A new “Tool of Justice” is now available to fight Horse Theft and Fraud.
The EDNA testing method was introduced in April of 2005, and absolutely identifies one Horse from another using Equine Deoxyribonucleic acid. Simply stated, this test creates a genetic “Horse Fingerprint” using modern DNA technology.
The test method was designed and developed by Private Investigator Raymond Sigler of Wall Street Detective Services in Los Angeles, California.
Over the years Mr. Sigler received numerous calls regarding stolen Horses and became increasingly aware of the problem not only in the US, but world-wide.
It became apparent that science and modern technology was the answer, and the
University of California at Davis-School of Veterinary Science had the necessary experience and credentials.
The University is the primary laboratory for WSDS analyzing DNA from Equines. UCD has been used by many Breed organizations for the determination of lineage or paternity. The California State University system was first chartered in 1859 and the Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory is in the San Francisco bay area.
WSDS uses a different lab for DNA and Forensic testing regarding Human issues.
The EDNA forensic test is for pure identity only, not for determination of lineage, paternity, or presence of disease. The EDNA forensic test method is believed by experts to be 99.999999999999% accurate.
Besides the creation of a “Horse Fingerprint” with bar-code, there are several benefits from the EDNA test:
• A Horse can now be accurately tracked to a sale, transfer, slaughter or source of suspected disease and tested world-wide.
• Once tested, the Horse is permanently added to the EDNA all-breed Registry that’s non-public, confidential and maintained by WSDS as Custodian.
• Membership in the EDNA all-breed registry is for the Horse’s life.
• Changes in ownership, appearance or status may be updated at no charge.
• The U.S. court system, Law Enforcement and many developed countries accept this type of DNA evidence.
WSDS now uses the latest technology in DNA testing, the Avitar Oral screen.
This recently patented device manufactured by Avitar Inc. of Canton, Mass. is
currently used by Law Enforcement for similar DNA testing.
The Horse owner doesn’t need to pull hair anymore with this Oral DNA collector,
just extract some of the Horse’s own saliva. This non-evasive method is our standard test, but under some circumstances we still test Mane hair or Blood.
Criminals and Horse thieves now fear the EDNA test. The three simple reasons are:
1) EDNA Registration 2) undisputed accuracy 3) legal admissibility in court.
The EDNA test method now provides a system for Law Enforcement and Agriculture officials to do their jobs effectively.