Forensic Investigations

Sadly sometimes you may find evidence or remains that suggest that your pet may be deceased.  Forensic tests include DNA matching, fur analysis, necropsies and presumptive blood tests.

DNA Tests

The University of California Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory provides "peace of mind" DNA analysis for missing pet cases.  In order to do this, you will need a sample of your lost pet's DNA to be matched with DNA from the animal remains that you found.  For more information, check out the Frequently Asked Questions on their website.

Fur Analysis

Comparative fur analysis is another option for determining whether animal remains may be those of your lost pet.  In this case you will need a sample of fur from your missing pet and a sample from the remains.  This test is not as definitive as a DNA test, but it is considerably cheaper (around $150 instead of hundreds of dollars).  Lost Pet Detection offers comparative fur analysis with a highly regarded forensic scientist.

Necropsy

A necropsy is an autopsy of a deceased animal.  If you find your pet's remains (even partial remains), you may want a necropsy to determine what caused their death.  A diagnostic necropsy is used to determine the cause, mode and manner of death.  However, if you need the results for legal purposes, you will want a forensic necropsy instead.  

Start by contacting your veterinarian to see if they know someone local that might perform a necropsy.  Also, be sure to ask them about how to store and preserve the remains.  If you can't find someone local or you need the results for a legal case, the Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory (VFSL) at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, performs both diagnostic and forensic necropsies.  Visit their website for more information.  

Blood Stain Tests

In some cases, you may just find piles of fur and nothing else.  Even a seemingly large pile of fur may be the result of a cat fight rather an attack by a predator.  To determine if it is likely that an animal was killed at that location, you could try a latent blood test using luminol.  This is sprayed on the ground in the dark and will glow a bright blue when it contacts blood.  You may have seen this used on some CSI type TV shows like Dexter.  However, contrary to how it is commonly shown on TV, you do not need a black light to get the blue illumination.  A large concentration of blood would suggest that an animal was killed and consumed at that location.  

Here is a distribution list of companies that carry luminol products such as BlueStar.  Some companies may not sell luminol to the general public so you may need to contact a Pet Detective to conduct the test for you.  For a list of pet detectives, check out the Guide to Finding a Pet Detective or Search Dog.