Legality of bestiality by country or territory

2013-08-24T21:17:41Z

70.66.27.0: /* National laws */

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{{Cleanup-bare URLs|date=April 2013}}
{{POV-check|date=July 2011}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2012}}
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'''Zoophilia and the law''' looks at the laws governing [[zoophilia|humans having sex with animals]] around the world.

== Legal context ==
Laws on bestiality tend to be shaped by animal welfare concerns, moral views and cultural beliefs. Animal welfare bodies usually, but not always, view zoophilia as a matter of animal abuse.

== Recent legislation ==
For centuries, sexual acts with animals were penalized under sodomy or "crime against nature" laws. Since the 1950s most such general laws have been repealed and in some places they have been replaced by laws which are specifically anti-bestiality. Most of these new laws have been created in the 2000s and early 2010s; for example, bestiality was banned in [[Pennsylvania]] in 1999,<ref>http://articles.philly.com/1999-06-04/news/25497636_1_bestiality-pennsylvania-lawmakers-sexual-activity</ref> [[Iowa]] in 2001,<ref>http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusiast717B_1_717E.htm#s717C_1</ref> [[Illinois]] in 2002,<ref>http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-11614863.html</ref> [[Maryland]] in 2002,<ref>http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmd10_601_622.htm#s3_322</ref> [[Washington (state)]] in 2006,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002838346_bestiality02m.html | work=The Seattle Times | first=Jennifer | last=Sullivan | title=Lawmakers vote to make bestiality illegal in this state | date=2 March 2006}}</ref> [[Arizona]] in 2006,<ref>http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2006/05/24/13598-governor-signs-bill-to-ban-bestiality/</ref> [[Indiana]] in 2007,<ref>http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusinst35_46_3_1_13.htm</ref> [[Tennessee]] in 2007,<ref>http://ohmygov.com/blogs/general_news/archive/2009/03/21/states-considering-laws-against-bestiality.aspx</ref> [[Colorado]] in 2007,<ref name="zoocolorado">{{cite news| url=http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_5682180 |title=Bill adds bestiality to animal cruelty law | work=Denver Post | first=Jennifer | last=Brown |date=April 17, 2007 }}</ref> [[Alaska]] in 2010,<ref name="politicsdaily.com">http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/01/27/bill-to-criminalize-bestiality-advances-in-alaska-legislature/</ref> and [[Florida]] in 2011 (by [[Nan Rich]]);<ref>http://miami.cbslocal.com/2011/05/05/anti-bestiality-law-finally-passes-in-florida/</ref> outside the U.S. zoophilia was outlawed in [[Norway]] in 2008,<ref>http://africanpress.me/2007/11/17/sex-with-animals-to-be-banned-in-norway/</ref> [[The Netherlands]] in 2010,<ref>http://www.last.fm/forum/23/_/599411</ref> and [[Australian Capital Territory|Australia's capital territory]] in 2011.<ref>http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_40369/20101209-46298/pdf/db_40369.pdf</ref>

== Background ==

=== International differences ===
Some jurisdictions list laws very clearly, such as [[England and Wales]], which specifically prohibits penetration of a human being by the penis of an animal, and penetration of an animal by a human's penis.<ref>"[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/69]", Sexual Offences Act 2003 Section 69.</ref>

By contrast, many countries and US states are less precise about the scope of law in that they outlaw sex with animals, without defining what constitutes "sex".{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}

Even if bestiality is not explicitly prohibited, there are often many other laws which can be used to effectively prosecute cases. For example, most countries have animal cruelty laws, and a prosecutor will argue that all zoophilia activity is animal abuse.<ref>The argument that "all sexual activity with animals is automatically abuse" was made for example, in 1) the 2004 case of [http://pet-abuse.com/cases/2206/FL/US/1 State vs. Mitchell] (Florida), 2) the 2004 Pony case in Utrecht, Holland (cited below), and 3) the 2006 Washington state law which asserts as its foundational premise that "animal cruelty in the first degree is committed when a person knowingly engages in sexual conduct or sexual contact with an animal." [http://washingtonvotes.org/2006-SB-6417 SB-6417 2006]</ref> In some U.S. states, a person who engages in bestiality can be charged with animal cruelty.<ref name="shelby">http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20110616/NEWS01/106160306/Richland-Co-dog-warden-investigates-bestiality-case-Shelby</ref>

==== Incidents without specific bestiality statutes ====
Some countries have a range laws on their books. Sometimes [[sodomy law]]s or "[[crime against nature]]" laws are used to prosecute people who have sex with animals.

