On the issue of forensic examination of the corpses of dogs and cats killed as a result of falling from a height

Abstract

The article provides an overview of the causes and circumstances of animal falls from a height in comparison with similar cases in humans. In forensic veterinary practice, there are cases of injury and/or death of animals due to falls from a height, as a rule, criminal proceedings are opened in the circumstances of falls from the windows of high-rise buildings. The main question that the investigation needs to answer in such cases is whether the animal fell out of the window on its own initiative or was thrown intentionally. In the latter case, such acts are considered cruelty to animals and the perpetrator of such a crime is liable under the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Four cases of dogs and cats falling from a height are considered, forensic veterinary examinations on which were carried out in specialized institutions in Kyiv. In three of these cases, the victims were dogs, and in the fourth case, a cat with kittens. In three of the four cases, the animals were thrown out of the window intentionally. The forensic veterinary examination was carried out by performing a forensic autopsy with a description, photographing the findings and drawing up a forensic expert's conclusions based on the results. The following consequences of falling from a height were found: spleen ruptures were observed in 57 % of cases, liver ruptures in 71.5 % of cases, fractures of various bones in 57 % of cases, hemoperitoneum in 86 % of cases, hemothorax in 14 % of cases, cranial hemorrhages in 28.5 % of cases, lung rupture in 14 % of cases, subcutaneous hematomas, hemorrhages in the thickness or under the capsule of internal organs, anemia, and exsanguination in 100 % of cases. One of the animals also had a ruptured bladder. Death in all cases occurred immediately or within hours of the fall due to fatal blood loss. The small number of bone injuries, usually of the peripheral skeleton, in animals compared to humans is explained by the ability of animals to group during a fall and the cushioning properties of thick hair. It is recommended that when performing forensic veterinary examinations of animal corpses that have died as a result of falling from a height, the presence of injuries caused by the mechanical impact of impact on a hard surface (wounds, bone fractures), injuries caused by concussion (tears of internal organs and blood vessels, hemorrhages), the presence or absence of other injuries or pathological processes should be taken into account.