Animal abuse cases reported to the Veterinary Forensic Expert Centre.

Abstract

Animal abuse is still a major problem in the Netherlands, but little is known about its prevalence and features. This study analyzed 85 cases submitted to the Veterinary Forensic Expert Center (Landelijk Expertisecentrum Dierenmishandeling – LED) between 2018 and early 2025. The purpose of this study was to examine the types, prevalence, and geographic distribution of abuse, as well as the animals that were most affected. After applying inclusion criteria, 72 usable cases were analyzed, with 35 (48.6%) confirmed as animal abuse. This study found an almost equal distribution between cats (52.6%) and dogs (47.4%), between males (57.9%) and females (42.1%), and a non-significant higher rate of abuse in younger animals. In contrast to previous studies that reported dogs, male animals, and adult animals as the most common victims of animal abuse. The majority of confirmed cases involved physical abuse (45.7%), and fractures were the most common indicator of physical abuse. Although there was no apparent geographic trend, the greatest number of cases were reported in urban areas such as Utrecht, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. The study highlights the importance of consistent, thorough case reporting and speculates that greater awareness, and better detection could lead to a better understanding of abuse cases in the future. The results highlight the necessity of continued veterinarian collaboration in order to identify and stop abuse, as well as the ongoing significance of the LED as a reporting and diagnostic tool.