THE FORENSIC VETERINARY PRINCIPLES FOR DETERMINING THE SEVERITY OF HARM CAUSED TO AN ANIMAL’S HEALTH AS A RESULT OF SHARP-FORCE INJURIES

Abstract

This study examines the forensic veterinary principles for determining the severity of harm caused to an animal’s health as a result of sharp-force injuries. The findings indicate that the assessment of injury severity depends on multiple factors, including the number, extent, and depth of injuries; the healing process; the degree of life-threatening risk; and the combined influence of these parameters.
Sharp-force injuries are classified into three degrees of severity. Severe injuries are those that pose a direct threat to life, may result in death, cause irreversible physiological alterations, lead to a persistent and long-term inability of the animal to perform productive functions, result in the loss of organs or body tissues, cause permanent disfigurement of the animal’s appearance, or induce traumatic termination of pregnancy.
Moderate injuries are characterized by the absence of criteria typical of severe or minor injuries but lead to prolonged health impairment and extended loss of the animal’s functional usefulness.
Minor injuries manifest as mild and short-term post-traumatic effects (lasting up to six days) that do not significantly affect health or working ability, or involve short-term health disturbances or temporary loss of productive capacity.
The study emphasizes that the forensic veterinary assessment of sharp-force injuries is performed in accordance with the Rules for Forensic Veterinary Assessment of the Severity of Harm Caused to an Animal’s Health. The evaluation process considers the type of injury (incised, stab, chop, combined, etc.), the degree of life-threatening risk, the duration of health impairment, the loss of organs or tissues, the extent of disfigurement, the presence and implications of traumatic pregnancy termination, and the animal’s ability to perform useful work. In cases involving severe outcomes, such as mutilation, the Methodology for Forensic Veterinary Examination of Animals for the Determination of Mutilation is applied.
Forensic veterinary practice demonstrates that accurately determining the severity of inflicted injuries plays a decisive role in the investigation of offenses involving cruelty to animals, particularly those affecting the animal’s life and health.