Retrospective analyzes of cruelty toward dogs and cats in the city of São Paulo

Abstract

The area of Legal Veterinary Medicine is growing due to the demand of society in restraining crimes against wildlife. In Brazil, little is known about the magnitude of this problem. Thus, this study set out to do a survey of cases in two separate bodies dealing with this type of crime in their routine care: the Autopsy Service, Department of Pathology FMVZ / USP and the Instrumental Analysis Center of the Institute Forensic São Paulo (NAI / IC). This survey enabled the visualization of a qualitative and quantitative profile of the seen cases of abuse committed against dogs and cats in the period 2003 to 2007. The conclusions are: cats are more affected than dogs by the practice of maltreatment; there is no difference regarding sex, but age is a determinant factor, therefore young animals are predominantly maltreated; and the agents most commonly used to cause intentional poisoning are carbamates.