In the case of [[Kenneth Pinyan]], who died from injuries sustained from receiving anal sex from a horse, local law enforcement found that there were no laws that allowed them to prosecute his friend, who had filmed the event and also allowed himself to be sodomized by the horse. The friend was prosecuted for trespassing. That case prompted the Washington State legislature to draw up legislation outlawing sex with animals.<ref name="thestranger">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=30811|accessdate=2006-04-30|title=The Animal In You|publisher=The Stranger|date=February–March 2006}}</ref>

In a 2005 [[Florida]] case, a man who had sex with his dog was charged with disorderly conduct, since the state had no anti-bestiality laws on the books at the time.<ref>[http://www.guidehorse.org/news_guide_dog_abuse.htm Man charged with having intercourse with his Guide Dog (dead link)]</ref> On October 1, 2011 the state of Florida State Law 828.126, F.S went into effect, banning sex with animals.<ref>http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/0344/BillText/er/PDF</ref>

== Common reasons given for laws ==
In many cultures across the world having sex with animals is seen as subhuman and immoral. In many cultures, humans are seen as fundamentally different from other animals and having sex with animals is seen as a defilement.<ref name="sciamer">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=animal-lovers-zoophiles-make-scient-2010-03-24</ref>

Frequently, humans having sex with animals is seen as a form of [[animal cruelty]] or [[animal abuse]]. This belief has been bolstered by the practices of [[zoosadism]] and also fed by the distaste most cultures have for having sex with animals.

== History ==
{{Main|History of zoophilia}}

== Laws against zoophilia ==
Aggrawal has discussed extensively on laws against zoophilia.<ref name="aggrawal">{{cite book | first=Anil | last=Aggrawal | coauthors= | title=Forensic and Medico-legal Aspects of Sexual Crimes and Unusual Sexual Practices | publisher=[[CRC Press]] | location=Boca Raton | year=2009 | isbn=978-1-4200-4308-2 |url=http://crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781420043082}}</ref> It is permitted in a few countries, such as [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]], although ordinary animal treatment laws apply. In other countries, such as [[Russia]], bestiality is legal, but zoophilia [[pornography]] is illegal.

There are also commonly laws against forcing another person to engage in zoophilia activity, especially minors (usually considered equivalent to [[rape]]), and laws related to exposing others (either non-consensually or minors) to the sight of a sexual act. In some jurisdictions, laws against zoophilia conduct also include provisions for seizure of animals where convicted.

Sexual handling of an animal for the purposes of [[Veterinarian|veterinary]] practice, or [[animal husbandry]] (breeding), is normally exempted where such laws exist. In public discussion for the recently passed Oregon law, however, one animal shelter's spokesperson wanted the husbandry exemption kept out, as he was concerned that someone might use these "accepted farming practices" as a legal loophole to then have (legal) sexual contact with an animal only for personal enjoyment. One of the legislators responded by asking if they were trying to outlaw an act (of sexual contact), or a state of mind. The veterinary and husbandry exemption was left out of Oregon's law in the final, enacted version.

;Pornography laws
:''Main articles with legal sections: [[Obscenity]], [[Pornography]], [[Legal status of internet pornography]]''
Legality of any given pornographic material has three components: legality of production, legality of sale and transportation, and legality of ownership. In general, animal pornography is legal to produce anywhere that zoophilia activity and the creation of pornography in general are both legal. Laws concerning sale, transmission and ownership vary more widely.

