A Litigation Article from All-Creatures.org

Veterinary Forensics Conference Highlights The Link Between Human and Animal Abuse

From The National Link Coalition
July 2024

Twenty-one featured speakers presented information over three days that will be valuable to veterinarians, investigators and prosecuting attorneys. Plans are already underway for additional animal forensic conferences in 2025 and 2026. “The whole long-term thing is to really get justice for animals and prevent future animals and even people from being victims,” Stern said.

The relationship between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence is very significant,” said Adam Stern, in describing to Gainesville, Fl station WUFT the results of the University of Florida’s first Animal Forensic Investigations Conference. More than 140 veterinarians, attorneys, law enforcement officials and students gathered to discuss the latest investigative research and share their skills with a wider audience.

Stern, a professor of forensic pathology at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and the director of the International Society for Animal Forensic Studies, emphasized how animal cruelty investigations should be treated with the same care and practice as those for human crimes. The purpose of the conference was to spread this idea and provide professionals with the tools needed o bring animal cruelty perpetrators to justice.

“We’re trying to break down those barriers and show everybody that they do have the skills,” Stern said, “Sometimes they need to learn a few new things because it is different. But everybody is able to investigate.

Twenty-one featured speakers presented information over three days that will be valuable to veterinarians, investigators and prosecuting attorneys. Plans are already underway for additional animal forensic conferences in 2025 and 2026. “The whole long-term thing is to really get justice for animals and prevent future animals and even people from being victims,” Stern said.

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Posted on All-Creatures: July 9, 2024
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