Forensic vet teaches students to identify, report animal abuse/neglect

In 2018 Bateman attended a conference for Humane Canada, an animal welfare advocacy organization.

“[It] focused on bringing together interdisciplinary professionals to discuss how cruelty against animals is part of a cycle of family violence that affects children, intimate partners and elders in the home,” Bateman told the Advertiser, noting the cycle is often called “the violence link.”

During the conference, veterinarian Dr. Melinda Merck spoke about victims of animal abuse and how they rarely see justice in the current system.

“She was the inspiring force” behind Bateman’s actions today, he said.

Bateman and colleague Emily Brouwer now teach final-year students ways to identify and report animal abuse with confidence.

Link to full story here.