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ASPCA vet offers insight into forensic veterinary science

Posted on March 13, 2017 by alexb2448

This vintage typwriter is our featured image.

Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic

Sometimes, the most interesting information on the Internet can be found in another blog. So when I came across this Q&A on the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) website, I thought it was definitely worth sharing.

In the post, the ASPCA’s director of veterinary forensics shared a glimpse into the world of forensic veterinary science and explained its importance.

Animal CSI

I suppose you could think of it as crime scene investigation in animal cruelty and similar cases. Of course, that’s not what Dr. Rachel Touroo said. But I think it’s the best way to sum up what she does.

Here’s how she explained it.

“A Forensic Veterinarian’s job is to identify, collect and assess evidence from animals and their environment. I use veterinary medical knowledge to put together the pieces of a puzzle to try to answer the questions asked of me by law enforcement and the courts in an unbiased and objective manner.”

Because her responsibilities are so varied, Touroo said she faces different challenges every day. One day she might be in the lab, the next day she might be in the field and the day after that she might be teaching.

“Frequently, I can also be found in my office drafting a forensic veterinary statement of my findings from the latest case, or in a classroom teaching third-year veterinary students how to look for signs of intentional cruelty,” Touroo said. “I’m also called upon to testify as an expert witness in cases across the country.”

Rewarding and important work

Touroo has a background in “animal welfare” and got involved in forensic veterinary science when she took a brand new job in Virginia. As she recalls, the state needed a veterinarian to “specifically address puppy mills and animal fighting in the state due to recent undercover puppy mill investigations and a highly publicized dog fighting case.”

“I had no idea what veterinary forensic sciences was when I accepted the position, but I quickly found myself immersed in the discipline,” Touroo said.

For Touroo, the work is rewarding and important. Citing the link between violence committed against animals with violence committed against people, Touroo says by doing her job properly she can not only prevent further cruelty to animals but keep people safe, too.

“While I love what I do, it is disheartening to know this job is necessary. I choose to focus on the impact we have and the positive outcomes. It’s incredibly uplifting to see an animal rescued from abuse and neglect find a loving home,” Touroo says. “If I had my way, I would put myself out of work, but until that time comes, I’m proud to be a voice for these victims.”

Good news about animal adoption from the ASPCA

Posted on March 10, 2017 by alexb2448

We’ve all seen them. In fact it seems like they flash across our TV screens all too often. It’s hard to ignore those heartbreaking images of abused and neglected dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.

We’ve all heard the pleas from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and similar animal rescue groups. Make a donation. Sponsor a pet. Adopt don’t buy. Do the right thing.

But recently the ASPCA shared some good news on TODAY. People across the country are actually heeding the call. They’re doing the right thing.

More new homes, fewer deaths for shelter animals

New ASPCA data reveals that the number of dogs and cats that end up in U.S. shelters has dropped significantly in the past six years. Specifically, the animal welfare organization says the number of dogs and cats American shelters is approximately 6.5 million (3.3 million dogs and 3.2 million cats). Back in 2011, the total number of dogs and cats in American shelters was roughly 7.2 million.

Cute Kitten, courtesy of FURRR 911. Photo by A. Bogdanovic — Bolt, a kitten rescued by FURRR 911, at Puttin’ On The Dog & Cats, Too 2016. Photo by A. Bogdanovic

The good news doesn’t end there, however.

More people are adopting pets from shelters now than they did six years ago. The ASPCA estimates that 3.2 million dogs and cats are now adopted from shelters each year, as opposed to 2.7 million in 2011.

Better yet, fewer shelter are animals are being euthanized. The ASPCA’s data analysis back in 2011 revealed that 2.7 million unclaimed shelter animals were killed each year. Today the annual death toll stands at roughly 1.5 million.

Finally, the ASPCA says, more “lost” pets that end up in shelters are reunited with their rightful owners today than in the past (approximately 710,000 per year now as compared to 649,000 in 2011).

Awareness plus action equals success

The ASPCA attributes the success to:

A significant change in the way Americans view companion animals
Changes in adoption procedures
Changes in certain laws
Changes in technology
Greater availability of affordable spay/neuter clinics
More assistance for people who struggle to care for their pets

Pet ownership is a responsibility, not a right

Clearly the reduction in the number of euthanized shelter animals is a huge step in the right direction. But there is still a long way to go until we get to the point where there are no needless deaths.