Erotic art, such as animal pornography in cartoons and the like, which does not require the recording of an actual sexual incident, are not usually considered sex with animals by the law, and so their status depends upon more general laws such as legal limits upon obscenity or pornography alone, and the thin line between erotic art and pornography.

=== National laws ===
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! width="12.5%"| Country or territory
! width="12.5%"| Zoosexual activity
! width="12.5%"| Allows zoophiles to serve in the military?
! width="12.5%"| Sale and distribution of zoophilic pornography
! width="12.5%"| Ownership of zoophilic pornography
|-
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australia]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] / [[File:Yes check.svg|15px]] Varies by state or territory. (Illegal in [[Australian Capital Territory]], [[New South Wales]], [[Northern Territory]], [[Queensland]], [[South Australia]], [[Tasmania]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], and [[Western Australia]])<ref name="au_state_laws">Ref: Halsbury's Laws of Australia #9 page 247662:
Criminal offence: [[New South Wales]] (Crimes Act 1900 s79, not more than 14 years imprisonment), [[Northern Territory]] (Criminal Code s138, not more than 3 years imprisonment), [[Queensland]] (Criminal Code s211: "carnal knowledge of an animal", not more than 7 years imprisonment), [[South Australia]] (Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 s69, "buggery with an animal", not more than 10 years imprisonment), [[Tasmania]] (Criminal Code s122(b), not more than 21 years imprisonment), [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] (Crimes Act 1958 s59, not more than 5 years imprisonment), [[Western Australia]] (Criminal Code s181: "carnal knowledge of an animal", not more than 7 years imprisonment), [[Australian Capital Territory]] (Crimes Act 1900 [http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_40369/20101209-46298/pdf/db_40369.pdf s63A inserted in 2011], "Bestiality", not more than 10 years imprisonment).</ref> (Legal in [[Ashmore and Cartier Islands]], [[Australian Antarctic Territory]], [[Christmas Island]], [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]], [[Coral Sea Islands]], [[Heard Island and McDonald Islands]], [[Jervis Bay Territory]], and [[Norfolk Island]])
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|-
|{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Belgium]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 2007 (Penalty: Maximum of 1 year in prison for recidivism, 6 months maximum otherwise + fine)<ref>[http://www.standaard.be/cnt/DMF23012007_118 Kamercommissie stelt seks met dieren dan toch strafbaar-De Standaard]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref>[http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/versie2/english/details/061109_bestiality/index.shtml], no longer accessible</ref>
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Brazil]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref>[http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Saude-e-bem-estar/noticia/2011/10/sexo-com-animais-por-que-fingir-que-isso-nao-existe.html Revista Época – Sex with animals: why do pretend that it does not exist? {{pt icon}}]</ref><ref name="ecce bestia">[http://issuu.com/eziofb/docs/ezioflaviobazzo Ecce Bestia: Vice with Animals {{pt icon}}]</ref> since 1830 (together [[Legal status of homosexuality in Brazil|with homosexuality]])<ref>[http://www.athosgls.com.br/comportamento_visualiza.php?contcod=15188 Legalization of homosexuality in Brazil - 1830 {{pt icon}}]</ref>
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] ''De jure'' allowed, ''de facto'' don't ask, don't tell,{{efn|The Brazilian Armed Forces do not permit [[Human sexual activity|sexual acts]], romantic physical intimacy or congeners in the military of any nature, and open conversation over private personal information on sexual activity may be regarded as inappropriate conduct. The [[Constitution of Brazil]] prohibits any form of [[Anti-discrimination laws in Brazil|discrimination]] in the country (and, albeit they cannot share intimacy inside military institutions, there are reports of members of the Armed Forces being united by both same-sex cohabitation marriage-like unions and marriages both before and after being recruited, just as with different-sex couples). The military law that denied the entrance or allowance of non-heterosexuals fell in 1969, and there is little to no record of both civil and military Brazilian laws spotting especifically zoophilia. Instances of alleged discrimination and moral harassment based on sexual orientation are not rare, and may come from authority figures.<ref>[http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/brasil/veja-como-a-homossexualidade-e-tratada-nas-forcas-armadas-em-outros-paises/n1237592421748.html Discover how homosexuality is dealt with in other countries' militaries {{pt icon}}]</ref><ref>[http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Brasil/0,,MUL1476989-5598,00-FORCAS+ARMADAS+TEM+GAYS+MAS+QUE+ISSO+NAO+FIQUE+EXPLICITO+DIZ+GENERAL+DA+RES.html Armed Forces have gays, but it should not be explicit, says retired general {{pt icon}}]</ref><ref>[http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Brasil/0,,MUL1524307-5598,00-POLICIAIS+MILITARES+GAYS+SE+DIZEM+ALVO+DE+PRECONCEITO+NA+CORPORACAO.html Gay military policemen say they are target of prejudice inside the corporation {{pt icon}}]</ref>}} since 1969<ref>[http://blogdofavre.ig.com.br/2010/06/final-feliz-na-caserna/ Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the Brazilian military {{pt icon}}]</ref>
