Animal abuse reporting by state avma

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How can veterinarians be reporters of animal abuse when they are not taught to recognize it?

Jennifer A. Woolf Woolf Veterinary Forensics Consulting Inc, 4101 Dublin Blvd, Suite F No. 27, Dublin, CA 94568.

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The AVMA policy on Animal Abuse and Animal Neglect 1 states that “The AVMA considers it the responsibility of the veterinarian to report [animal abuse or neglect] cases to appropriate authorities, whether or not reporting is mandated by law.” Approximately 13 states mandate that veterinarians report suspected cases of animal abuse, 2,3 but the laws vary, so that in some states, all suspected cases of abuse must be reported, whereas in other states, only certain types of suspected abuse, such as dogfighting or malicious abuse, must be reported. Starting in 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will begin more clearly tracking cases of animal abuse through its Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Specifically, animal abuse will no longer be classified as a miscellaneous crime. Rather, the bureau will categorize such crimes into 4 types: simple and gross neglect, intentional abuse and torture, organized abuse such as dogfighting and cockfighting, and sexual abuse of animals. With this increase in monitoring, it would not be surprising for more states to pass mandatory reporting laws. Currently, however, only 75% of veterinary colleges in the United States provide any training in recognizing animal abuse, with students at those colleges receiving a mean of only 76 minutes of such training. 4 How can veterinarians be reporters of animal abuse when they are not taught to recognize it?

Animals that have been abused are no less likely to be seen by a veterinarian than are animals that have not been abused. 5 The problem for veterinarians, therefore, is recognizing abuse when it is present. Importantly, animal abuse does not always result in the types of signs we may expect, and although abuse can result in signs of neglect, it can just as easily be associated with typical signs of illness or injury. Complicating matters, an animal that has been abused may be brought to the veterinarian by the abuser, by someone who is unaware of the abuse, or by a person who is also a victim of the same abuser. Without the right education, veterinarians won't know what signs to look for to identify abuse. In fact, the possibility of abuse may not even cross our minds.

Part of the problem is that veterinarians may not be aware that animal abuse is legally defined, and that what constitutes abuse in one state may be perfectly legal in another. However, veterinarians are not under any duty to determine whether a crime (animal abuse) has taken place. They only need to recognize that the possibility exists and report when a situation is consistent with non-accidental injury or neglect. Law enforcement personnel and prosecutors can then determine whether a crime has occurred. Thus, veterinarians should surrender the idea that they must know that abuse has occurred before reporting it. Instead, they should report their suspicions and allow the legal system to decide whether those suspicions warrant a charge of criminal abuse.

Another part of the problem is mindset. As one of my instructors used to tell students, if you do not think of it, you will not diagnose it. Without the educational background to recognize and understand animal abuse, the idea of abuse may not even cross clinicians’ minds. For reporting requirements to work as intended, veterinarians need to be educated about the possibility of abuse as a potential cause of injuries. Further, they should be aware of the signs of abuse, how to document and report abuse when it is suspected, and what their legal rights and responsibilities are. It is easier to think of a dog with severe trauma as having been hit by a car because we have been taught how to handle that type of situation, both in terms of the animal (eg, treat for shock and stabilize any fractures) and in terms of the owner (eg, provide comfort and discuss treatment options). If we suspect abuse, our care of the animal may not change, but our attitude toward the owner might and we may be uncertain what to do next (eg, call animal control, explain our suspicions, or take custody of the animal). Without proper training in handling animal abuse cases, it will often be easier to think of something else more familiar to us.

The veterinary profession should be doing more to prevent and treat animal abuse. Veterinary colleges should include training on animal abuse in the curriculum for all students. After all, it is not only shelter veterinarians or veterinarians working with animal control agencies who see animal abuse. Abuse happens to small animals, large animals, exotics, and wildlife. It may be seen in general practice, during house and barn calls, during emergency visits, and even by specialists. Because any veterinarian may see a case of animal abuse at any time in his or her career, training in recognizing and responding to abuse should be a required part of the education. Veterinary medical associations, state veterinary medical boards, and professional liability insurance companies should support continuing education programs related to animal abuse. In some states, mandatory reporting laws include penalties for a failure to report, but do not require training on recognizing animal abuse. The profession should set an example by insisting on animal abuse training as part of veterinary college education and as part of mandatory reporting laws.

Veterinarians should be in the forefront of advocating for animals, including recognizing and reporting animal abuse. But without the proper tools and education to do so, we will fail. In the same way that learning to place an IV catheter is considered a basic and necessary skill for all graduating veterinarians, the knowledge to recognize and report animal abuse should also be considered a basic and necessary skill. Our patients and clients deserve nothing less.

References

1. AVMA . Animal abuse and animal neglect . Available at: www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Animal-Abuse-and-Animal-Neglect.aspx . Accessed May 8, 2015 . )| false

2. AVMA . Reporting requirements for animal abuse . Available at: www.avma.org/Advocacy/StateAndLocal/Pages/sr-animal-abuse-reporting-requirements.aspx . Accessed May 8, 2015 . )| false

3. Michigan State University Animal Legal & Historical Center . Table of Veterinary Reporting Requirement and Immunity Laws . Available at: https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-veterinary-reporting-requirement-and-immunity-laws . Accessed Oct 8, 2015 . )| false

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