Application of legal veterinary medicine: Main toxic agents versus real cases of intentional intoxication in domestic animals analyzed in criminal expertize in central Brazil

Abstract

Situations involving crimes against animals are receiving increased social attention, resulting in a high demand for complaints and the initiation of police investigations. Overall, the quality of investigations and the production of material evidence in alleged crimes against fauna is crucial. For this, there is a need for trained professionals to implement protocols and tools based on animal welfare science and Legal Veterinary Medicine (LVM). In the routine and history of Veterinary Medicine, cases of suspected intoxication in companion animals, such as dogs and cats, are common. In Brazil, the act of intoxicating animals is considered a crime of mistreatment under the Environmental Crimes Law (Article 32, n. 9.605 of February 12, 1998). Therefore, it is necessary to examine the cadaver to confirm this suspicion. In this way, Legal Veterinary Medicine is a recent specialty in Brazil, created by the Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine's resolution in 2003. In this area, the evaluation of clinical signs, characteristic anatomopathological lesions, and toxicological analysis for identification of the toxic agents allow confirmation of suspected cases. Thus, the objective of this review is to address the application of scientific knowledge to Forensic Veterinary Medicine in confirming cases of animal poisoning and to list the main toxic substances found in animal poisoning cases identified through forensic examinations in the central region of Brazil. Additionally, it is intended to demonstrate that expertize in this area ensures the production of material evidence used in judicial criminal proceedings to defend animal welfare.