notice important aspects of the environment in the time you are given. In the case of a search warrant execution, more time may be available for the assessment of the environment. Photo and video recordings preserve the conditions for later review by investigators, veterinarians, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judge and jury.
When examining an animal's environment be sure to look for and record what is present as well as what is missing. For example, if the enclosure is wet with standing mud and rainwater, but there is no drinking bowl or trough with potable water the animal can access, this must be noted in the record. By specifically indicating that you did not see any water trough or container available to the animal, this overcomes the notion that you may have neglected to notice a water container that was clearly present in the pen or stall.
Generally, when responding to reports of an unacceptable environment, the investigator should assess the following components:
Shelter: Is it safe and appropriate for the species and number of animals? Can they maintain a normal body temperature, and does it provide protection from wind, rain, cold, heat, and standing water?
Confinement (fences, cages, stalls, chains): Does the method of confinement contain hazards or harmful components such as broken wires, rust, damaged floors, or doors? Is the chain so tight as to cause wounds on the animal's neck? Does the size and design of the enclosure allow for the animal to stand, move, rest, and sleep comfortably? Does it restrict their movement and expression of natural behaviors such as cleaning themselves, stretching, eating, and drinking?
Surrounding areas (yard, room, pasture, barn): Are there dry areas where the animal can walk, sit, lie, and eat away from standing water, feces and urine, contaminants and other hazards. Is there mud, downed trees, machinery, vehicles, or other dangers within reach of the animal and on which it could injure itself or become trapped or entangled?
3.3 Sanitation
Sanitation is a component of an animal's environment that often comes up as a significant factor in animal cruelty cases. Animals, like humans, prefer to live, sleep, raise their young, and eat in environments that are free from urine, feces, and other contaminants. When animals are confined in cages, pens, stalls, or even houses without attention to sanitation in the form of human intervention, their enclosures quickly become saturated with waste. This creates an unsanitary environment that is not only extremely unpleasant for the animal, but also subjects them to injury and illness. In practical terms, we do not mean that sanitary environments are sterilized and germ free, but we are expecting domestic animals to be kept in such a way that they can get free from their own waste. Constant exposure to feces and urine causes scalding wounds and accompanying infections, fumes from ammonia in urine‐soaked enclosures (Figure 3.2) lead to respiratory and eye irritation, and all manner of parasites proliferate in areas where feces build up over time.
Figure 3.2 The multiple wounds and abscesses on the dog in this photo can be attributed to the conditions within her run and shelter.
Source: Oregon Humane Society.
3.3.1 Some Considerations Regarding Sanitation
3.3.1.1 Stalls, Kennel Runs, Litterboxes
Areas where animals defecate and urinate need to be maintained. They should not be overflowing with waste so that animals must stand in or on their waste when confined within or accessing these areas. A buildup of waste attracts insects and harbors parasites. Animals within these environments are often heavily parasitized and may suffer from wounds or ulcers with maggots present in the surrounding fur or wool.
3.3.1.2 Ammonia/Urine
If the smell of ammonia is overwhelming in the home or area where the animals are housed, this is a hazard for both humans and animals and can damage respiratory function, sinuses, and eyes. Contact with urine on the skin causes chemical burns and ulcers, and can lead to infections over time.
3.3.1.3 Contaminated/Spoiled Food, Dirty Food, and Water Receptacles
The area and containers where animals eat and drink need to be safe and reasonably clean (Figure 3.3). Contamination from feces and urine, rotten food, chemicals, or other environmental contaminants poses an immediate risk to an animal's health. Parasitic infections, bacterial, and protozoal diseases are spread by animals ingesting the infectious agent while eating or drinking.
3.4 Food and Water
A good investigator always checks for food and water. However, as is the case with so many aspects of animal cruelty investigations, there are many factors at play to consider when assessing these two critical requirements.
Figure 3.3 Contaminated food and water pose health risks to animals.
Source: Oregon Humane Society.
Food and water must be of a quantity and quality that is beneficial to the animals. A canary who is fed only parrot food will not be able to break open the large seeds and gain adequate nutrition from his diet even though his bowl is always full. Likewise, if a horse has overgrown teeth that have not been maintained in some time, the horse will roll its hay or grass into a ball in its mouth repeatedly and eventually drop it. The horse's teeth lack the flat surface that allows it to grind the hay or grass into pieces it can swallow. A horse with this problem can starve to death in a pasture full of grass. A dozen cats may have access to a large hopper of dry food, but the group has established a hierarchy in which a percentage of older, weaker cats are denied access to the food by younger, more dominant ones. Water bowls and troughs may be full, but on closer inspection, there is no water service to the property, which could mean the animals are at the mercy of the rain to provide the water they need to sustain life.
Food and nutrition are areas where human ignorance often precedes animal suffering. The role of the veterinarian, animal control officers, and law enforcement in educating owners about proper nutrition should always come first when responding and identifying a problem. Many times, individuals take on pets or livestock without properly researching their care and feeding requirements.
3.4.1 Assessment of Food and Water
3.4.1.1 Accessibility
Are there enough food and water receptacles for the number of animals? Can all the animals reach the containers? Is there a hierarchy within the population leading to resource guarding and lack of access? Is there running water on the property or are the animals dependent on rainwater? Are receptacles and water sources frozen over?
3.4.1.2 Type and Amount
Is the food appropriate for the species? Are the animals actually eating it? Is there a store of food on hand that gives you confidence
