Webinar - Animal maltreatment in veterinary practice: how to recognize and respond effectively
Presented by Dr. Shane Bateman , DVM, DVSc, Diplomate ACVECC , MSc (Veterinary Forensic Science)
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Synopsis:
Animal maltreatment is often under-recognized and under-reported in veterinary practice, frequently due to uncertainty about clinical thresholds, discomfort with difficult conversations, or lack of clarity around professional responsibilities. Yet veterinarians hold a critical role at the intersection of animal welfare, public safety, and the criminal justice system.
Hosted by Dr Shane Bateman this practical one-hour session will provide veterinary professionals with a clear, confidence-building framework for recognizing and responding to suspected animal maltreatment. Drawing on clinical experience, veterinary forensic principles, and trauma-informed practice, the webinar will cover what to look for, how to assess concerning presentations, and how to respond appropriately within both clinical and legal contexts.
Participants will gain insight into how veterinary observations, documentation, and decision-making can contribute to animal welfare investigations and legal proceedings—without requiring veterinarians to act as investigators or legal experts. Emphasis will be placed on understanding professional roles, ethical boundaries, and collaborative pathways with animal welfare authorities and law enforcement.
You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and interact directly with our expert.
- Language: English
- Place: Online
- Intended audience: All animal health professionals
- Date: March 5, 2026
- Time: 12 h p.m. Eastern time
- Duration: 1 hour
Objectives:
- Identify clinical, historical, and contextual indicators of animal maltreatment, and distinguish accidental injury from presentations that warrant concern using a structured, trauma-informed clinical approach.
- Describe the veterinarian’s professional role within the broader animal welfare and criminal justice system, including how clinical observations, medical records, and documentation may contribute to investigations and legal proceedings without assuming an investigative role.
- Apply practical, ethically sound strategies for responding to suspected animal maltreatment, including appropriate patient care, documentation, communication, and use of Canadian reporting pathways—while maintaining professional boundaries and client safety.
Presenter:
Shane Bateman , DVM, DVSc, Diplomate ACVECC , MSc (Veterinary Forensic Science)
Shane Bateman is a Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Guelph, and a board-certified specialist in Emergency and Critical Care. With over two decades of experience in clinical veterinary medicine, he brings a unique perspective to veterinary forensics, combining acute care expertise with a long-standing commitment to animal welfare.
Dr. Bateman served as Chair of the Board of the Guelph Humane Society for a decade, playing a pivotal role in the development of its new $10 million shelter facility. He has also led outreach initiatives delivering preventive veterinary services to underserved populations and First Nations communities in Ontario. These experiences shaped his leadership in founding the Kim & Stu Lang Community Healthcare Partnership Program—an innovative veterinary education and service program built on a One Welfare approach.
During a sabbatical in 2022, Dr. Bateman completed a Master’s in Veterinary Forensic Science at the University of Florida. Since then, he has worked to build veterinary forensics into the OVC curriculum, including the development of an elective clinical rotation. He is particularly interested in how forensic principles can support practitioners—including those in equine and large animal practice—in Recognizing, Reporting and Responding to animal maltreatment. He is committed to fostering strong collaborations with law enforcement and criminal justice professionals to strengthen investigations and ensure effective prosecution of animal maltreatment cases.