Live webinar presented by Clarissa Noureddine DVM, MS (Veterinary Forensics), MS (Biology)
November 4, 2021, 1:00 pm
60 min of CLE credit anticipated
Animal abuse cases can be charged with strong emotions and opinions from multiple entities (e.g., general public, media, and even legal and law enforcement entities). The purpose of this webinar is to step away from the highly charged nature of these cases to unveil and help explain the objective realities of animal cruelty cases. The webinar will give attendees an understanding of animal abuse, veterinary forensics, and ways in which a forensic veterinarian can assist in cruelty investigations, case evaluations, and expert testimony.
An overview of animal abuse will be provided so the audience can first become familiar with the different types of animal abuse (e.g., neglect, non-accidental injury, organized fighting, sexual abuse). The emerging field of veterinary forensics will also be introduced to build a foundational understanding of how animal abuse case investigations are handled and the impact of mishandling on case integrity. Finally, the presentation will tie together how a forensic veterinarian can be invaluable for ensuring an animal cruelty case is approached in an objective and unbiased manner. Case examples will be utilized to illustrate concepts and provide clarity around topics.
Registration:
This program is part of the 2021 IDS Forensic Science Education Series. The webinars will be presented monthly and are free to attend. Attorneys who want CLE credit for attending will be billed $3.50 per credit hour by the State Bar. Use this link to register for all webinars in the series and attend any that are of interest.
Presenter:
Dr. Clarissa Noureddine is a practicing small animal veterinarian in Greensboro and owner of ForensiVet Mobile Veterinary & Forensic Consulting, PLLC. In 2017, she completed a Master of Science degree program with a concentration in Veterinary Forensic Science through the University of Florida / ASPCA distance learning graduate program. She graduated with a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Florida in 1997, an M.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1999, and a DVM from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. As a forensic veterinarian, Dr. Noureddine provides assistance with animal abuse casework, including veterinary forensic examinations and diagnostics, creating veterinary forensic reports, evidence collection and handling, guidance with crime scene processing, case review and consultation, and expert testimony. From July 2019 to June 2021, Dr. Noureddine was also the Veterinary Medical Director for Guilford County Animal Shelter. In this role she was responsible for supervising the overall health of all shelter animals while also overseeing the medical team, behavior program, foster program, and all aspects of medical care for shelter animals. Dr. Noureddine was also in charge of veterinary forensic examinations, and she worked directly with Animal Control in animal cruelty investigations. Dr. Noureddine holds certifications in Fear Free Medicine, Pet CPR training, and FEMA Animal Disaster Awareness and Preparedness. Dr. Noureddine is a reviewer for the Journal of Veterinary Forensic Sciences, and she is a member of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association (IVFSA), American Academy of Forensic Sciences