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INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY FORENSIC SCIENCES ASSOCIATION

10th Annual ConferenceA multidisciplinary approach to combating animal cruelty

CONFERENCE AGENDA

May 16th – 18th, 2017 The Westin at Times Square

New York City


Executive Officers

President

Rachel Touroo, DVM Senior Director of Veterinary Forensic Sciences ASPCA®

President-Elect

Susan Underkoffler, MFS Wildlife Forensic Sciences Program Director Maples Center for Forensic Medicine University of Florida College of Medicine

Treasurer

Adam Leath, BS Southeast Regional Director Field Investigations and Response ASPCA

Secretary

Jason H. Byrd, PhD Associate Professor and Associate Director Maples Center for Forensic Medicine University of Florida College of Medicine

Student Representatives

Jessica Hvozdovich Maples Center for Forensic Medicine University of Florida

Kelly Jones Tufts University

Immediate Past-President

Amanda Fitch, MS, CCSA Forensic Analyst ASPCA

Board of Directors

Jason Brooks, VMD, PhD, Diplomate ACVP Clinical Assistant Professor, Animal Diagnostic Laboratory The Pennsylvania State University

David Jebens, DVM

Adam Leath, BS Southeast Regional Director Field Investigations and Response ASPCA

Patricia Norris, DVM

Robert Reisman, DVM Forensic Sciences Supervisor ASPCA

Sean McDonough, DVM Department of Biomedical Sciences Cornell University

Rachel Touroo, DVM Senior Director of Veterinary Forensic Sciences ASPCA

Member-at-Large

Tabitha Viner, DVM Supervisory Veterinary Pathologist National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab

International Members

Daniel Almeida, MV, MS Assistant Professor of Anesthesia Veterinary Medical Center University of Minnesota, CVM

Vicki Lomax, BVSc Australia

Student Representatives

Jessica Hvozdovich Maples Center for Forensic Medicine University of Florida

Kelly Jones Tufts University

Past Presidents

Amanda Fitch 2015-2016

Mike Duffey 2014-2015

Jason Byrd, PhD 2013-2014

Diane Balkin, Esq. 2012-2013

Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, PhD 2011-2012

Ken Cohrn, DDS 2009-2011

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPTrace Evidence in Animal Abuse Cases

MONDAY, MAY 15Skip Palenik, Presenter

TIME

8:00 – 8:30 AM

8:30 – 9:30 AM

9:30 – 9:40 AM

9:40 – 10:40 AM

10:40 – 10:50 AM

10:50 – 11:50 AM

11:50 AM – 1:30 PM

1:30 – 2:30 PM

2:30 – 2:40 PM

2:40 – 3:40 PM

3:40 – 3:50 PM

3:50 – 4:50 PM

TITLE

Registration

Introduction: What is trace evidence, how should it be collected and what can we do with it in the laboratory?

BREAK

Dust, Soil and Plant Particles: Particle collection and analysis and what we can learn from “matter in the wrong place.”

BREAK

Unknown Solids, Liquids and Volatiles: Identification, collection and the types of answers they can provide.

LUNCH

Firearms Discharge: What can trace evidence analysis tell us about guns, bullets and residues associated with them?

BREAK

Hair and Fibers: Identification, comparisons and what we can learn through laboratory analysis.

BREAK

Case Examples and Discussion

TIME

7:30 – 8:30 AM

8:00 – 8:30 AM

8:30 – 8:40 AM

8:40 – 8:50 AM

8:50 – 9:30 AM

9:30 – 10:20 AM

10:20 – 10:40 AM

10:40 – 11:30 AM

11:30 AM – 12:20 PM

12:20 – 1:35 PM

TITLE

Registration

Continental Breakfast

IVFSA President’s Welcome

Greeting from the President and CEO of the ASPCA

Keynote Address: The NYPD-ASPCA Partnership: Collaboration to Combat Animal Cruelty

Implementation of the NYPD-ASPCA Partnership

MORNING BREAK

Working Together: The NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad and Veterinary Forensic Medicine

Animal Welfare and the Law: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

LUNCH

PRESENTER & AFFILIATIONS

Rachel Touroo, DVM Sr. Dir. Forensic Sciences, ASPCA

Matt Bershadker President & CEO, ASPCA

Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill New York City Police Department

Howard Lawrence, VP, Humane Law Enforcement, ASPCA

Michael Murphy, Commanding Officer, Animal Cruelty Investigations Squad, NYPD

MORNING BREAK

Laura Niestat, DVM, MSForensic Veterinarian, ASPCA

Dennis Steele, Detective, NYPD

Stacy Wolf, Esq.SVP, Anti-Cruelty Group, ASPCA

LUNCH


10th Annual Conference

CONFERENCE DAY 1TUESDAY, MAY 16

MAJESTIC BALLROOM

DESCRIPTION

The APSCA’s partnership with the New York City Police Department will be used to illustrate how law enforcement can successfully integrate response to animal cruelty and distress into their regular law enforcement duties.