Finding a humane way to curb the feral animal population in the United States is also an ongoing concern.

In order to address both issues, people must realize that pet ownership is a responsibility. It is not a right. No one is entitled to have a dog, cat, puppy or kitten. In fact, there are some people who should never have dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, or any other pets, for that matter.

Companion animals rely on people for food, shelter, medical care, and most importantly, love. Providing all of that is a tremendous responsibility. But it’s worth it.

Federal appeals court sides with New York City on pet law

Posted on March 8, 2017 by alexb2448

By siding with New York City regarding a 2015 law that restricts pet sales, the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals took a big step towards protecting dogs, cats and their owners.

Eli, the In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot. — In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot Eli catching up on the latest news. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic

According to recent reports, the law opposed by the New York Pet Welfare Association “said pet shops could only obtain dogs and cats from federally licensed breeders with clean recent animal welfare records, and could not sell dogs and cats at least eight weeks old and weighing two pounds unless they were sterilized.”

Proponents say the law promotes the sale of healthy dogs and cats. By stipulating that pets are spayed or neutered before they are sold, it helps ensure that they don’t add to the number of unwanted dogs and cats in the city by having puppies and kittens.

Two for two

The New York Pet Welfare Association (NYPWA) — which represents those most affected by the measure — has voiced strenuous objections, however. Specifically, it claims the 2015 law “unconstitutionally burdened commerce by favoring in-state animal rescuers and shelters over out-of-state breeders, and was pre-empted by state veterinary medicine laws.”

At the end of a 29-page document in which he summarized and analyzed the arguments made by both parties, Judge Edward Korman found the New York Pet Welfare Association’s claims lack merit.

“The Sourcing and Spay/Neuter Laws address problems of significant
importance to the City and its residents. It appears that the City has enforced them for more than a year, with no apparent ill effects,” Korman wrote. “Because the challenged laws are not preempted by either state or federal law, and do not offend the Commerce Clause, we Affirm the district court’s order dismissing NYPWA’s complaint.”

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York also sided with the city in a ruling issued two years ago.

Undaunted, the NYPWA is now considering another appeal. In the meantime, as a spokesman for New York City’s Law Department told the New York media, proponents are savoring their second victory.

“We are pleased that the court upheld this common sense legislation, which helps ensure that cats and dogs are humanely sourced and that consumers can make informed choices when bringing pets into their homes,” Nick Paolucci told Reuters.

This New York law is for the dogs (and cats)

Posted on March 1, 2017February 28, 2017 by alexb2448

Technically it’s not a law… yet. At this point, it’s still a proposed law, or more accurately a bill.

Some say that it has little chance of being passed. I say it will be a horrible injustice if it doesn’t.

The legislation that I’m referring to is called “Kirby and Quigley’s Law,” and it would punish anyone who hurts or kills a companion animal during the commission of another crime. Punishment upon conviction would be a $5,000 fine and two years behind bars in addition to incarceration for the original crime.

‘Poster pups’

According to media accounts, Denise Krohn, whose dogs were shot and killed when someone burglarized her home last year, “hopes to gain some measure of justice by making her pets the poster pups” for the bill.

“It’s just not right,” Krohn told the New York media. “I don’t care about the TVs and other stuff. What hurts us every day is losing our dogs.”

What makes matters worse for Krohn is knowing that the perpetrator(s) will likely go unpunished for killing her dogs as things now stand. As the police working the case reportedly told her, “if someone is caught, they would likely get 25 years in jail for burglary, but no additional punishment for killing the dogs.”

On the other hand, if “Kirby and Quigley’s Law” does pass, experts that spoke with the New York media said it would become “one of the toughest animal-cruelty charges” in the United States.

Jim Tedisco is the New York state senator who introduced the legislation in 2012 — long before the burglars that targeted Krohn’s home killed her dogs. His impetus for doing so was another case, in which drug smugglers used dogs to move their product. Although the perpetrators in that case were ultimately convicted on drug charges, they were never charged with animal cruelty.

“Attorneys said it had nothing to do with cruelty, they were just smuggling heroin,” Tedisco told News 4 New York. “What this bill does is make it clear that if you harm a companion animal while committing another crime, you face an additional penalty.”

