Woolf Veterinary Forensics Consulting, Inc.

Woolf Veterinary Forensics was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in northern California.

Jennifer Woolf, DVM, MS, President

Dr. Woolf received her D.V.M. and M.S. (concentration: Veterinary Forensic Sciences) from the University of Florida. Over the years, she has worked in private practices and animal welfare organizations as well as performing relief veterinary services for many years.  In 2014 she founded Woolf Veterinary Forensics Consulting where she lectures internationally on animal abuse, the Link, and veterinary forensics, as well as investigating and consulting on individual cases.  She also works for Veterinary Information Network (VIN), behind the scenes and upfront writing articles and developing materials on animal abuse and veterinary forensics for VIN members and the general public. Dr. Woolf is a former instructor in the UF Veterinary Forensic Sciences Online Graduate Programs and was a 2018-2019 Donald G. Low-CVMA Practitioner Fellowship at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine in the Anatomic Pathology Department.  Dr. Woolf is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association (IVFSA), the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA), and a founding member of the Alameda County Animal Cruelty Task Force.  Previously she has served on the boards of the IVFSA and the Contra Costa County Veterinary Medical Association. She has seen cases from the crime scene to the courtroom, including testifying, where she has been declared an expert witness in small animal veterinary medicine and in the identification and treatment of abused animals.

Dr. Woolf has also been a peer-reviewer and has authored several articles and a book chapter, some of which are listed here:

• Woolf, J. “Working with the Veterinarian to Build an Animal Abuse Case”  Animal Care & Control Today (Spring 2023)
• Woolf, J. “The Link: the Connection between Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence”  Veterinary Partner  (July 20, 2021). 

• Woolf, J. “Animal Victims of the Human Opioid Crisis”  VetzInsight  (July 2, 2021). 
• Woolf, J. “Hurting Pets for Attention”  Veterinary Partner  (May 28, 2021).
• Woolf, J. “Language Matters: The False Dichotomy of Kill/No-Kill”  VetzInsight  (May 7, 2021).  
• Woolf, J. (January 8, 2021) "Masking the Problem" VetzInsight
• Woolf, J., & Stern, A. (July/Aug. 2020). "Identifying Signs of Animal Abuse" Today's Veterinary Practice.
• Woolf, J. (May 1, 2020). "You, Too, Can Be a Foster Failure" VetzInsight.
• Woolf, J. (February 28, 2020). "What Does Cockfighting Have to Do with Backyard Chickens?" VetzInsight.
• Woolf, J., & Brinker, J. (November 18, 2019). "Has the no-kill movement increased animal suffering?" VIN News Service.
• Woolf, J. (November 4, 2019). "Consideration for Classroom Critters" 
• Woolf, J. (August 26, 2019). "Self-victimization and Animal Neglect" 
• Woolf, J. (July 15, 2019). "Is It a Rescue Group or an Animal Hoarder?" VetzInsight
• Woolf, J. (June 10, 2019). "Are Veterinarians Required to Report Animal Cruelty?" 
• Woolf, J., & Brinker, J. (2017). Forensic Physical Examination of the Cat and Dog. (pp. 109-152). In Veterinary Forensics: Investigation, Evidence Collection, and Expert Testimony.Rogers, E., & Stern, A. W. (Eds.). CRC Press.
• Woolf, J. A. (2015). How can veterinarians be reporters of animal abuse when they are not taught to recognize it?. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 247(12), 1363-1364.
• Woolf, J. (2015) Red Flags for Animal Abuse and Cruelty. California Veterinarian, 69:13.

View Jennifer Woolf's profile

"Fantastic presentation today!  I also appreciate the time you took in answering a difficult question."

-- Stefanie Geckler, Animal Control Supervisor, Animal Rescue, Care, and Shelter Coordinator, Nevada County Sheriff's Office

"Thanks again for the information you provided during our training. You did a great job and the information was well received."

-- Chuck Mallett, Pensacola Police Dept., FL 

 "I thought your lecture was great...it was well thought out. The information was well defined, readily accessible and flowed in a logical manner. ...My staff had only good things to say about your lectures. I would come and listen to you again anytime."

-- Jen Dalmasso, DVM