Autopsy, Imaging Diagnosis, and Tissue Examination Conducted to Reveal Suspected Abuse, /Photo Courtesy of Seoul City , “Seoul City is the first in the nation to operate an animal CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) ‘Veterinary Forensic Examination’ unit. If abuse is suspected through these examinations, the investigation will be transferred to the local district and police for further inquiry,”
. “The Seoul Institute of Health and Environment announced on the 5th that since September, they have been conducting veterinary forensic examinations to determine the cause of death, such as autopsy, toxic substance, and infectious disease tests on animals suspected of abuse. These examinations are initiated after receiving a request from the police regarding animal deaths suspected of abuse,”
. “So far, the institute has examined a total of four animal bodies (all cats), and among these, two cases were reported to the requesting agency due to suspicions of abuse, while the other two cases are still under examination,”
. “When the jurisdictional police station requests an investigation into animal death cases suspected of abuse, the institute provides critical materials for animal abuse crime investigations, including autopsy, imaging diagnostics (such as X-rays), tissue examination, and tests for infectious diseases, parasites, and toxins, documented in a ‘Pathological Examination Report’,”
. “In preparation for the introduction of veterinary forensic examinations, the institute has established an autopsy room and pathology laboratory since last year, and this year, they have completed the system setup for imaging diagnostics of animal carcasses through a partnership with Konkuk University’s Veterinary Hospital,”
. “Besides veterinary forensic examinations, the ‘Animal Hygiene Testing Lab’ is also responsible for tasks such as animal abuse carcass examinations, pet food safety assessments, zoonotic disease monitoring, high-risk livestock infectious disease examinations like AI and foot-and-mouth disease, and livestock product safety tests, aiming to ensure the health and safety of citizens and animals,”
. “Park Ju-sung, the head of the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment, stated, ‘The number of households with pets surpassed three million in 2020. We aim to make Seoul a safe and happy city for both humans and animals through professional and systematic investigations to determine the causes of animal abuse.'”