Lockgate Animal Forensics Ltd.

A family run business with a husband and wife team of Directors, Dr Sean Taylor BVSc GPCert(F&L) MRCVS MAE and Mrs Melissa Taylor RVN.

Sean has been in Veterinary Practice since 1994, qualifying as a Veterinary Surgeon from Liverpool University. Since then he has been involved in a variety of Veterinary Practices. Since 2004 he has been the director of his own companion small animal practice with his wife Melissa who is an RCVS registered veterinary nurse with an interest in animal behaviour.

Sean has a wealth of experience in Veterinary Forensics involving companion small animals (Dogs, Cats and small furries, rabbits, etc.) He has been awarded the General Practitioners Certificate in Forensics and Law by the European School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies and is an accredited expert and full practising member of the Academy of Experts.

As an expert witness his areas of expertise lie mainly within the welfare of companion small animals and the Animal Welfare Act 2006, although he is also proficient in other areas of animal law, having been trained in:

The laws applicable to animals in the UK
Bitemark analysis and the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
Sexual abuse of animals
Ballistics and Firearm injuries
Blunt Force Trauma and Asphyxiation
Sharp Force Trauma
Neglect/Starvation
Crime Scene Analysis and Evidence Collection
Interpretation of DNA analysis
Interpretation of Hair analysis
Interpretation of Post Mortem findings
Forensic Reasoning

Having been instructed as a Veterinary Expert by a variety of parties in both prosecution and defence of cases (Private Solicitors, Police/CPS, RSPCA, Local Authorities), Sean has clocked up a number of hours in the witness stand, having been an Expert Witness in 50+ cases annually, in recent years.

He has been invited to speak at academic seminars involving Veterinary Forensics.

His clinical knowledge of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery is kept up to date as a practising Veterinary Surgeon as well as being the nominated Veterinary Surgeon for Bury Metropolitan Borough Council and Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council to assist in the licensing assessment of breeding establishments, boarding establishments and Pet shops. Sean has also been involved with and is the Veterinary adviser to Channel 5’s ‘The Dog Rescuers’ (Series 3).