Veterinarski glasnik 2011 Volume 65, Issue 1-2, Pages: 123-132
https://doi.org/10.2298/VETGL1102123A
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Role of veterinarians in recognition and prevention of animal abuse
Aleksić Jelena (Fakultet veterinarske medicine, Beograd)
Jović Slavoljub (Fakultet veterinarske medicine, Beograd)
Merćep Drinka (Fakultet veterinarske medicine, Beograd)
Since the Criminal law of the Republic of Serbia in 2005 as well as the Law
on veterinary medicine, there has been an increasing number of cases that
deal with raising criminal charges due to animal killing or torturing. There
is also a significant number of forensic cases that are aimed at discovering
criminal acts. Animal abuse is a social issue, which includes a range of
behaviors of humans that are harmful to animals, starting from unintentional
neglect to intentional cruelty. Types of animal abuse are different and they
can include physical, sexual, emotional abuse, or neglect. Abuse and neglect
of animals have a variety of forms and manifestations, but the end result is
always the same - animal suffering. The connection between animal abuse,
domestic violence, and child abuse indicates that there is a significant role
of veterinarians in social contexts and in terms of stopping this vicious
cycle by preventing, discovering and turning in suspects involved in these
crimes. The help that veterinarians provide to public prosecutors is of great
importance. This study shows the role of veterinarians in cases of possible
animal abuse, as well as their role in processing that type of cases.
Keywords: animal abuse, recognition and prevention of animal abuse, role of veterinarian