Large Animal Cruelty Investigation Training Animal Cruelty Investigation Flow Chart

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Large Animal Cruelty Investigation
TrainingAnimal Cruelty Investigation Flow Chart

• Floron C. Faries, Jr., DVM, MS
• Professor and Extension Program Leader for
  Veterinary Medicine
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas AM System

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Initial Observation of Animals
1. Are dead animals present? Yes Consult a
local veterinarian for assistance. No Go to
step 2. 2. Are ALL animals in abnormal physical
condition?
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Initial Observation of Animals
1. Are dead animals present? Yes Consult a
local veterinarian for assistance. No Go to
step 2. 2. Are ALL animals in abnormal physical
condition?
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Physical Examination of Animals

• Movement
• inability to rise
• slow to rise
• swaying walk
• crippled walk
• Behavior
• drooped head, ears
• pawing
• despondent

• Feet
• excessively long hooves
• foot infections
• joint, leg swelling
• Skin
• rough, dry hair coat
• excessive hair loss

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Physical Examination contd

• Appearance
• gaunt, drawn appearance
• lack of body fat
• wound(s) with drainage and odor
• open mouth breathing
• excessive coughing
• Discharges
• nasal discharge
• eyes tearing
• profuse watery diarrhea

• Vital Signs
• pale mucous membranes
• elevated body temperature,
• respiratory rate, heart rate
• slow capillary and jugular refill

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Initial Observation of Animals
1. Are dead animals present? Yes Consult a
local veterinarian for assistance. No Go to
step 2. 2. Are ALL animals in abnormal physical
condition?
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Initial Observation of Animals contd

• Yes Proceed to step 3.
• No But some animals appear abnormal and
• others normal. Consult a local veterinarian
  for assistance.

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Some Abnormal Animals

• Status
• Are thin animals old?
• Are thin animals lactating?
• Are thin animals being overworked?
• Are newborn animals not nursing?

• Causes
• infectious diseases
• metabolic disorders
• parasitic infestations and infections
• intoxications

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Initial Observation of Animals
1. Are dead animals present? Yes Consult a
local veterinarian for assistance. No Go to
step 2. 2. Are ALL animals in abnormal physical
condition?
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Initial Observation of Animals contd

• Yes Proceed to step 3.
• No But some animals appear abnormal and
• others normal. Consult a local veterinarian
  for assistance.

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All Abnormal Animals

• 3. Are abnormal environmental conditions present?
• Note If such conditions are present and animals
  are required to live for a prolonged period of
  time therein, such could constitute cruelty.

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Evaluate Environmental Conditions

• Facilities
• lack of shelter from sun, cold, wind
• no access to sunlight
• ongoing muddy conditions
• absence of drinking water
• Space
• confined, close quarters without ventilation
• overcrowding
• small space confinement

• Sanitation
• accumulated animal excrement
• an excessive foul odor from excrement or
  carcasses
• accumulated rodent excrement

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All Abnormal Animals

• 3. Are abnormal environmental conditions present?
• Note If such conditions are present and animals
  are required to live for a prolonged period of
  time therein, such could constitute cruelty.

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• Yes Consult a local veterinarian for assistance.
• No Go to step 4.

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All Abnormal Animals

• 4. All animals in the group exhibit abnormal
  physical condition but do not appear to be
  subject to abnormal environmental conditions.
• Note Failure to provide an adequate supply of
  drinking water constitutes animal cruelty.
  
• Note Feeding thin/unthrifty animals at less than
  maintenance levels constitutes animal
  cruelty.

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All Abnormal Animals

• 4a. Consider dehydration Is acceptable drinking
  
• water present?
• Yes Move on to step 4b.
• No If possible, do the "skin pinch" test to
  confirm dehydration. Consult a local
  veterinarian for assistance.

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All Abnormal Animals

• 4b. Consider malnutrition Is forage and/or
  feed
• available in sufficient quantity?
• Yes Go to step 5.
• No Evaluate pasture/feed situation. Consult a
  local veterinarian for assistance.

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Evaluate Pasture

• accessible ground is bare
• no grass is available
• a browse line is apparent on the trees/shrubs
• bark is missing from trees/fence posts
• most exposed wood is gnawed

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• Note The animals without pasture grass must be
  offered hay and possibly supplemental feed
• (ex. grain, pellets, cubes, textured feed,
  sacked feed, etc).

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Evaluate Feeding Containers

• Are racks, troughs, pans, buckets and tubs
  present?
• Is there evidence they are frequently used?
• Are they clean?
• Saliva in the trough indicates hungry animals.
• Is there evidence that hay is being fed?
• Horse at least 1lb hay/100 lb body weight
  daily
• Cow at least 1lb hay/100 lb body weight daily

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All Animals Abnormal

• 4b. Is forage and/or feed available in
  sufficient
• quantity?
• Yes Go to step 5.
• No Evaluate pasture/feed situation. Consult a
  local veterinarian for assistance.

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All Animals Abnormal

• 5. If water and food are provided in ample
  quantities and the animals do not appear to be
  subject to abnormal environmental conditions,
  remaining possibilities include infectious
  diseases, plant toxins or chemical toxins.
• Consult a local veterinarian for assistance.

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Record

• Local Veterinarian ______________________________
  __
• Phone _____________________
• Date__________________
  Time_________________
• Location__________________________________________
  
• Animal species____________________________________
  _
• Conclusion________________________________________
  
• Action____________________________________________