Veterinarians and legal experts meet to discuss ways to treat and prevent cases of animal abuse

BATON ROUGE – Animal abuse cases have made headlines in recent months. Today an unusual mix of vets and lawyers gathered to discuss ways to prevent and prosecute these types of crimes.

Sadly, cases of animal torture, fatal neglect, and the use of animals in bloodthirsty sports are frequent complaints in southern Louisiana. Officials say they are not getting the attention they deserve.

Animal shelters in our community certainly see animals that have been abused,” said Dr. Wendy Wolfson, assistant professor at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. “Some of these cases end up in vet school.”

Vets like Dr Wolfson say those who harm animals face the consequences. However, they need the cooperation of prosecutors.

“Today’s veterinary message is that prosecutors identify well-trained forensic veterinarians and find veterinary schools that train students to also help identify cruelty,” Wolfson said.

Dr Herman Soong, assistant professor of psychiatry at Tulane University, says most animal abuse is committed by someone with a mental disorder. Soong claims that animals are often the first victims of people who become rapists and killers.

“Assessing the mental health of the offender, whether abusing animals or humans, is necessary for prosecution with the intervention of therapy and treatment,” said Dr Soong.

Cases of animal torture, dog fighting and heartbreaking neglect are frequently reported to authorities. A recent case led to the arrest of a Zachary police officer after two dogs were found dead in the trailer he had abandoned weeks before.

Forensic scientists at the veterinary school are working to determine how these animals died.

“Our Louisiana diagnostic lab that’s here at the school is very helpful,” Wolfson said. “We have a medical examiner who is involved in these cases.”

“Crimes against animals, historically, have not been tracked at all,” said David Rosengard, attorney general of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. “In fact, a few decades ago many animal crimes went unaccounted for or investigated.”

Rosengard says much remains to be done to protect animals and prosecute those who harm them.

“I can’t necessarily look at a cow and tell you if that cow is in pain, but a vet can,” Rosengard said. “I can’t necessarily read an interview with an accused and say that person has a mental health problem, but a psychologist can. Therefore, lawyers can approach these practitioners and help them educate them. So when they encounter this in their work, they see injured animals and they can be aware of the signs. “

The conference ends tomorrow and includes a discussion of cockfighting, which was legal in Louisiana until 2008.

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