Forensic Veterinary Technology Proves Animal Cruelty Cases

Had you thought that CSI technology was only useful for human targeted crimes? Well, the good news is that it is also useful in convicting abusers of animals. And these innocent victims can’t testify against their abusers. Luckily, the evidence can.

Here’s an article in the Wall Street Journal that tells how investigators are using CSI science to track down and convict these jerks who hurt animals. Here’s a short excerpt:

“I have to be the voice. I have to be the voice of the animal,” Merck explains. “It is very much just like ‘CSI,’ except our victims cannot testify,” Merck says.

DNA, she tells Turner, is her most powerful tool in working on possible abuse cases.

“You can’t refute DNA,” Merck says.

But if there’s no DNA evidence at a crime scene, Merck can comb an animal’s fur for clues.

“This is really important,” Merck says, “because animals shed, so whoever has contact with that animal, that fur is going to end up on something from them.”

So,” Turner said, “if they say, ‘I’ve never even seen this animal,’ you can use (the animal) hair to match up with hair in their environment.”

“Evidence doesn’t lie,” Merck agreed with Turner.

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