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Virginia Maxwell

Board Member

A lifelong animal lover, Virginia brings 28 years of forensic science experience to combatting the maltreatment of animals. Formerly a forensic scientist at the State of Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, she is now a Professor in the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven. Her research focus involves different ways of using Forensic Science in animal cruelty investigation with current projects including environmental degradation of physical evidence, analyzing crime data to predict animal fighting locations, dog fighting, and cruelty in animal “sports”. In conjunction with Attorney Jessica Rubin, she has established a formal collaboration between the University of Connecticut School of Law and the University of New Haven for the investigation of animal cruelty. This collaboration is to provide support to animal control officers, first responders and attorneys, and others involved in investigations, as well as humane education and additional research initiatives. Having grown up around farms in the United Kingdom, she is interested in the lives of farmed animals. With the cooperation of a local dairy farm, she has been able to help three cows retire to sanctuaries: Pippi and the Princess to Farm Sanctuary, and Allie to JP Farm Animal Sanctuary. The photo shows Princess as her yellow ear tags were removed shortly before leaving for Farm Sanctuary. She lives in Hebron with her family, a rescue dog, and two cats.

Virginia Maxwell
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