A reluctant advocate

Passage of the bill is hardly a slam dunk. Critics, including State Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, say it is unnecessary. Existing cruelty laws are sufficient, they maintain.

Krohn begs to differ. She’s reportedly written numerous letters to state lawmakers — and the retired teacher vows to keep it up until “Kirby and Quigley’s Law” becomes a reality.

“I never thought of myself as an animal activist,” she said. “I just want to do what’s right.”

Cats crash the party at Westminster Dog Show

Posted on February 20, 2017February 19, 2017 by alexb2448

Yes, this is probably old news by now. But I think it is such a significant development that it bears repeating. The domestic cats’ plans for world domination is finally coming to fruition.

Seriously.

How do I know?

Simple. In an unprecedented feat, a bunch of cats just participated in an agility competition — at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

“For the first time, felines sidled up to the nation’s premier dog show, as part of an informational companion event showcasing various breeds of both species. It included a cat agility demonstration contest, while more than 300 of the nation’s top agility dogs vied in a more formal competition,” a Connecticut-based NBC TV affiliate reported.

Cat agility at dog show yields mixed reaction

Apparently, this did not sit well with some dog lovers. To Hannah Naiburg of Milford, Conn., for example, the whole situation was just “so weird.”

Personally, I think anyone willing to enter their dog in an agility competition could show a little more flexibility. And some of them did.

Tina Ackerman of Goffstown, N.H., was perfectly fine with the idea of cats participating in agility competitions. Just as long as it’s not her cat.

“Good for them,” she said. “There’s no way we could ever have trained any of our cats to do agility.”

And the winner is…

When all was said and done, a rookie named Bemisu won the feline agility competition. And apparently, it only took her about half-an-hour to learn the ropes.

“I had no idea she would learn so fast,” said her owner Blake Gipson, who also has a pit bull. “She’s smarter than I ever gave her credit for.”

Bemisu’s success didn’t come as a surprise to Vickie Shields, who “helped organize cat agility as a sport” 14 years ago.

Contrary to popular belief, cats aren’t loners, Shields said. And because many cats enjoy chasing toys, training is also easier than most people think, she added.

It all depends on the cat

It’s a good point. After all, even house cats are predators. Their innate need to chase their prey is often manifested as “play.” So it makes sense that some cats enjoy chasing toys on an agility course.

However, I disagree with something else Shields said. She maintained that most cats “are often more motivated by chasing toys than getting treats.” I say it all depends on the cat. And I speak from experience.

When I first got Eli back in February 2008, he was obsessed with food. He was such a glutton that he would wolf everything down within a couple of minutes after I put it down. So in order to teach him patience and discipline, I taught him to sit.

You heard me. I taught my cat to sit.

Here’s how I did it: Whenever I put food on his saucer at mealtime, I told him to come and when I had his attention I held the saucer up in the air, so he had to look up at it. As he did, he naturally ended up in a sitting position. I reinforced all of this by saying “sit.” So he eventually learned to associate the word and his behavior with being fed. And the rest is history.

Today Eli sits on command (when he feels like it). He also comes when he’s called (when it suits him). He meets me at the door (sometimes). He also sleeps on my bed.

Yes, Eli is a very doglike cat. But he is a cat. And he’s awesome.

Animal law roundup

Posted on February 13, 2017 by alexb2448

At a time when most Americans view companion animals as family members, authorities are cracking down on people engaged in any unscrupulous activities that are harmful to dogs and cats.

Just recently, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced sanctions against a former Westchester County pet shop owner. Schneiderman’s office has been investigating the man, Richard Doyle, for more than a year and determined that he “sold animals that had serious medical issues, despite claims of being healthy.”

As a result, Doyle can no longer sell pets in New York state. Furthermore, he must surrender all licenses associated with the sales of animals and pay $20,000 in fines. According to media accounts, customers that bought sick animals from Doyle will get most of the money.

“Disturbing cases like these reaffirm my commitment to encouraging those in search of a new pet to adopt from a local shelter, rather than purchasing an animal. This gives an animal in need a home, and gives the consumer the peace of mind that they are receiving a healthy pet,” Schneiderman said.

