UF Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory

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UF Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory

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The mission of the University of Florida Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory is to improve animal welfare for all animals, by fostering the application of the forensic sciences to veterinary medicine and assisting with animal cruelty investigations. We also encourage our community to foster respectful and vibrant online connections. Before you post, please consider the UF Core Values and revie

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09/04/2026

This week, the UF VFSL was at the Marion County Courthouse in Ocala to attend a change-of-plea hearing involving an equine cruelty case. VFSL personnel were available to answer questions during testimony related to the forensic animal autopsy and the findings documented during the animal death investigation. This hearing marked another important step in the pursuit of justice for animals using veterinary forensic science.

09/02/2026

Forensic Fact Wednesday. A veterinary forensic autopsy evaluates the entire animal and not simply for obvious wounds/injuries. The cause and mechanism of death requires integration of case history, scene information, gross and microscopic findings, ancillary testing, and consideration of reasonable alternative explanations.

08/31/2026

Every animal cruelty investigation deserves access to quality forensic analysis but unfortunately, not every agency has the resources to pay for it.

Our Veterinary Forensic Support Fund helps provide forensic services to agencies investigating animal cruelty, neglect, and other cases where funding is limited.

Your donation to our Veterinary Forensic Support Fund can help an investigator obtain the evidence they need when the resources simply aren't there.

Help us help them with your support to the Veterinary Forensic Support Fund.

https://giving.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/025307-veterinary-forensic-support-fund/

08/28/2026

Animal ForensiCon 2027 will be held May 12–14, 2027, at the Sirata Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida!

Hotel reservations are now open, so be sure to book your room early. We're putting the finishing touches on an outstanding educational program featuring hands-on workshops, expert-led masterclasses, and a comprehensive lecture series. The full conference schedule and registration details will be released soon. Select topics will include:

Parasites and neglect
Artifical intelligence and forensic science
Crime scene processing
Forensic photography
Veterinary forensic pathology
Money laundering and wildlife crimes

Mark your calendars! We look forward to seeing you in St. Pete Beach for Animal ForensiCon 2027!

More information can be found at:

https://animalforensics.vetmed.ufl.edu/training/2027-animal-forensicon/

08/26/2026

Forensic Fact Wednesday. Insects feeding on decomposing remains can accumulate some drugs and toxic substances. Insects can therefore provide useful toxicologic information when conventional tissues are severely decomposed, although insect concentrations cannot simply be equated with antemortem blood concentrations.

08/24/2026

New manuscript alert! The VFSL partnered with experts at the University of Florida and the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency in South Korea to examine the potential use of artificial intelligence in veterinary forensic investigations.

This research demonstrates the feasibility of using a large language model to classify veterinary forensic autopsy reports from feline cases and identify the causes of death.

An exciting step exploring how AI can support veterinary forensic science.

If you want to learn more about this research, please visit the following link!

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01652176.2026.2705200

08/20/2026

We’re proud to teach the Animal Control Officer III course in partnership with the National Animal Care & Control Association. We had 34 students complete the course. Congradulations to all!

This intensive three-day course focuses on the forensic skills needed to investigate crimes against animals from documenting the scene and properly handling animal evidence to forensic photography, evidence preservation, and submitting evidence for analysis.

Animal Control Officers learned how evidence collected at the scene can become critical later in an investigation and in the courtroom. Ultimately, this work will be used to seek justice for animal victims of abuse.

08/19/2026

Forensic Fact Wednesday. Rigor mortis is the postmortem stiffening of muscles caused by biochemical changes following death. Its onset and duration are influenced by factors such as ambient temperature, activity before death, and the animal's physiologic condition, making it generally unreliable as a precise indicator of the time of death.

08/17/2026

Dr. Adam Stern recently presented “See Something, Say Something” to the Hillsborough County Veterinary Medical Society at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center. He highlighted the critical role veterinarians can play in recognizing, documenting, and reporting suspected animal cruelty and neglect. He emphasized that these investigations are a team process, bringing together veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal control officers, investigators, and other professionals. Veterinary technicians are an essential part of that team, helping with detailed documentation, photography, evidence collection, and patient care. The presentation focused on practical ways veterinary professionals can strengthen investigations and ensure that important evidence is properly documented. Together, we can build stronger cases and better protect animals.

08/14/2026

Dr. Adam Stern recently spoke at the 2026 Florida Association of Medical Examiners (FAME) Annual Educational Conference in Daytona Beach, Florida, highlighting the important connection between animal cruelty and violence toward humans. His presentation emphasized the role of veterinary forensic medicine and pathology in identifying animal victims and recognizing evidence that may be relevant to broader investigations. He also discussed with FAME conference attendees the importance of collaboration among veterinarians, medical examiners, death investigators, law enforcement, and other forensic professionals when injured and deceased animals are found during human death investigations.

Address

Gainesville, FL
32610

Telephone

+13522944077

Website

https://animalforensics.vetmed.ufl.edu/

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