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5.2
2.7
Journals
Animals
Special Issues
Why Animals Die: Forensic Science in Veterinary Practice
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Why Animals Die: Forensic Science in Veterinary Practice

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 4008

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Antonio Rodríguez-Bertos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Animal Pathology and Veterinary Forensic Service, VISAVET/Department of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Veterinary School, Complutense University, Avda Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: veterinary pathology diagnoses; tumors; veterinary forensic pathology
Dr. Agustín Rebollada-Merino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology, Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center, New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ithaca, NY, USA
Interests: veterinary pathology; veterinary forensics; diagnostics; microbial pathogenesis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Animal cruelty, also called animal abuse, is a significant problem affecting nonhuman animals. It includes various types of behaviors that cause unnecessary pain or stress to animals, such as neglect and physical violence. Abuse experienced by animals may come from customs such as religious rites or dog or cockfighting. It is important to detect this type of behavior not only to protect animals in society, but also because it is a potential indicator of interpersonal violence. Although each country, state or local administration has different animal protection laws with specific actions prohibited against companion and wild animals, they all share the same premise of ensuring animal welfare. This Special Issue on veterinary forensics seeks to reveal and denounce different types of animal mistreatment, some of which are not yet described in the current literature.

Prof. Dr. Antonio Rodríguez-Bertos
Dr. Agustín Rebollada-Merino
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal cruelty
  • production animals
  • pets
  • wildlife animals
  • traumatisms
  • asphyxia
  • drowning
  • sexual abuse
  • neglect
  • thermal injuries

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3355 KB  
Article
Pathological Findings in Two Events of Illegal Hunting of Atlantic Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) from the Canary Islands
by José Navarro-Sarmiento, Ayoze Castro-Alonso, Gustavo Montero-Hernández, Lucía Marrero-Ponce, Antonio Fernández and Cristian M. Suárez-Santana
Animals 2026, 16(8), 1280; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16081280 - 21 Apr 2026
Viewed by 305
Abstract
This study characterizes the pathological findings in Atlantic Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis) chicks from the Canary Islands associated with illegal hunting cases. A retrospective analysis of necropsy archives, including imaging techniques (X-rays and computed tomography) and histopathological examinations, was conducted on [...] Read more.
This study characterizes the pathological findings in Atlantic Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis) chicks from the Canary Islands associated with illegal hunting cases. A retrospective analysis of necropsy archives, including imaging techniques (X-rays and computed tomography) and histopathological examinations, was conducted on twenty juvenile shearwaters. The study revealed significant cranioencephalic trauma as the primary cause of death in both poaching events. Differences in the methods used by the perpetrators were noted, with variations in skull fractures and associated injuries. These findings highlight the importance of understanding local hunting techniques and sociocultural factors in forensic investigations. Diagnostic imaging, standardized necropsy, and histopathology are essential tools for the forensic investigation of illegal hunting in veterinary sciences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Why Animals Die: Forensic Science in Veterinary Practice)
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10 pages, 1679 KB  
Article
A Retrospective Study of Suspected Animal Abuse Cases in Trinidad and Tobago, 2008–2025
by Karelma Frontera-Acevedo, Alanis Boodram, Xaria Luke, Emily Phillip, Rod Suepaul and Lana Gyan
Animals 2026, 16(7), 1088; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16071088 - 2 Apr 2026
Viewed by 466
Abstract
Forensic veterinary pathology is becoming increasingly important in investigating situations of suspected animal abuse. In Trinidad and Tobago, there are only two veterinary diagnostic laboratories capable of performing necropsies, one at the University of the West Indies School of Veterinary Medicine (UWI-SVM) and [...] Read more.
Forensic veterinary pathology is becoming increasingly important in investigating situations of suspected animal abuse. In Trinidad and Tobago, there are only two veterinary diagnostic laboratories capable of performing necropsies, one at the University of the West Indies School of Veterinary Medicine (UWI-SVM) and the other at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MAF-VDL). The databases of both UWI-SVM and MAF-VDL were searched for cases of suspected animal abuse between 2008 and 2025. Based on pathology records and case submission information, cases were categorized by year, species, cause of death (COD) or manner of injury (MOI), police submissions, and types of trauma and poisonings. A total of 113 cases of suspected animal abuse were submitted in the years 2008–2025. Case submissions reached a peak in 2015 (n = 23). The most submitted animal species was dogs (77%). Of the 113 cases, only 24 (20%) had a confirmed COD/MOI. The most common confirmed COD/MOI was trauma. The few confirmed cases of poisoning (n = 6) include carbamates, warfarin, malathion, and ethylene glycol. Owners appear to be aware of the importance of pathology to help diagnose suspected animal abuse cases. One major limitation in advancing forensic veterinary pathology on the island, and a factor preventing the prosecution of suspected animal abuse cases, is the lack of a toxicological laboratory capable of handling animal samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Why Animals Die: Forensic Science in Veterinary Practice)
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17 pages, 7982 KB  
Article
Evolution of Suspected Cat Abuse Between 2020 and 2024 in the Community of Madrid (Spain)
by Nicolás Aradilla, Javier María De Pablo-Moreno, Néstor Porras, Blanca Chinchilla and Antonio Rodríguez-Bertos
Animals 2025, 15(19), 2892; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192892 - 3 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2561
Abstract
Despite the well-established link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence, animal mistreatment remains a global issue. Challenges such as inconsistent legislation, limited training of specialized pathologists, and lack of regional data persist and must be addressed. In Spain, the real incidence of animal [...] Read more.
Despite the well-established link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence, animal mistreatment remains a global issue. Challenges such as inconsistent legislation, limited training of specialized pathologists, and lack of regional data persist and must be addressed. In Spain, the real incidence of animal abuse is unknown, and the literature on the topic remains scarce. This study aims to assess the evolution of feline abuse cases in the Community of Madrid, Spain, since the publication of a previous study in the same region. Over a five-year period (2020–2024), 53 cats with suspected abuse were diagnosed at the Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Unit of the VISAVET Health Surveillance Center. Thirty-one cats (58.49%) died from non-natural causes: 17 (32.07%) due to blunt force trauma, eight (15.09%) due to poisoning, and six (11.32%) due to projectile injuries. Natural causes accounted for 21 cases (39.62%). Compared to the previous study, data suggest a possible upward trend in the number of cats referred with suspected animal abuse, including eight new cases of ethylene glycol poisoning. The correlation between the type of suspected abuse and final diagnosis was very low. This article examines current challenges related to animal violence, with particular emphasis on feline colonies, and promotes awareness among both veterinary and non-veterinary professionals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Why Animals Die: Forensic Science in Veterinary Practice)
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