Читать книгу Animal Cruelty Investigations - Группа авторов - Страница 125

Every investigation is more comprehensive and able to withstand examination by the defense when it employs the skills and expertise of all the practitioners for whom this book is written. The law enforcement professional utilizes their skills of interviewing suspects and witnesses, identifying evidence, and noticing and documenting conditions relevant to the investigation. Veterinarians are valuable when assessing the crime scene. They also provide clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating victim animals and are qualified to explain how the animal experienced pain, what intervention or actions may have changed its condition, and how the investigator's findings were relevant. Animal welfare and shelter professionals may offer resources to owners that prevent an animal from suffering and eliminate the need for a criminal citation. They can also provide excellent environments for victim animals to heal and rehabilitate and keep accurate records around all aspects of those animals' care and movement. The prosecutor applies the laws of the state to the facts of the crime report and the supporting evidence and documentation that comprises the case file and makes the best possible use of witnesses when the case proceeds to the courtroom. When all the professionals involved are using their skills and training together, they support each other in the process of moving a case along from the scene of the crime to the trial.

Figure 3.1 The shelter pictured here does little to provide protection from the elements.

Source: Oregon Humane Society.