IVFSA 2025 Webinar Series
Join leading experts in veterinary forensics for our 2025 webinar series, exploring the critical intersections of animal cruelty, animal fighting, entomology, wildlife trafficking, and more. Whether you're new to the field or looking to sharpen your skills, these sessions are designed to inform and empower.
All webinars are held live at 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET
Cost: Free for IVFSA Members | $30 for Non-Members
Location: Online via Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Cockfighting Investigations
Presenters: Janette Reever & Michelle Gonzalez-Monska
Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025
Explore the world of cockfighting investigations, including commonly found paraphernalia, medical indicators of fighting, and the forensic evidence used to support prosecutions.
Become a member to access the archived recording!
Introduction to Wildlife Forensic Entomology
Presenter: Dr. David Rivers, Loyola University Maryland
Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025
Discover how insects contribute to legal investigations involving animals. Learn how forensic entomology supports veterinary forensics, from estimating postmortem intervals to identifying signs of neglect and abuse.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of insects in medicolegal cases
- Recognize their importance in postmortem interval estimations
- Identify how entomological evidence supports animal welfare investigations
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Co-Occurring Animal Cruelty and Human Interpersonal Violence
Presenter: Dr. Robert Reisman
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Learn how animal abuse can be a critical warning sign of broader violence within a household. This session explores the link between animal cruelty and human interpersonal violence using real-world case studies.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify all potential victims in violent households
- Recognize tactics abusers use to exert control
- Differentiate accidental from non-accidental injuries
- Understand patterns of cruelty when abuse overlaps
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Practical Applications of Recent Veterinary Forensic Advances for Documenting Suspected Cases of Organized Dogfighting
Presenter: Dr. Rachel Touroo
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
Documenting animals suspected of being involved in organized dogfighting can be a daunting and
overwhelming request. This lecture will provide participants with an overview of organized dogfighting,
discuss best practices for documenting animals as evidence in this particular case type, and highlight
recent literature providing evidence-based patterns of injury to assist veterinarians in rendering an
expert opinion as to the cause(s) of injuries that may be observed in these cases.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the pattern of injury consistent with organized dogfighting.
- Differentiate between injuries caused by organized dogfighting and those caused by a spontaneous dog fight.
- Summarize the common physical exam findings associated with dogs that have been or are intended to be fought.
- Explain how to appropriately document physical exam findings on dogs that have been fought.
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Current Trends in Wildlife Forensic Science
Presenter: Barry Baker
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Examine how modern forensic science is evolving to meet the growing threats of wildlife trafficking and environmental crimes. This session will highlight emerging tools, technologies, and investigative techniques.
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Archived Webinars
Missed a session? IVFSA members can access archived webinars from past years on demand from the Resource Library. Topics include clinical forensics, animal cruelty investigations, forensic pathology, and jurisprudence.
Log in to view the full library.