In the famous TV series CSI, the scripts of its creators introduce us to the methodology of a team of police authorities, which, with the help of expert scientists, investigates mysteries and unusual crimes.
In our country, an attempt is now being made to create the first ACSI (Animal Crime Scene Investigation), i.e. the first scientific team to investigate crimes against animals, with the aim of investigating a series of serious cases and assisting justice, before which the perpetrators of such crimes arrive who are now punished as a felony and are threatened with prison sentences.
Hasiya, the little white tiger who was abandoned outside the Attica Park a year ago, as well as the death of the dog Oliver in Arachova which had caused strong reactions and the immediate intervention of the prosecutor of the Supreme Court Anastasia Masoura (responsible for the protection of animals at the highest judicial level) came to highlight the need to have a statutory veterinary forensic service in Greece, which will operate in accordance with all international protocols and will help in the effective delivery of justice in a period of time when, as the current situation has shown, cases of extreme abuse with animal victims are increasing.
Headquarters of the service the University of Thessaly
According to information, at the initiative of the Justice Department, efforts have already begun to create and operate such a service based at the University of Thessaly, where the many years of experience of the professor of Animal Pathology-Veterinary Forensics and director of the Foundation’s respective laboratory will be utilized. Dimitris Tontis and the assistant professor of Veterinary Forensic and Diagnostic Animal Pathological Anatomy Dimitris Doukas. For the implementation of this plan, of course, as sources with knowledge of the matter say, it is necessary to sign as soon as possible a Memorandum of Cooperation that will connect the triangle “Justice – Police – Veterinary Forensics”, just as it happens in crimes against humanity of life.
The presence of a veterinarian with specialized knowledge of forensics, who will be found from the very first minutes at the scene of the crime, is considered certain to be able to contribute the most to the investigation of such heinous acts with animal victims, to illuminate dark parts of the case and ultimately the veterinary forensic report to be a basic “tool” in the hands of the police authorities as well, but mainly of the judges who are called upon to judge such cases based on the new legislative framework. In fact, for the information of judicial officers, a relevant seminar is also in the works to be organized at the National School of Judges.
Need for supply appropriate means
In addition to the Memorandum of Cooperation, however, the appropriate instruments are also required. For this reason, a refrigerated car is needed to transport the animals to its headquarters… ACSI – in this case in Karditsa, where the Veterinary School is housed – or a Mobile Necropsy Unit, which will be able to carry out the work with the appropriate staff of her in different places. Adherence to these strict protocols is of course a far cry from today’s conditions where animals are usually transported in special styrofoam with ice packs, with what this can mean for the thorough investigation and evaluation of findings that may have been altered or lost until to reach their destination.
The two professors who make up the “ACSI team” Mr. Tontis and Doukas referring to the value of veterinary forensics, a relatively new field of veterinary science that is developing and evolving rapidly, have pointed out that “its use today makes it possible to draw conclusions which are made available to bodies, especially the judiciary for the awarding of law in cases involving animals». It is worth noting that the abuse and illegal killing of companion animals are international frequent phenomena, raising the interest of government agencies, even the FBI! The goal in Greece too must be the consolidation of veterinary forensics, the development of crime scene investigation protocols and the application of evidence evaluation methods.
In what way investigations will be carried out
But what does a veterinary forensic investigation consist of? The most important stages, as described by the experts, are:
- Carrying out a full veterinary necropsy, with the aim not only to determine the cause of death, but also to record, collect, preserve and send for laboratory tests all evidence that may be related to the killing of the animal.
- Carrying out laboratory tests in specialized laboratories in addition to the autopsy, such as: histopathological, imaging, microbiological, toxicological and molecular biology tests (e.g. DNA profile).
- Compilation of a veterinary forensic report in order to provide useful information to the prosecuting and judicial authorities.
- Antechamber of violence against minors
Companion animal forensics, unlike human forensics, has only existed in practice as a specialty in the last twenty years, following societal pressure on the issue of animal abuse as well as civil and criminal liability.
Finally, we must not forget that, as has emerged from research and based on the recent announcement of the Panhellenic Philanthropic Federation, the abuse of animals is often the… vestibule that leads to violence against children, minors, and generally vulnerable people. In children and adolescents, animal abuse, as has been established by research, is associated with conduct disorder, addiction disorders, as well as the paraphilic disorder of animal love. In adults it is mainly associated with antisocial personality disorder, secondarily with addiction disorders and more rarely with other psychiatric disorders.
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