Editing The Vivarium (section)

==Zoophilia and Bestiality==

The following is merely my opinion based upon observations and talks I've had with others.

Zoophilia (zoo-philia) is the fondness or love of non-human animals and is a non-exploitative form of [[zoosexuality]]. [[Zoophiles]] are human animals who have somehow managed to transcend the common elitist ego of mankind and consider themselves emotionally equal to other animals. Many of the zoophiles who I've talked to practice animalism, meaning they do not think of themselves as emotionally superior to other animals.

Not every zoophile is sexually active or a practitioner of bestiality, some just enjoy watching certain animals or being with them. Others have been sexually active with animals in the past, but have lost a lover and still mourn that loss to the point of celibacy. Still others are for some reason or another known only to themselves celibate yet still very zoo. One thing that zoophiles do have in common, is that their interest in non-humans is generally sexual, whether this is acted upon or not.

What really distinguishes one as a zoophile is the love, respect, and the consideration felt toward non-human animals. Many of the zoophiles who I've talked with follow a certain kind of behavior in regards to their companions. I've outlined this behavior below in The Principles of Z.E.T.A.

Bestiality is the act of sexual intercourse with a non-human being. Those who practice bestiality without concern for the will and well being of a non-human I refer to as a bestialist. Bestialists consider themselves superior to other animals and are concerned primarily with their own sensual pleasures. Bestialists desire the act of having sexual intercourse with non-humans without commitment. It is possible for bestialists to have more concern for their own good time than whether they might be acting abusively.

There are some divided views regarding the exact nature of the term bestiality. Some persons feel that the primary definition of bestial, a cruel and depraved nature, overrides the sexual consideration of the term. This has been my understanding in the past, but I have now broadened my view and consider only the sexual aspects associated with regard to the word bestiality.

Some bestialists may not want to commit to providing care for a non-human. In some cases these persons do not even want to take responsibility for a non-human and will rent them out like whores to use as a sex toys for a couple hours or to make pornographic movies. Sometimes non-humans are drugged or shackled so that the bestialist can rape it while taking pictures to sell to fetish seekers. This is why I'm concerned with the growing bestial porn industry.

Please note that sexual abusers although being practitioners of bestiality do NOT represent the meaning of bestiality itself. For example, one can be a heterosexual and beat women and use them as whores, but that in no way means that heterosexual activity itself is abusive. It simply means that an individual is being abusive within the sphere of their [[sexual orientation]].

The problem with acts of bestiality without love is that non-humans can be injured by those who have sex just for the fun of it - when one practices debauched bestiality then a non-human may be hurt by uncaring advances. A sexually injured non-human may suffer because the owner may not seek the proper medical attention for fear of the questions that might be raised.

Some very mentally disturbed people may even torture non-humans while they rape them - they may mutilate the genitals or kill the non-human and use it's dead body as a bloody sex toy after it is dead. Although these people may say that they practice zoophilia, this is not true because they have no love or respect for the non-human, only a sick lust for the act of bestiality. (See [[Zoosadism]])

In summery, bestiality is the act of sexual intercourse with a non-human animal, where zoophilia is fondness or love for non-humans and may include non-abusive bestiality as part of the relationship.