Investigating Animal Cruelty 63 An injury on a horse’s chest. (left); a bird’s eye view of an emaciated dog (right) or evidence of illness at this time as well. Handlers should start with the animals in the front of the property and then work back to the rear of the property when possible to avoid walking animals by each other. Try to take photos that accurately represent the property in its entirety. The incident commander (case lead) and field team lead should determine how the property will be divided up and labeled. Each separate animal enclosure should be given its own label. On large properties, especially those with several outbuildings, the area may need to be divided into zones. Each building should be labeled as a separate zone (letters work well) and then each enclosure inside the building should be given a separate number. Map the buildings and zones during this period to create an overall map of the property. Once the walkthrough is complete, finalize the field plan and assignments. The specific field plan will depend on many factors: how many animals are present, how large the property is, how many personnel are available and more. If possible, you might decide to have more than one field team in order to split up the property (by area or by inside/outside). In general, the number of field teams should not exceed the number of veterinarians available in order to avoid a backup at the vet station. During this regroup, ensure that everyone understands their assignments and to whom they report. The teams can then break into their specific groups (vet team, field team, etc.). Field removal Each field unit should consist of the following: team lead, handler(s), scribe and photographer. The team lead should ensure that protocol is followed for the removal and documentation of animals. In cases where the property is complicated or a large number of dogs is chained, the field teams may need to complete a more detailed map Executing a large-scale seizure
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