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal, never criminalized<ref name="ecce bestia"/><ref>[http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0104-83332012000100009&script=sci_arttext Sex with animals as an extreme practice in the 'bizarre porn' genre in Brazil {{pt icon}}]</ref>
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal, never criminalized
|-
|{{flagicon|Cambodia}} [[Cambodia]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref>[http://www.news24.com/News24/Backpage/Crime_Court/0,,2-1343-1345_1655555,00.html News24 - Redirect]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Maximum of 10 years in prison Maximum of 12 years if in presence of or by child)<ref>[http://yourlaws.ca/criminal-code-canada/160-bestiality [[Criminal Code of Canada]] - 160. Bestiality]</ref>
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]]<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/10/24/mb-bestiality-charge-cfb-shilo.html Canadian Forces member faces 2nd bestiality charge]</ref>
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]][citation needed]
|-
|{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Denmark]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal since 1933<ref name="zoocurrent">[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/2269/zoocurrent.html&date=2009-10-25+16:54:35 Sex law index and discussion]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref name="Animal brothels">[http://www.thenewage.co.za/60452-1020-53-Animal_brothels_legal_in_Denmark Animal brothels legal in Denmark]</ref>
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref name="Animal brothels"/>
|-
|{{flagicon|Ecuador}} [[Ecuador]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Maximum of 8 years in prison)<ref>[http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=195753 Ecuador Penal Code - Art. 517]</ref>
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|{{flagicon|Ethiopia}} [[Ethiopia]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Imprisonment (no length given)<ref>[http://www.lexadin.nl/wlg/legis/nofr/oeur/arch/eth/TheRevisedCriminalCode.pdf Criminal Code of Ethiopia 2004 - Article 633.- Sexual Intercourse with an Animal.]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Finland]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal since 1971<ref name="zoocurrent"/>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref name="finlex.fi">[http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1889/18890039001#L17 18 § (9.7.2004/650) Sukupuolisiveellisyyttä loukkaavan kuvan levittäminen]</ref>
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|{{flagicon|France}} [[France]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 2004 (Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and € 30,000 fine)<ref>[French Penal Code - Chapter one: Serious abuse or acts of cruelty animals. - Article 521-1]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Germany]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 2013 (Penalty: Maximum of € 25,000 fine)<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/02/world/europe/german-legislators-vote-to-outlaw-bestiality.html German Legislators Vote to Outlaw Bestiality]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref>[http://dejure.org/gesetze/StGB/184a.html § 184a StGB Verbreitung gewalt- oder tierpornographischer Schriften §184a StGB]</ref>
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal
|-
|{{flagicon|Ghana}} [[Ghana]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Maximum of 3 years in prison)<ref>[http://ghanalegal.com/?id=3&law=19&t=ghana-laws Section 104-Unnatural Carnal Knowledge]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Hong Kong}} [[Hong Kong]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Maximum of 10 years in prison and $50,000 fine)<ref name="HongKong">[http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/da97f6a8ed400207482564820006b580/1659b5492cc3f751c8256483003225bd?OpenDocument Bestiality]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Hungary]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal since 1961{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal{{citation needed|date=April 2013}} (Penalty:)
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}
|-
