbandry, which is the management and care of animals and includes the areas of nutrition, sanitation, housing, and environmental requirements for some common species. We will also introduce the Five Freedoms and examine how they helped shape animal protection laws and establish the field of animal cruelty investigations.

Veterinarians possess expert knowledge about the basic needs of animals and are trained and qualified to diagnose and treat animal diseases and illnesses. Law enforcement and investigators will benefit from trainings and resources that provide basic animal knowledge to increase the effectiveness of their work and are encouraged to enlist the aid of a veterinarian who is comfortable with the species in question when working animal cruelty cases and assessing animal welfare deficiencies.

States define the word “animal” differently. In your state, companion animals may have statutory requirements from which livestock are exempt. The same is true for other species such as birds, insects, and aquatics. Know how your state defines animals and what statutes apply to them [1].