'CSI' Goes To The Dogs

See Also: 'Lying Down with Dogs' Episode Guide

CSI isn't just for people any more.

Dr Melinda Merck is a veterinarian who works for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and she also helped to write the latest episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, "Lying Down with Dogs". The episode deals with illegal dogfighting, and this type of animal cruelty is all-too-familiar to Merck. She was involved in the investigation against former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was recently sentenced to 23 months in prison and three years probation for his involvement in a dogfighting operation.

"Animal cruelty is a tough case to investigate and prosecute, because we have victims that can't testify and it's almost completely based on evidence," Merck told the New York Post. Collecting that evidence just got a little bit easier for the ASPCA. The group unveiled the first Mobile Animal Crime Scene Investigation Unit this week. The 26-foot-long, $220,000 van was donated anonymously, and it comes equipped with medical equipment and forensic tools to help the ASPCA gather evidence and examine animals wherever the alleged abuse takes place.

"Basically like a human CSI with a few extras," Dr. Merck said, describing the van to CBS. "We can identify blood evidence, fibers and fluids and we can collect that evidence and preserve the chain of custody which is preserving the integrity of the evidence." The van is also equipped to care for abused animals on scene. The unit is currently stationed in Georgia and will be used to investigate predominantly "large scale cases" involving puppy mills or dogfighting. Merck described the van as a "dream come true" for combating animal cruelty. "It's all about the evidence," Merck said. "Follow the evidence and the evidence doesn't lie."

The original articles come from the New York Post and WCBSTV.

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