MORNING BREAK

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved Beginning in 2014, the ASPCA and NYPD partnered in the investigation of animal crime in New York City. To date, this partnership has resulted in the investigation of over 800 cases involving approximately 2100 animals. This presentation will provide an overview of how the NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad works with the ASPCA Forensics Team to process animal crime scenes, investigate criminal complaints, and build cases.

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved This session will provide a retrospective on the progress we have made in securing heightened legal protections for animals over the last twenty years, and provide some insight into areas where we are still in need of more legal protections to ensure that victims of animal cruelty are removed from jeopardy, receive the care that they need, and are permitted to move quickly from legal limbo into new adoptive homes. Included in this discussion will be: strengthened felony cruelty and animal fighting provisions; orders of protection in favor of animals in the home; bonding/forfeiture and “unfit owner” laws that help defray the cost of caring for animal cruelty victims and provide a legal mechanism to more expeditiously resolve ownership status and the growing use of veterinary forensics to provide vital evidence in animal cruelty and fighting cases.

LUNCH DAY 1 CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE >



TIME

1:35 – 2:25 PM

2:25 – 3:15 PM

3:15 – 3:35 PM

3:35 – 4:25 PM

4:25 – 5:15 PM

6:00 – 8:00 PM

TITLE

Working Together: From the Crime Scene to the Courtroom

Domestic Violence and Animal Cruelty in NYC

AFTERNOON BREAK

Animals As Evidence: How Long Do We Need to Hold Them and Can We Prevent Behavioral Deterioration?

Law Enforcement and Intervention Alternatives: Collaborating to Keep People and Pets Together

Networking Soirée (Atrium, 9th FL)


Jane Grinberg, Esq. Assistant District Attorney, Richmond County, NYC

Talat Awad Detective, NYPD

Robert Reisman, DVM, Forensic Sciences Supervisor, ASPCA

Elizabeth Brandler, Esq.Legal Advocacy Counsel, ASPCA

Ellen Vancelette, MSForensic Sciences Manager, ASPCA

AFTERNOON BREAK

Jennifer Chin, Esq.VP, Legal Advocacy, ASPCA

Marny Nofi, CPDT-KASenior Manager, Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team, ASPCA

Colleen Doherty Senior Director, Cruelty Intervention Advocacy, ASPCA

Tim Cecchini, Sergeant, NYPD

DESCRIPTION

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved The presentation will outline how the Richmond County (Staten Island) District Attorney’s Office works closely with the ASPCA and NYPD in investigating and prosecuting defendants charged with animal cruelty/neglect.

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved In the first three years of the NYPD-ASPCA partnership, there have been more than 60 cases involving over 80 animals that have involved both animal cruelty and human interpersonal violence. This presentation will provide an overview of the particular medical and legal aspects of the animal cruelty component of these cases that can be used by law enforcement and prosecutors to more effectively pursue perpetrators of violence against animals and people.

AFTERNOON BREAK

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved Animals seized in cruelty and fighting cases must often be held for lengthy periods of time because they are evidence in the criminal case and remain the property of the defendant until there is a voluntary relinquishment of ownership or a court ordered forfeiture. Unfortunately, such long holding periods can have a negative impact on the behavioral well-being of the animals. This presentation will provide an overview of both the legal and behavioral challenges one should prepare to encounter and offer practical strategies and tips for how to mitigate and troubleshoot those challenges in order to best protect an animal’s quality of life. We will also touch on ways to address situations in which an animal’s quality of life cannot be maintained or they pose a risk to the safety of people or other animals.

When responding to animal-related calls, police officers often encounter situations where it may be appropriate for the pet to remain in the home if provided with services. This session will cover how the ASPCA’s Cruelty Intervention Advocacy program and NYPD’s Neighborhood Policing Program came together to help pet owners in one of the busiest NYC precincts.

Cash bar, appetizers provided

CONFERENCE DAY 1 CONTINUEDTUESDAY, MAY 16

MAJESTIC BALLROOM

TIME

7:30 – 8:30 AM

8:00 – 8:30 AM

8:30 – 9:20 AM

9:20 – 10:10 AM

10:10 – 10:30 AM

10:30 – 11:20 AM

11:20 – 12:10 PM

12:10 – 1:20 PM

TITLE

Registration


A Multidisciplinary Approach to Investigating Animal Crimes: The Canadian Advantage

Documenting Evidence of Behavioral Abuse and Its Use in Court

MORNING BREAK

How Does Forensic Mental Health Assessment Complement Veterinary Forensics in Cases of Animal Maltreatment?

