The subject of the study were dogs divided into two groups according to body weight: up to 10 kg and from 10 kg to 30 kg. The aim of the study was to determine the dynamics of the post-mortem decrease in rectal and kidney temperature. The temperature was measured on both sites at the same time using a thermometer connected to a computer, under constant environmental conditions of the necropsy room. In these animals, a higher temperature in the kidneys persisted for the duration of the study. Comparative analysis between mean differences in kidney and rectal temperature in small and large dogs showed the greatest temperature amplitude in the group of small dogs, both for the kidney and the rectum. The greatest decrease in temperature, 1.2°C, was noted for the kidney in small dogs between 4 and 6 hours after death. Analysis of the dynamics of the decrease in kidney and rectal temperature for both weight groups combined, and the difference in temperature between the kidney and the rectum in the time intervals analysed showed that in the fi rst two hours the difference between kidney and rectal temperature did not exceed 0.5°C. Two hours after death the difference in temperature between the two measurement sites was about 0.5°C after which time dropped below 0.5ºC.

Determination of the exact time of death of a human being or animal is extremely important for investigations conducted by law enforcement agencies. The development of a single model of tests and analysis of the site of the incident would be a breakthrough for forensic and veterinary medicine in estimating the exact time of death. Microorganisms play a key role in the putrefaction process. Each stage of decomposition is characterized by the colonization of tissues by different microbial taxa. The objective of the study was to determine the suitability of microbiological tests for establishing the time of death, using the example of the gastrocnemius muscle in a dog (German Shepherd). The results of the study showed that sporulating aerobic bacteria of the species Bacillus cereus, as well as anaerobic bacteria, played a major role in the putrefaction process. No E. coli were found in the material. The first bacterial colonies belonging to the Bacillus cereus group were observed on the 7th day after the death of the animal, and their quantitative growth persisted throughout the study period, i.e. until the 21st day after death. The analysis carried out in this study shows that Bacillus cereus bacteria appear much sooner than anaerobic bacteria.

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The paper presents the results of research on body weight and the formation of population structures (age and sex) of hares in south-eastern Poland (Lublin Upland) conducted in 2019. 205 hares from four regions were analysed, differing in terms of density, and thus the hunting exploitation of the population in these areas. The obtained results showed that the body weight was determined by the age of the individuals, while sex had no significant effect on this parameter. Despite the significant variability of body weight in individual research areas, no significant differences in this feature between regions of origin were found.The age structure was dominated by adults (over 1 year of age), especially in areas with low population densities. In terms of sex structure, females clearly dominated. It has been shown that the described population structures can have a direct impact on the indicators of reproductive capacity and population continuity. Although the sample size was small in the low-density areas, the calculated indicators suggest that these populations are at serious risk of viability. In areas with higher density indicators, the possibilities of limiting hunting should be considered in order to maintain the level of density that guarantees optimal functioning of the population and its durability.

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