The Connecticut connection

In an unrelated case, Doyle pleaded guilty to five counts of animal cruelty in Connecticut. The charges reportedly stemmed from arrests at his pet store in Danbury, where he was accused of “of illegally performing surgery on and failing to provide proper care for ill animals.”

As a result, he is also banned from having “any affiliation” with pet stores or animal rescue shelters there for three years.

More than 70 dogs confiscated from NJ pet store

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the SPCA confiscated more than 70 dogs from an East Hanover pet store where the owner “allegedly failed to provide records and veterinary care for the dogs.”

The owner, identified as Vincent LoSacco in published reports, is now in trouble with the town health department in addition to being investigated by the state attorney general’s office.

In addition to the East Hanover shop, authorities have reportedly closed two of LoSacco’s pet stores in New Jersey and one in New York.

As nbcnewyork.com reports, one of the New Jersey locations closed after LoSacco was charged with 267 counts of animal cruelty late last February. The other “had also been the target of investigations and complaints.”

Courts beginning to view pets as more than property

Posted on January 27, 2017 by alexb2448

When it comes to an animal’s status under U.S. law, there seems to be little, if any room for debate. Legally, an animal is property… and that’s that. Or is it?

According to recent reports, a recent change to Alaskan divorce laws may herald a significant shift in the way courts treat our pets — or more accurately, how they decide who gets custody of the pet(s) when a marriage ends.

Alaskan divorce courts are now the first in the country where courts must consider “the well-being of the animal” while determining custody. The amendment to the state’s divorce laws also permit judges to order joint custody of the pet(s).

“It is significant,” David Favre, a Michigan State University law professor who specializes in animal law, told The Washington Post. “For the first time, a state has specifically said that a companion animal has visibility in a divorce proceeding beyond that of property — that the court may award custody on the basis of what is best for the dog, not the human owners.”

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), a staunch advocate of such measures, concurs.

“Even though judges throughout the US can already choose, in their discretion, to consider an animal’s best interests, no other state legislature has required judges to do so when adjudicating property distribution upon the dissolution of a marriage,” the organization said in a recent blog.

And to the lawmaker who sponsored the bill, it’s simply common sense. As long as people think of their pets as family, the courts should treat them accordingly, she says.

“Pets are truly members of our families,” Rep. Liz Vasquez says. We care for them as more than just property. As such, the courts should grant them more consideration. It’s only natural.”

Additional changes to Alaska laws that just took effect “allow companion animals to be included in domestic violence protective orders, and permits a court to order that the abuser pay financial support for a pet in the care of the human victim, if that abuser has a legal obligation to care for the pet.”

For pet owners, this is a matter of life and death

Posted on January 25, 2017January 25, 2017 by alexb2448

As many of you know, Eli, my best friend and the mascot here at In Brief Legal Writing Services, had a couple of health scares last year. In fact, it was roughly a year ago this week that he had surgery to remove a small (and thank goodness relatively benign) growth on his back.

With that being stated, I am happy (and relieved) to report that Eli’s most recent vet visit (for his annual checkup and shots) resulted in a clean bill of health. You see, I love him more than life. And even though he’s 11 and I know he won’t live forever, the thought of him getting really sick scares me to death.

And frankly so does this.

According to a recent CNN report, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has announced that certain skin cancer creams that prevent or fight the disease in people can be lethal for our pets. Specifically, the FDA is warning the public about creams that contain fluorouracil or 5-FU. Common brand names are Carac, Efudex and Fluoroplex.

The FDA issued the warning after learning about five cases in which animals died after swallowing the cream.

“In one case, a playful dog punctured a tube of fluorouracil cream. Within two hours, the animal began vomiting, experienced seizures and died 12 hours later,” CNN reports. “In another case, a dog ingested a tube of the cream. Though the owner rushed the dog to a veterinarian, who immediately began to treat the animal, the dog’s condition worsened and after three days, the owner deemed it necessary to euthanize the pet.”

Because even a small amount can be deadly, experts are advising pet owners to store the cream in a place where their animals can’t get at it, and to discard it properly when it’s no longer needed.

Additional precautions are warranted. Specifically, the FDA recommends “patients safely discard or clean any cloths or applicators used when applying the cream.” The agency stresses that “it’s also important to make sure clothes, carpets, floors and furniture contain no creamy residue. Hands must also be cleaned after using the cream.”

