About Us

At Ledgerock Veterinary Pathology, we provide a unique focus on forensic and non-forensic necropsies (animal autopsies). Led by the only forensic veterinarian in Washington State (one of fourteen in the world), our practice brings unmatched expertise to cases involving animal welfare, cruelty investigations, and legal disputes, alongside compassionate care for owners looking for answers about their pet's death.

Ledgerock Veterinary Pathology was created as a response to Seattle-area demand for high-quality, affordable, mobile necropsy services. Dr. Watson enjoys helping pet owners and veterinarians gain a better understanding of a beloved pet’s death, providing clear communication and making follow-up case discussions readily accessible.

Dr. Watson is board-certified in Anatomic Pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP), is a licensed veterinary specialist in the state of Washington, and is also a member of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association (IVFSA). Dr. Watson believes in providing collaborative care, and works closely with local veterinarians and numerous specialists including board-certified veterinary internists, cardiologists, oncologists, and clinical pathologists.

Providing Compassionate Answers, Advancing Animal Justice

Dr. Watson and the team at Ledgerock Veterinary Pathology are committed to the following:

Upholding the highest standards in forensic investigations, offering impartial and scientifically sound evaluations.
Partnering with animal welfare organizations, law enforcement, and attorneys to pursue justice in animal cruelty cases.
Offering non-forensic concierge veterinary pathology and animal autopsies with compassion and care.

Our commitment to animal welfare, justice, and scientific integrity guides every aspect of our services. From providing expert forensic consultations to offering clarity on the circumstances of an animal’s death, we focus on uncovering the truth and ensuring compassionate outcomes for both animals and the people who care for them.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened."

-Anatole France

Professional Presentations & Publications

PRESENTATIONS

Watson, C., King County Medical Examiner’s Office, “Veterinary Forensics”, Seattle, Washington, February 5^th, 2025.
Watson, C. and Moore, S., Shoreline Police Department, 8-hour seminar on Veterinary Forensics in WA state, Shoreline, Washington, November 8^th, 2024.
Watson, C., Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC), “Lesion Identification in past RASKC Forensic Animal Cases”, Renton, Washington, November 18, 2022.
Watson, C., Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission; Criminal Justice Training Center, “Antemortem and Postmortem Identification of Common Animal Diseases in Washington State”, Burien, Washington, September 15^th, 2022.
Watson, C., Charles River Laboratories, Global Pathology Presentation, “Findings Associated with Bispecific Antibodies and Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)”, Reno, Nevada, March 22, 2018.
Watson, C., University of Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Public Health Club, “Lesions Associated with Influenza A in Multiple Species”, Davis, California, March 29, 2018.
Watson, C., American College of Veterinary Pathologists 2016 Conference, “Pandemic H1N1 in Mink Kits”, December 3-7, 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Watson, C., La Cross Regional Veterinary Medical Association, “Necropsy techniques”, La Cross, Wisconsin, July 26, 2016.
Watson, C., Dane County Veterinary Medical Association Meeting; Morbidity and Mortality Rounds, “Mushroom toxicity in a dog”, April 28, 2016.
Watson, C., Sockett, D., Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Annual Conference, “Necropsy techniques”, March 18, 2016.
Watson, C. Midwest Veterinary Anatomic Pathology Conference, “Amyloidosis in a Non-Human Primate” July 31^st, 2014, Madison, WI.
Watson, C. Compelling Lab Animal Case Studies: “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore…” Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, 117^th Annual Meeting, February 6-8^th, 2014, Minneapolis, MN.
Watson, C. Western Conference of Veterinary Diagnostic Pathologists (WCVDP), “Dictyocaulus viviparous in a Beef Heifer”. October 4-5, 2013, Saskatoon, Canada.
Watson, C, et al. Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer, “The use of Novel Inhibitors of NF-κB in Various Human Cell Lines”. October 2001, New York.

PUBLICATIONS

Stephan, M., Hao, S., Zhang, F., Inamdar, V., Stephan, S., Watson, C., Weaver, S., Nielsen, U., Secretion of T-cell engagers from in situ programmed myeloid cells overcomes poor delivery kinetics, inefficient tumor penetration and autoimmune toxicity. Cancer Research, submitted August 24 2021.
Parayath, N.N., Hao, S., Stephan, S.B., Koehne, A.L., Watson, C.E., Stephan, M.T., Genetic in situ engineering of myeloid regulatory cells controls inflammation in autoimmunity. Journal of Controlled Release, accepted for publication 21 August 2021 (available online 24 August 2021).
Harvey, A., Watson, C., Angell, B., Aulik, N., Clarke, L., Corynebacterium mustelae endocarditis in a dog. Journal of Comparative Pathology, May 2021, v.185, pp. 82-86.
Watson, C.E., Bell, C., Kurth, K., H3N2 Canine Influenza Virus Infection in a Dog, Veterinary Pathology, December 2016, v.54; 3, pp. 527-530.
Watson, C. and Sobel, D. Endoscopy: A Noninvasive Solution. Veterinary Technician, January 1999, v.20, pp. 25-27, 37.

Advocating for Animals and the People Who Love Them

We are committed to protecting the welfare of animals through compassionate care, scientific expertise, and unwavering integrity—empowering pet owners, veterinarians, and legal professionals make informed decisions for justice and understanding.