CSI: Doctor Detective

Veterinarians, with their unique animal anatomy and pathology knowledge, have the skill to help identify abnormalities and cause of injury in the furry beasts that we share our homes and hearts with. Our skills extend beyond  preventing disease, caring for the ill and improving quality of life: they are applicable to finding causes of death.  We can help law enforcement identify whether or not a crime has been committed by proper evaluation and  collection of evidence in both live animals and in cases resulting in animal deaths through careful steps of an necropsy (also known as autopsy, which many veterinarians perform upon client request), providing an important tool in animal abuse prosecution. Additional education and certification is available for veterinarians who are interested in becoming experts in this emerging field. 


Another area of animal crime involves trade of endangered and protected species, or their body parts.   NPR introduces a little ditty about a crime investigation lab in Oregon, that gets to figure out who that fancy purse really belongs to....