Animal Cruelty Investigations. Группа авторов

a veterinarian will aid in confirming if starvation was due to an underlying medical condition or inadequate amount of food. More information about investigating starvation cases is included in Appendix A.

3.5 Nutrition

      As pets grow or age, recover from illness, or nurse litters of offspring, their nutritional needs change with their conditions. The first response to these cases should include educating the owner about the nutritional requirements of animals and enacting a plan for bringing the conditions up to muster, if the owner's resources and the animal's conditions allow.

      While we know food is important, even vital to sustaining life, nutrition is the combination of carbohydrates, fats, fiber, minerals, proteins, and vitamins that support growth, reproduction, maintenance, and performance. The vast science of animal nutrition revolves around the livestock industry and food production where exact standards are set that will provide optimal and predictable weight gain and finishing. Although food animal nutrition is based on food production science, much information is available about the nutritional needs of all species of animals kept as pets and in zoos as well [1].

      Diet and nutrition support every basic function of the body. Today there are commercially prepared diets available for most of the animals we keep as pets, from fish and rabbits to dogs and cats. Manufactured pet and livestock food is regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) [2].

      Especially within the pet fancier's community, there is much debate about what makes an “adequate” or “high‐quality” diet, and opinions differ wildly about the best options available to owners. For the purpose of evaluating nutrition in the field, the following observations can be helpful when assessing nutritional status:

       Is the type and quantity appropriate for the species and size/age of the animal?

       Is food being offered at the appropriate frequency?

       Is it fresh and stored properly?

       Are there factors related to nutrition that need special attention (allergies, illness, age, etc.?)

       Is the animal interested in eating the food and is their body condition appropriate?

Just like human infants, juvenile animals require more frequent feedings and a more nutrient‐dense diet. Their mothers also need additional calories to support nursing and recovery (Figure 3.4). Geriatric animals or those recovering from injury or illness may need a special diet they can both tolerate and that will support their healing. They may benefit from accommodations as to how they are fed, or may need to be separated from other animals while feeding. Again, by educating the owner and monitoring compliance and progress, many of these cases can be resolved satisfactorily without the need to issue criminal citations.

Figure 3.4 Animals require additional feed and calories when pregnant or nursing offspring.

      Source: Oregon Humane Society.

3.6 Documentation

      Documentation is critical to the success of every investigation. Approach every interaction with the mindset that “if it isn't documented, it didn't happen.” This is especially important in animal cases because the victims cannot speak; therefore, they cannot testify to the level of care and treatment they received. The investigator must be able to fill in the blanks.

      Make detailed notes immediately after site inspections and interviews. When possible, record interviews so you have an exact account of what was said. Months and sometimes years will pass between the time an investigator submits a report to the courts and the day that case is heard at trial. Your notes, reports, photos, and recordings will serve you well, as you recall the facts on the witness stand.

Documentation is critical (Figure 3.5) when establishing facts about an animal's environment and access to resources like food and water. Always utilize photos and video whenever possible both to illustrate the conditions and to remind you of your findings. Make note of food in storage, the expiration dates of feed, the number of food and water bowls or troughs compared with the number of animals, the animals' demeanor when presented with food or a treat, and the body condition of the animals at issue.

      Sometimes we feel compelled to collect food and water samples for testing, especially in cases where the food and water are fouled or expired. Lab testing can determine the nutritional characteristics of a bale of hay or identify chemicals or toxins in the water supply that might render it nonpotable. Keep in mind that sample collection, storage, and submission processes can be very specific and so investigators must be trained in those procedures and have the proper equipment on hand when utilizing these diagnostics, in order for them to be of value at trial.

Figure 3.5 Documentation of the environment through accurate notes, photography, and video is a critical component of every animal cruelty investigation.

      Source: Oregon Humane Society.

3.7 Body Condition

      We have already used the term “body condition” several times in this chapter. Body condition refers to the amount of fat stores and the presence of muscling in an animal. Body condition scoring is a hands‐on procedure originally developed as a method for assessing cattle used in food production. According to the species of animal being assessed, specific points on the animal's body are felt and observed for the presence of fat. The findings are then used to assign a score to each animal, which serves as its “body condition score” (BCS). Since its development, body scoring has been applied to almost every type of livestock and pet animal, as a way to assess the body that is much more accurate than simply looking.

As you know, many animals have thick, curly, or matted hair coats, dense feather coverings or even dark colorations, which can prevent an accurate assessment of body condition by sight alone. While no one will testify that body condition scoring is a foolproof method for analyzing animal fat stores, BCS charts serve the important role of setting a standard for the ideal body condition for the species, as well as the degrees on either side of that standard ending in emaciation or obesity.

3.8 Documenting Body Condition

      It is helpful for staff conducting investigations to be trained in several species' body condition scoring methods. Knowing the bony points of an animal where fat stores are first depleted, such as the tail pins, the hip joints, and the ribs; these also serve as the key areas to observe when noticing the condition of an animal you cannot touch. It is important to make note in your reports of whether you assessed the animal using your hands or if you were unable to touch it. Here is an example of a statement regarding observations from a distance, “I was unable to enter the paddock where the horses were kept. Their coats were wet and from a 20‐foot distance I could easily count each horse's ribs and the tail pins were prominent on all four horses.”

Be sure you are documenting body condition according to the standard and not compared with other animals on the property. Universities around the country have published body condition scales, which are available online.