MULT213-1015: Introduction to Veterinary Forensic Science
The lectures for this course will be presented in a predominantly audio format.
Please come prepared to listen.

Enrollment is closed.

Instructor(s): Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, Ph.D, DABVT, DABT and Adam Stern DVM, CMI-IV, CFC, DACVP
Course Open: October 28-November 28, 2015
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Wednesday, November 4, 11, and 18; 9:00-11:00 pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a Practice Session prior to the first Real Time Session. Please arrive promptly at the start time; each Practice Session is up to 1 hour in length. For more information, please visit the CE Practice Area.

*The instructors for this course will be using audio which will require you to have a headset or speakers to listen. If you have any concerns regarding your computer's audio capabilities, please be sure to attend one of the Practice Sessions.

Level and Prerequisites: This basic course will be open to veterinarians and veterinary staff who wish to increase their knowledge of veterinary forensics.
VIN CE Course: Open to veterinarians, licensed/registered veterinary technicians and veterinary staff. This course is approved by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is RACE Provider #22.

Course Description:
The veterinary profession is being increasingly challenged to recognize, report and document animal abuse and cruelty as it is encountered in their practices, and to assist law enforcement in the prosecution of these cases. This course will provide an overview on the techniques and processes involved in forensic investigation of cruelty cases, including recognition and reporting animal cruelty, forensic examination of victims of animal cruelty (live and dead), sample collection and diagnostics, preparation of the forensic report, and working with law enforcement and the media.

This course consists of three (3) 2-hour Real Time Session, supplemental library materials, interactive message board discussions, and a mandatory end-of-course test. Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.

To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

*The lecture portion of this course will be an audio presentation, please be prepared to listen.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

• identify evidence of animal cruelty, including distinguishing common "false" lesions from real lesions.
• know federal and state guidelines for reporting animal cruelty by veterinarians including understanding where and to whom to report.
• understand the roles of law enforcement, prosecutors and expert witnesses in forensic cases.
• understand the basics of performing a forensic veterinary examination on living and dead victims.
• distinguish between various types of non-accidental injury to patients.
• know the basics of writing a forensic report and acting as an expert witness.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Textbook: There is no required textbook for this course.
Recommended Textbooks:

• Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigations, 2nd edition.
  Merck M. 2012 Wiley-Blackwell.
  ISBN-13: 978-0470961629
  Available from the VIN bookstore (login for VIN member discount): http://bookstore.vin.com/9780470961629

• Animal Abuse and Unlawful Killing: Forensic Veterinary Pathology, 1st edition.
  Munro R and Munro HMC. 2008 Saunders.
  ISBN-13: 978-0702028786
  Available from the VIN bookstore (login for VIN member discount): http://bookstore.vin.com/9780702028786

About the Instructors:
Sharon Gwaltney-Brant DVM, PhD, DABVT, DABT
Dr. Gwaltney-Brant earned a BS in zoology and DVM from North Carolina State University. After 3 years in private veterinary practice (companion animal, emergency medicine), she completed a veterinary anatomic pathology residency and earned a PhD in veterinary pathology from Kansas State University. Following a post-doctoral position at the National Animal Disease Center, Dr. Gwaltney-Brant joined the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, where she ultimately served as Vice President and Medical Director. She is board certified in veterinary toxicology (ABVT) and general toxicology (ABT). Dr. Gwaltney-Brant currently works as a Toxicology consultant for VIN, performs private Toxicology consulting, and serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Illinois and University of Florida. She currently instructs the Veterinary Forensic Toxicology course for the online Veterinary Forensic Master's degree program through the University of Florida. Dr. Gwaltney-Brant lectures at regional, national and international conferences on veterinary toxicology and veterinary forensic science. She is a charter member and past President of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association.

Adam Stern, DVM, CMI-IV, CFC, DACVP
Dr. Stern earned a BS in biology from The George Washington University and his DVM from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island. He completed a veterinary anatomic pathology residency program at the Oklahoma State University and is board certified in veterinary anatomic pathology. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois. Dr. Stern's research and interests include veterinary forensic pathology and dermatopathology. Dr. Stern lectures on various topics of veterinary forensic medicine/pathology and has been an expert witness in multiple jurisdictions.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session November 4): Recognition of Animal Cruelty & the Veterinarian's Role in Reporting Animal Cruelty
Content:

• What is cruelty?
• Non-lesions/false lesions/accidental lesions (i.e. what is not cruelty)
• Who to contact; liabilities of reporting (Good Samaritan laws); requirements for reporting (state laws)
• Working with law enforcement, prosecutors, the media
• Being an expert witness.

Week 2 (Real Time Session November 11): CIS: The Animal & the Forensic Report
Content:

• Forensic examination of live animal
• Forensic examination of dead animal
• Sample collection
• Diagnostics
• Chain of custody
• Writing the forensic report
• Writing the expert report

Week 3 (Real Time Session November 18): Recognition of Animal Cruelty & the Veterinarian's Role in Reporting Animal Cruelty
Content:

• Evaluation of lesions from:
  • Neglect
  • Blunt force trauma
  • Sharp force trauma
  • Projectile (gunshot) injuries
  • Animal fighting
  • Animal sexual abuse
  • Poisoning
  • Thermal injuries and smoke inhalation
  • Asphyxia and drowning

CE Credits: 6

Tuition: Member $126 ($113 early bird special if enrolled by October 14, 2015)
Non-Member $211 ($190 early bird special if enrolled by October 14, 2015)

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on November 4, 2015 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
Enrollment is closed.

1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
4. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email CEonVIN@vin.com. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

*Note: "This course is approved for 6 continuing education credits in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education." Call VIN CE at 800-846-0028 ext. 797 for further information. (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
* Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 800-846-0028 ext. 797.

*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.

Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Coordinator

VIN CE Services: CEonVIN@vin.com
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357

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