Working with the County Department of Animal Services & the Humane Societies of the county To Control and prevention of diseases in animal shelters


Necropsy (animal autopsy) and other laboratory services are provided to the animal shelters of the county to aide in the control and prevention of  infectious diseases of impounded animals.  This also provides for review of allegations regarding neglect and implied liability when animals die in county custody.




Poisoning, Trauma, Humane Cases                         
When animals are found dead under suspicious circumstances, necropsies (animal autopsies) are performed to determine the cause of death. It is especially important to rule out criminal cases to avoid incriminating innocent people. However, many cases are criminal in nature.








Rat poison in a hot dog, Ex Lax in hamburger, & Strychnine in meat
The District Attorney does not prosecute cases of animal cruelty (shootings, poisonings, beatings) nor deaths due to neglect (starvation, untreated injuries) without a necropsy to establish cause of death or extent of injuries. Sudden deaths without obvious causes seem always to be blamed on poisoning by someone who hates dogs. However, many of these cases are not what they appear. Gastric torsion, cancer of the heart causing sudden rupture, internal trauma caused by being hit by a car, and genetic heart problems are a few of the more common findings in addition to true poisoning. These cases also include animals shot for cause by police and sheriff's officers to protect people. These findings resolve disputes between citizens' and police accounts of the same incidents. Necropsy findings in most cases involving suspected criminal activities result in dismissal due to natural causes of death or to resolution by pleading guilty without a costly taxpayer financed trial.




A large number of humane cases are necropsied each year.








A cock killed in an illegal cock fight, a cat shot by an arrow, and an enlargement of the arrow
Decapitated Parrot Case

In the early 1980's a local radio station had a contest called "Ozzie and Me" to give away tickets to an Ozzie Osborn rock concert. The contestants were to send in the reason they should win. At that time, the young enthusiastic Ozzie would bite off the heads of bats on stage for dramatic effects during concerts. A young teenage boy sent his decapitated pet parrot (with the separated head) to the radio station contest claiming that he had bitten the head off to prove his worth to Ozzie to win the tickets. As part of a Humane Society investigation, our examination revealed the bird had died of trauma associated with the head being bitten off.
Improper Restraint .








Death by strangulation, is usually accidental. This horse was improperly restrained for castration.



This burro was tied to a post with a wire around its neck. In trying to get loose he caught his hind hoof in the loop of wire and was unable to stand on three legs. He died before being noticed.








     Cat strangled with rubber band                                    Cat with hat pins in skull