Task Force Information
Clergy Task Force meets at noon on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the Family Justice Center (August 1, October 3 and December 5, 2006)
Education Task Force meets 2nd Monday of every month, at 2:30pm, at the Family Justice Center
Elder Abuse Task Force meets 4th Friday of every month, at 9am
Family Violence Helpline
865-521-6336
CCFV
400 Harriet Tubman St
Knoxville, TN 37915
865-215-6854
Veterinary Medicine
The
veterinary practitioner may be one of the first medical professionals to
observe clues of domestic violence through the examination of injured,
sick or dead companion animals that may have been the victims of abuse
and/or neglect. The veterinary practitioner may be the focus of
disclosures by clients that raise ethical and/or legal issues that must
be dealt with. Some owners will not leave an abuse setting unless there
is a reasonable option of taking their companion animals as well.
Consequently, the veterinary practitioner may be asked for assistance in
sheltering companion animals so that the owner can leave the abusive
setting.
Because the veterinary medical profession can be involved in the link
between animal abuse and domestic violence in these and other ways,
members of the profession have specific needs in order to deal with
suspected or documented abusive situations.
These needs include:
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Knowledge of the physical and pathophysiological signs that are suggestive of abuse/neglect.
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Skill in collecting physical evidence that would be admissible in a court of law.
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Skill in gathering information from clients regarding possible abuse/neglect of animals.
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Knowledge of the laws, regulations and ordinances that apply to the professional responsibilities of veterinarians regarding the reporting of abuse/neglect of animals and humans.
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Knowledge of existing resources in the community that can provide needed services to clients including options for the sheltering of animals.
For more information, please contact us at ccfvinfo@yahoo.com