Most importantly, experts urge pet owners who must use cream containing fluorouracil to avoid contact with their pets after they’ve applied the medicine. This is especially crucial for dog owners, whose animals are likely to lick the areas where the cream is typically applied.

“Immediately consult a veterinarian if a pet becomes exposed to the medicine or begins to vomit, have seizures or show other signs of illness,” the FDA warned.

By hurting animals to get drugs, addicts hit a new low

Posted on January 23, 2017 by alexb2448

Just when I thought I’d heard (and seen) it all, this is a new low.

According to published reports, veterinarians in upstate New York are voicing alarm about cases in which pet owners deliberately hurt their animals in order to get painkillers.

“There’s unfortunately always the risk of abuse with any of these medications, and it’s a sad reality we have to be aware of,” veterinarian Lexi Becker told an NBC TV affiliate.

When it comes to Tramadol, Becker definitely has cause for concern. Although it is generally used to treat discomfort in dogs and cats suffering from arthritis, it also appeals to people with certain proclivities. Because it’s cheaper than Oxycodone, some addicts will stop at nothing in order to get their hands on it.

As a result, New York State lawmakers have created strict rules with regards to prescriptions.

“There’s a new regulation that came out in January of this year for New York State that basically restricts how long you can prescribe it initially, so there’s only a seven-day course that you can initially prescribe,” Becker said.
Veterinarians also take certain precautions when prescribing Tramadol, Becker told News 10.

“We are very, very strict about following the rules as to how quickly they can have a refill,” she said. “We will only give certain amounts of refills. We’ll only give how much the patient should be receiving.

Concern about Tramadol abuse are hardly limited to New York, however.

As the New York Post reports, Oregon authorities “seized 100,000 tramadol pills and rescued 17 dogs living in conditions so squalid, there were dead rats in their drinking water” in a raid outside Portland in 2016.

Police also made four arrests in the case. While the suspects “claimed to be breeding AKC-registered puppies,” police believe they were actually “running a thinly disguised opioid distribution ring.”

If so, it may well be the largest operation of its kind involving dogs, The Post reports.

Smaller cases are just as disturbing — if not more so. For example, the suspect in a Kentucky case was arrested and charged with “using a disposable razor to slice open the leg of her 4-year-old retriever on two separate occasions to get her hands on tramadol,” The Post reports.

Chad Bailey, the veterinarian who initially treated the suspect’s dog, said he had a gut feeling something was amiss when the owner quickly requested a refill.

“What’s scary is it took me two times to pick up on what was happening,” Bailey told The Post. “It worries me about the instances we miss.”

Yes, there’s protective custody for pets, too

Posted on January 20, 2017 by alexb2448

In a recent article, Martinsville Bulletin reporter Amie Knowles posed an interesting and important question.

“When pet owners are arrested, what happens to their pets?”

In Martinsville (Virginia), the issue surfaced when police arrested the owner of a dog and six cats on drug charges — and her house got condemned.

“In this particular case, Martinsville building officials condemned Roknich’s house due to ingress/egress and sanitation issues” after authorities executed a search warrant there, the Bulletin reported.

“With the owner taken into custody and the house being condemned, we didn’t feel it was safe to leave the pets there,” Martinsville Police Chief Sean Dunn said.

They ended up at the pound, instead. At least, the dog did. The cats went to the local SPCA.

SPCA of Martinsville-Henry County Executive Director Nichole Harris told the Bulletin that all six cats, which are being housed at the shelter, appear to be doing well.

“The pound’s not really set up to house felines,” Harris said, while the SPCA had available space.

Although they ended up in different places, all of the animals will receive the medical care and attention they need.

According to Dunn, the facilities will provide short-term care for the animals’ food and medical costs could be at the owner’s expense if arrangements are not quickly made. He also encouraged her friends or relatives to inquire about the pets and take them in if possible.

“We provide custody holds until something is facilitated,” Harris told the Bulletin. There’s no limit on how long the SPCA will provide a custody hold for an animal, he added.

“Especially if it’s an investigated case, it might take three or four months depending on court dates and if there’s a continuation,” Harris said. “It’s been four or five months before.”