Join us for our webinar series on the Foundations of Forensics
Leaders in their fields will cover four of the facets in the IVFSA mission: animal investigations, clinical veterinary forensics, veterinary forensic pathology, and jurisprudence. If you're just breaking into forensics or needing a refresher of the basics, these subject matter experts will provide the information you need.
Register for one session or all four. But do so soon, because space is limited.
All sessions will be live at 7pm Eastern/4pm Pacific. Sessions will be recorded and made available to registrants.
The Basics of Animal Cruelty Forensic Investigations (archived video) - Linda Fielder, CAWA, Animal Legal Defense Fund, and Brad Nichols, Calgary Humane Society
Ever curious how a file proceeds from report to charge? Two North American field experts in the area of Animal Protection take you through an investigation from start to finish, highlighting forensic opportunities along the way.
17 October - The Silent Witness: Identifying and Documenting Signs of Animal Abuse in the Clinical Patient - Martha Smith-Blackmore, DVM, Forensic Veterinary Investigations
This one-hour introductory session is designed for veterinarians who wish to start enhancing their skills in recognizing and documenting suspected cases of animal cruelty. In this session, we will cover the essential role veterinarians play as advocates for animals experiencing non-accidental injury. Participants will gain an overview of how to conduct thorough clinical examinations and detailed documentation for suspected abuse cases.
21 November - Veterinary Forensic Pathology - Jason Brooks, VMD DACVP, Penn State University
This session will introduce attendees to concepts in general forensic pathology and why they are relevant to the investigation of animal crimes. Topics will include the basic procedure for performing a veterinary forensic necropsy, handling evidence in the clinic/laboratory, writing the autopsy report, and communicating results with relevant parties. Procedures will frequently refer to published standards, specifically ANSI/ASB Standard 170 - Standard for Veterinary Forensic Postmortem Examination.
19 December - Jurisprudence - Diane Balkin, J.D., Ret. Denver Chief Deputy District Attorney; Ret. Staff Attorney ALDF Criminal Justice Program
This presentation will introduce the attendees to legal considerations in crimes against animals including an overview of animal cruelty laws and how to better navigate the criminal justice system. In this session, we will cover the importance of filing criminal charges, charging decisions and what to expect in and out of court including tips about testifying and potential situations to embrace or avoid.