Cruelty/Crime Connection: Breaking the Chain
Workshops

The conference is meant for professionals from all kinds of animal and human service areas. Accordingly, this conference includes a unique combination of general sessions and a choice of two workshops specific to different professional areas. One workshop is primarily for social workers and humane societies; the other is primarily for law enforcement personnel and veterinarians. For planning purposes, we are asking you to specify which workshop you plan to attend. You are not obligated to attend that workshop but the information will help in determining space requirements.

Human/Animal Interactions Workshop

This workshop features a number of topics led by two experts in social work and research. Dr. Christina Risley-Curtiss, associate professor of Social Work at Arizona State University, conducts research in the human-animal bond and child welfare and is developing a diversion program for children and youth who have abused animals. Frank R. Ascione, PhD, is a leading researcher of child and adolescent animal abuse and has collaborated with numerous human service and correctional agencies. He has written numerous books and papers on these and related topics.

The workshop topics will include:

• Integrating animals into social work research, practice and education
• Animal welfare and elder abuse
• Assessment and treatment for animal abusers.

Animal CSI Workshop

This workshop focuses on the emerging field of veterinary forensics, an important topic for law enforcement and veterinarians called on to be an expert witness. Dr. Merck frequently testifies as a forensic veterinary expert for animal cruelty cases and conducts seminars for veterinarians and law enforcement officers. She is the author of Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigations (2007), and co-author of Veterinary Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty: A Guide for Veterinarians and Law Enforcement(2007).