|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Maximum of life in prison)<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=eTrDgPmgh7MC&pg=PA757&lpg=PA757&dq=Ireland+30.61+sodomy+and+bestiality&source=bl&ots=dlcKghaxUc&sig=XoLmu8jnRCzqY4FpoME67qIwXAU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UkRyUfvxIrix4APJlIGADg&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Ireland%2030.61%20sodomy%20and%20bestiality&f=false [30.61] Sodomy and bestiality s. 61]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref>[http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1836974/ Section 377. Unnatural offences.]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Iran]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: First three convictions are punished by ''ta'zir'' as determined by a judge Fourth offense is the [[death penalty]])<ref>[http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/ngo/NGO_submission_ELEI_Add.1.pdf e. Vaty-e heyvanat va Mayet-e-insan (bestiality and necrophilia), four offenses]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italy]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref name="History of Zoophilia and The Law" >[http://www.lectlaw.com/files/sex04.htm History of Zoophilia and The Law]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[Malaysia]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Maximum of 20 years in prison, fines, and whipping)<ref>[http://www.agc.gov.my/Akta/Vol.%2012/Act%20574.pdf Buggery with an animal - 377.]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Mexico]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref name="zoocurrent"/>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Namibia}} [[Namibia]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201210110779.html Namibia: Rehoboth Man Arrested for Bestiality]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Netherlands]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 2010 (Penalty: Maximum of 1 year in prison and € 19,500 fine)<ref>[http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001854/TweedeBoek/TitelXIV/Artikel254/geldigheidsdatum_24-12-2012 Article 254]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 2010 (Penalty: Maximum of 6 months in prison and a fine)<ref>[http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001854/TweedeBoek/TitelXIV/Artikel254a/geldigheidsdatum_24-12-2012]</ref>
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 2010 (Penalty:)
|-
|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[New Zealand]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Maximum of 7 years in prison Maximum of 3 years in prison)<ref>[http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM329260.html Crimes Act 1961 - 143 - Bestiality]</ref><ref>[http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM329261.html Crimes Act 1961 - 144 - Indecency with animal]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)
|-
|{{flagicon|Norway}} [[Norway]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 2008 (Penalty:)<ref>[http://www.animallaw.info/nonus/articles/arnogovtnotesAWA.htm With regard to § 14. Specific Bans]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 2008 (Penalty:)
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal
|-
|{{flagicon|Philippines}} [[Philippines]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref>[http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=24b_1316867350 catholic filipino charged for raping dog he also loves pigs too]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Poland]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref>[http://www.wbj.pl/article-50423-zoophilia-legislation-expected-in-parliament-this-year.html Zoophilia legislation expected in Parliament this year]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref>[http://www.ecpat.net/A4A_2005/PDF/Europe/Global_Monitoring_Report-POLAND.pdf Polish Penal Code, Article 202, Section 3. ]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Portugal]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref name="History of Zoophilia and The Law"/>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
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|-
|{{flagicon|Romania}} [[Romania]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=Z-GbOvrbniQC&pg=PT10&lpg=PT10&dq=Romania+zoophilia&source=bl&ots=gnZi9glK_U&sig=nk93rUHdFgCndX9tSae-W1lyVU4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4rGQUcayD4--4AOGp4HQAQ&ved=0CFIQ6AEwBA Bestiality and Zoophilia: Sexual Relations with Animals]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref>"Legea privind prevenirea si combaterea pornografiei", Nr. 196/2003, ''Monitorul Oficial al României'', Partea I,. nr. 342 din 20 mai 2003</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Russia]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref name="History of Zoophilia and The Law"/>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)
|-
|{{flagicon|Singapore}} [[Singapore]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison and fine)<ref>[http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;query=Status%3Acurinforce%20Type%3Aact,sl%20Content%3A%22Sexual%22%20Content%3A%22penetration%22%20Content%3A%22with%22%20Content%3A%22living%22%20Content%3A%22animal%22;rec=0;resUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fstatutes.agc.gov.sg%2Faol%2Fsearch%2Fsummary%2Fresults.w3p%3Bquery%3DStatus%253Acurinforce%2520Type%253Aact,sl%2520Content%253A%2522Sexual%2522%2520Content%253A%2522penetration%2522%2520Content%253A%2522with%2522%2520Content%253A%2522living%2522%2520Content%253A%2522animal%2522 “Sexual penetration with living animal 377B.]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
