Читать книгу Animal Cruelty Investigations - Группа авторов - Страница 145

Linda Fielder

Cases of animal neglect and abuse may originate with the anonymous report of an owner kicking their dog at the park, or a call of concern for an emaciated cat the next‐door neighbor sees from their window. A veterinarian may report an owner's failure to provide essential medical care for a horse with severe dental issues, or an appliance repair technician may call upon finding birds in horrendous conditions during a service call to the home of an animal hoarder.

Regardless of where a report originates, the resulting investigation is guided by the knowledge of the basic needs of animals, and the application of that knowledge to the animal and its surroundings.

Animal cruelty investigations are often compared to homicide cases because of one important shared element: the victim cannot speak as a witness to the crime. Because of this, the investigator shoulders the responsibility of assembling the evidence thoroughly and precisely, through use of all his senses, through photographs and documentation, research, and interviews to piece together the elements of the crime and work the case through from report to resolution.