How is 'animal remains' defined?

The definition of "animal remains" as the body or part of the body of a dead animal in any stage of decomposition encompasses a broad range of conditions that a deceased animal's body may be in. This definition recognizes that animal remains can vary significantly from fresh carcasses to fully decomposed remains, thus accounting for the natural processes of decay. Understanding this definition is vital in veterinary practices and regulatory contexts because it determines how stays of care and handling of deceased animals are managed, including considerations for public health and sanitation, as well as the regulations regarding the disposal of animal remains.

Other definitions, while they touch on aspects of the concept, are more narrowly focused. For example, defining animal remains strictly as a carcass does not include advanced decomposition stages. Mentioning animal parts that can still be used for research would be limiting, as it implies a restriction to usable parts, which isn't the essence of the broad definition. Lastly, referencing fossilized remains of extinct species moves into the realm of paleontology rather than the veterinary focus on contemporary animal remains, thus making it irrelevant in the context of defining "animal remains" within veterinary practice.