|-
|{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South Africa]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref>[http://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/2007-032.pdf 13 Bestiality]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Sweden]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal since 1944,<ref>[http://www.thelocal.se/37614/20111128/#.UUI-BBetloQ Sweden proposes ban on sex with animals]</ref><ref>[http://www.theargus.ca/articles/news/2011/04/another-blow-for-bestiality Another blow for bestiality]</ref><ref>http://zoofili.se/zoodoks/rydstrom/rydstrom%20between%20men%20and%20animals.pdf</ref> upcoming laws may outlaw it<ref>http://www.aftonbladet.se/senastenytt/ttnyheter/inrikes/article16956673.ab</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal
|-
|{{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Switzerland]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref>[http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/455_1/a16.html SR 455.1 Tierschutzverordnung Art. 16 j.]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref>See [[Official publications of Switzerland|FJ]] 2000 p. 2981.</ref>
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)
|-
|{{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Thailand]]
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Legal<ref>[http://www.traveltails.com/Updates/update_may2004.htm May 2004 Update from the Land of Randy Pandas]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Trinidad and Tobago}} [[Trinidad and Tobago]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty:)<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-04-25/mayaro-labourer-bestiality-charge Mayaro labourer on bestiality charge]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Turkey]]
||[[File:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Maximum of 30 years in prison)
||[[File:X mark.svg|15px|No]]
||[[File:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal
||[[File:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 1290 (Penalty: Maximum of 2 years in prison for conviction on indictment Maximum of 6 months in prison and a fine for summary conviction)<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/69 Intercourse with an animal]</ref> (see [[Sexual Offences Act 2003]])
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 2008 (Penalty:)<ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/16/extreme_pr0n_convictions/ Extreme porn law used on beastly Chinese DVD pirates]</ref> (see [[Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008]])
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal since 2008 (Penalty:) (see [[Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008]])
|-
|{{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]] {{Main|Zoophilia and the law in the United States}}
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] / [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Varies by state, territory, or district. (Illegal [misdemeanor] in [[Alaska|AK]], [[California|CA]], [[Colorado|CO]], [[Connecticut|CT]], [[Florida|FL]], [[Iowa|IA]], [[Kansas|KS]], [[Louisiana|LA]], [[Maine|ME]], [[Maryland|MD]], [[Minnesota|MN]], [[Missouri|MO]], [[Nebraska|NE]], [[New York|NY]], [[North Dakota|ND]], [[Oregon|OR]], [[Pennsylvania|PA]], [[Utah|UT]], [[United States Virgin Islands|VI]], and [[Wisconsin|WI]]) 
(Illegal [felony] in [[Arizona|AZ]], [[Delaware|DE]], [[Georgia (US state)|GA]], [[Illinois|IL]], [[Indiana|IN]], [[Massachusetts|MA]], [[Michigan|MI]], [[Mississippi|MS]], [[North Carolina|NC]], [[Oklahoma|OK]], [[Puerto Rico|PR]], [[Rhode Island|RI]], [[South Carolina|SC]], [[South Dakota|SD]], [[Tennessee|TN]], [[Washington (state)|WA]]) (Legal in [[Alabama|AL]], [[American Samoa|AS]], [[District of Columbia|DC]], [[Guam|GU]], [[Hawaii|HI]], [[Kentucky|KY]], [[Montana|MT]], [[Nevada|NV]], [[New Hampshire|NH]], [[New Jersey|NJ]], [[New Mexico|NM]], [[Northern Mariana Islands|MP]], [[Ohio|OH]], [[Texas|TX]], [[Vermont|VT]], [[Virginia|VA]], [[West Virginia|WV]], [[Wyoming|WY]])
||[[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Since 2011{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] / [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Varies by state, territory, or district.
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] / [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]] Varies by state, territory, or district.
|-
|{{flagicon|Zambia}} [[Zambia]]
||[[Image:X mark.svg|15px|No]] Illegal (Penalty: Maximum of 5 years in prison)<ref>[http://www.afrol.com/archive/documents/ilga_2000.htm Zambian Penal code Cap 87 Section 115; Unnatural Offences]</ref>
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
||[[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px]]
|-
|}