Recognizing and Reporting Non-Accidental Injuries: Lessons Learned from Human Medicine

LUNCH


Margaret Doyle, BSc,MVB,MSc, MRCVS, Horizon Veterinary Group

Brad Nichols, Manager, Animal Cruelty Investigations, Calgary Humane Society

Pam Reid, PhD, CAAB, VP, Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team, ASPCA

Elizabeth Brandler, Esq.Legal Advocacy Counsel, ASPCA

MORNING BREAK

Gary Patronek, VMD, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Center for Animals and Public Policy, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts

Mandy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAPPediatrician and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, New York Presbyterian Columbia University Hospital

LUNCH



CONFERENCE DAY 2WEDNESDAY, MAY 17MAJESTIC BALLROOM

DESCRIPTION

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved Calgary has established one of the first Canadian interdepartmental working groups to take an integrated approach to handling cases of animal cruelty, neglect and animal hoarding. This presentation will address the benefits of their unique multi-disciplinary approach to these investigations from a holistic community perspective.

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved Animals from hoarding, dogfighting and puppy mill cases are often profoundly impacted by extreme physical and psychological neglect. When on scene at a seizure, it’s good practice to document the conditions in which the animals are being kept because you can demonstrate how those conditions may have impacted the animals’ behavior. Once the animals are in custody, assess them with a standardized evaluation tool so that you can establish whether or not their behavior fits or otherwise supports a conclusion that the animals suffered extreme distress or other psychological damage. We’ll cover what to look for and how to document the scene, how to conduct assessments once the animals are in your custody, and how your observations and findings can be used in court to support a prosecution for animal abuse or fighting.

MORNING BREAK

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved This session will review the legal and psychological background for conducting a forensic mental health evaluation in animal cruelty cases. We will discuss the limitations of legislative mandates for these evaluations and differences between court-ordered evaluation and therapy.

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved The medical approach to making a determination of non-accidental injury in the non-verbal child will be presented, with summary of the medical evidence that supports a determination of abuse.

LUNCH DAY 2 CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE >

TIME

1:20 – 2:10 PM

2:10 – 3:00 PM

3:00 – 3:20 PM

3:20 – 4:10 PM

4:10 – 5:00 PM

6:00 – 7:30 PM

7:30 – 9:30 PM

TITLE

Clinical Assessment of Head Trauma/Traumatic Brain Injury

Pathology of Head Trauma/Traumatic Brain Injury

AFTERNOON BREAK

Forensic Anthropology: Trauma Analysis

Radiographic Surveys Submitted in Suspected Non-Accidental Trauma in Animals: An Observational Study

IVFSA BUSINESS MEETING

BRING YOUR OWN SLIDES


Chad West, DVM, DACVIMChief of Neurology, The Animal Medical Center

Teresa Southard, DVM, PhD, DACVP, Associate Clinical Professor, Cornell University

AFTERNOON BREAK

Bradley Adams, PhD, DABFAOffice of Chief Medical Examiner, NYC

Elizabeth Watson, DVM, MS, DACVR, Faculty, University of Florida Online Programs in Veterinary Forensic Sciences



CONFERENCE DAY 2 CONTINUEDWEDNESDAY, MAY 17MAJESTIC BALLROOM

DESCRIPTION

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common sequela of blunt force trauma in veterinary patients. Understanding the pathophysiology of TBI is crucial for its recognition in polytrauma. Recognition of TBI is crucial for the best care of these patients.

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved This presentation will cover the pathogenesis of traumatic brain injury, as well as the associated gross and microscopic changes.

AFTERNOON BREAK

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved The presentation will discuss how forensic anthropologists analyze skeletal trauma. Case examples from the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner will also be included in the lecture.

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved The quality, number of images, and the protocol for radiographic studies in suspected NAI in animals are variable. General radiographic standards for use in animals suspected of NAI are lacking or not widely disseminated.

BYOS is an opportunity for conference participants to share novel or innovative cases with the group. It also serves as an opportunity to solicit advice from the group on challenging cases.

