Things can get lost. Always make copies of your notes and photos, and only turn over copies to others. It is a truism that a picture is worth a thousand words. This is especially true if a case goes to a jury. Being able to see the actual scene and condition of the animal is the best evidence.
Photographs do the best job of convincing a judge or jury of the animal's true condition.
They give an actual image to show what the problem is. There is little left open to interpretation. If you happen to have access to a video camera, use it to document the conditions that you see. Such a video would be very valuable as evidence in a court case. In the context of animal cases, this means that if an animal is in peril of imminent death, you can intervene to save the life of the animal.