== Mentions in the press ==

* ''"Freddie the Dolphin"'' (1991, UK) - man accused of masturbating a well known tame [[dolphin]] at sea. Charged with a "lewd act". Acquitted. Expert witnesses testified male dolphins use their [[erection]]s not just sexually, but socially as well, and no sexual inference could be drawn. Judge summing up said of the £30,000 trial cost, "this has been the most expensive lesson in dolphin sociology that he has ever heard of". [http://www.praxagora.com/sierra/flum/9203.htm](dead link)
* [[Kenneth Pinyan]] (2005, USA) - man died following anal penetration by a stallion, which was filmed by his friend. The death led to rapid introduction of laws in the state against sex with animals.
* [[Sudan]] (February 2006) - man caught having sex with a neighbour's [[goat]], is ordered by the council of [[Elder (administrative title)|elders]] to pay the neighbour a [[dowry]] of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) and marry the animal. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4748292.stm]
* [[Cambodia]] (2005) - man caught having a "passionate embrace" in bed with dog, by wife, confessed he loved the dog more and they separated. Cambodian police commented: "As police, we could only solve the problem of his wife then wanting a divorce. We cannot solve the problem of his relationship with his dog, because under Cambodian law it is not strictly illegal... It is amazing, but this husband is not crazy. It seems he is a passionate human being who looked at a dog, and the more he looked, the more passionate he became."<ref>http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Off_Beat/0,,2-1225-2107_1655555,00.html</ref>
* [[Wisconsin, USA]] (2007) - Bryan James Hathaway was convicted for having sex with a dead deer. The court case raised some interesting legal issues because the statute prohibits sex with animals, but not carcasses. The defence raised the issue that if a dead animal was an animal, at what point would it cease to be an animal.<ref>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/22/deer_man_convicted/</ref>
* [[Kansas|Kansas, USA]] (2012) - Joshua Coman was convicted in Kansas of criminal sodomy (a misdemeanor), but the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that he did not have to register as a sex offender.<ref name="kansaslaw2">http://blogs.findlaw.com/legally_weird/2012/04/dog-molester-wont-have-to-register-as-sex-offender.html</ref><ref name="statecoman">http://www.kscourts.org/cases-and-opinions/opinions/ctapp/2009/20090828/100494.htm</ref>
* [[Vancouver, Canada]] (2012) - Brian Cutteridge, bestiality proponent, was arrested after the SPCA claims to have a video of him engaging in sex with one of his dogs.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/02/26/bc-vancouver-bestiality.html | work=CBC News | title=Vancouver man faces bestiality charge | date=26 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Human–animal marriage]]
* [[Legal status of internet pornography]]
* [[Sexual norm]]
* [[Social norm]]
* [[Sodomy law]]
* [[Zoophilia]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Zoosexuality}}
{{Sexual ethics}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2012}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zoosexuality And The Law}}
[[Category:Sex laws]]
[[Category:Zoophilia]]
[[Category:Animal rights]]

Zoophilia Wiki - User contributions [en]

Legality of bestiality by country or territory