TIME

7:30 – 8:30 AM

8:00 – 8:30 AM

8:30 – 9:20 AM

9:20 – 10:10 AM

10:10 – 11:00 AM

11:00 – 11:50 AM

11:50 AM – 1:00 PM

1:00 – 1:50 PM

1:50 – 2:40 PM

TITLE

Registration


What Do We Really Mean? Understanding the Forensic Opinion

National Institute of Standards and Technology: Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science

POSTER SESSION MELVILLE ROOM

Use of Social Media in Animal Cruelty Investigations

LUNCH

Manual Strangulation of a Stray Cat: The Link Between the Suspect’s Behavior and the Victim

Pathology of Gunshot Wounds and Developments in the Estimation of Shooting Distance


Simon Newbery, BSc, DVM, MSc, MRCVS, Greenside Veterinary Surgery

Jason Byrd, PhD, DABFE, Associate Director, Maples Center for Forensic Medicine, University of Florida

Adam Leath, BS, Southeast Regional Director, Field Investiga-tions and Response, ASPCA

Breezy Adkinson, Criminal Investigator, Walton County Sheriff’s Office (FL)

LUNCH

Wei-Hsiang Huang, DVMNational Taiwan University

Jason Brooks, VMD, PhD, DACVP, Clinical Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University



CONFERENCE DAY 3THURSDAY, MAY 18

MAJESTIC BALLROOM

DESCRIPTION

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved Forensic veterinarians use a wide range of words and expressions to convey their answers to law enforcement, the courts and other interested parties. In this presentation we will examine the strengths and limitations of some of the more common phrases used by experts, and how to apply these phrases in writing and presenting veterinary forensic reports.

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved In an effort to strengthen the field of forensic science and medicine in the United States, governmental oversight, technical leadership, and consensus-based standards and guidelines are being developed for practitioners of the forensic sciences.

Social media can be a powerful tool when investigating animal crime. Intelligence gathered through social media can aid in the cultivation of probable cause for search and seizure warrants or aid in building a list of affiliates engaged in illegal activity. This session will be focused on the use of social media to investigate animal crime and will utilize a case study to illustrate the principles discussed.

LUNCH

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved A stray cat was cruelly murdered in December 2015, attracting widespread public attention in Taiwan. In this case, tiny lesions caused by manual strangulation were observed on the corpse through necropsy and histopathology, and these were compatible with the suspect’s confession and the video footage of the crime scene. The compelling correlation between the crime scene, the suspect’s statement and the victim led to a successful conviction.

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved Pathology of gunshot injuries may differ in animals as compared to human subjects due to the nature of the hair coat and the thickness of the skin; these differences will be discussed. A wide range of tissue effects may be observed depending on such variables as firearm type, firearm caliber, ammunition type, shooting distance, penetration angle, and anatomic location. Differences in applicable methods to estimate shooting distance between human and animal subjects will be discussed.

DAY 3 CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE >

TIME

2:40 – 2:55 PM

2:55 – 3:45 PM

3:45 – 4:00 PM

5:30 – 8:30 PM

TITLE

AFTERNOON BREAK

Ribs: Anatomic, Radiologic and Forensic Considerations

CLOSING REMARKS

Tours of ASPCA’s Animal Hospital and Animal Recovery Center, Forensic Facility, and Adoption Center


AFTERNOON BREAK

Elizabeth Watson, DVM, MS, DACVR, Faculty, University of Florida Online Programs in Veterinary Forensic Sciences

Rachel Touroo, DVM Sr. Dir. Forensic Sciences, ASPCA

Susan Underkoffler, MFS Wildlife Forensic Sciences Program Director, Maples Center for Forensic Medicine,University of Florida



CONFERENCE DAY 3 CONTINUEDTHURSDAY, MAY 18

MAJESTIC BALLROOM

DESCRIPTION

AFTERNOON BREAK

RACE, NYSED & CAWA Approved The presentation will review the anatomic features and variations of ribs in common animal species and discuss optimal radiographic technique as well as other imaging modalities to visualize the ribs, review radiographic signs of rib healing and report potential mimics of rib trauma in the context of veterinary forensics.

Advance Registration Required

The IVFSA was founded in 2008 to:1. Promote the health, welfare and safety of animals through the fostering of current and

novel techniques of forensic science and crime scene processing to circumstances of animal abuse, neglect, cruelty, fighting, and death.

2. Apply forensic science techniques to legal investigations involving animals as the victim of criminal offenses and civil disputes.

3. Educate the animal welfare community, law enforcement, crime scene analysts, forensic scientists, veterinarians, attorneys, judges, and pathologists on the application of forensic science techniques and crime scene processing methods to cases of animal abuse, neglect, cruelty, fighting, and death.

4. Inform the law enforcement and legal community on the various scientific disciplines that can be utilized for the interpretation of collected physical evidence related to any crime scene where an animal’s presence or absence is relevant.

5. Advance and foster excellence in the veterinary forensic sciences.