Monday July 27, 2009, 1:13 pm
Bestiality ban passes Senate committee. The sordid case of Lucky the guide dog. And the House?

Sunrise Sen. Nan Rich's proposal to make it a crime to have sex with animals (yes, it's legal in Florida) finally got a hearing and a swift unanimous vote in the Senate Criminal Justice committee. Rich, a child's rights advocate, said that those who abuse animals (sexually and otherwise) are likely to do the same to kids.

The bill was precipitated by the sex assualt-related strangulation of a goat in Mossy Head (full story here), but other terrible tales have now surfaced.

Before the vote, Leon County prosecutor Michael Bauer sent Rich and other senators a letter recounting his troubles prosecuting the 2006 case of a blind guy who had sex with his male yellow Lab "Lucky." The man explained "freely about his regular sexual acitivities with his dog and said he would take the dog for a walk prior to sex to 'prevent fecal impact.'"

Bauer wrote that the case would have been easier to prosecute if a bestiality ban were in place. Ultimately, the man was convicted of a cruelty to animal charge and he got three years of sex-offender probation.

"The clear status of our state law at this point is that the FLorida Legislature has not prohibited bestiality in our State. Bestiality is currently legal in Florida!" Bauer wrote. "Please do your part to make this easy judgment call."

So far, the bill has yet to be heard in the House. We'll find out why.

Download Letter.Senate.Bill.Bestiality.doc

Monday July 27, 2009, 4:13 pm
They should pass this in one split SECOND!! Geesh Florida~
Tx Raffi

Monday July 27, 2009, 4:26 pm
;-) You bet Mandi-you have to live there to believe it! I did and I still have a hard time believing it.

Monday July 27, 2009, 4:51 pm
Did anyone read the ignorant comments on the feed from the Miami newspaper?? Disgusting--I am horrified that it is still law-let alone people thinking this is not an important issue. I left a message on the comment feed. Thank you for sharing the news Raffi.

Monday July 27, 2009, 4:55 pm
They deleted my comment from the comment feed!!!!!!!

Monday July 27, 2009, 5:38 pm
Liz, the majority of the comments are VERY disturbing.

Monday July 27, 2009, 6:11 pm
Just disgusting, get with it Florida!

Monday July 27, 2009, 7:07 pm
Disgusting... Gods word is clear... He mentioned that this is a sin when he gave out the commandments to us... therefore if this act is allowed, people will choose to curse themselves... Gosh what is this world coming to, Sic sic... disgusting.

Monday July 27, 2009, 7:14 pm
It is disgusting that humans lower themselves to such disgusting barbaric acts.

Sex with animals. sex with children, forcing sex on a spouse. humans are low disgusiting creatures.

Monday July 27, 2009, 7:29 pm
sick twisted backwards state! Im suprised that it even need to go for a vote! Like that is EVER socally acceptable anywhere on the planet???

I dont see two consenting adults in this at all!

Monday July 27, 2009, 8:13 pm
Sickening! I've also read the comments, I cannot believe my eyes!

Tuesday July 28, 2009, 2:05 am
Florida home of beastiality and Disneyland. Is that really what we want to subject our kids to? Mickey Mouse on the billboards, sex with animals around the corner. Absolutely unbelievable that this is legal in the sunshine state. Lets hope now the sun has reached this depravity it can be made unlawful! There are occasional reports of such abuse in the UK and often as not the perpetrator is charged with animal cruelty rather than a sex offence. Makes one think the powers that be want to sweep it under that carpet with all the other evils in this world or find the offence too distasteful to deal with as a sex offence! Another case of bringing out those blunt rusty scissors to deal with the horrendous perpetrators of such an abomination! As for buggering or raping your guide dog and thinking it's OK or normal, words fail me! This individual should have the dog taken away from him at the very least!

Tuesday July 28, 2009, 2:52 am
Well said, Chris. Thanks Raffi.

Tuesday July 28, 2009, 9:21 am
Yes Chris well said! and I am in total agreement

Tuesday July 28, 2009, 11:23 am
Really sad. Not only offensive in the moral/Christian sense but also offensive against nature. These animals do not need to be subjected to such cruelty, as those who practice this probably are into as abusive of treatment of other people.

Tuesday July 28, 2009, 12:38 pm
"And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." (Lev. 20:15-16) Although I think that it is unfair towards the animal!

If America is a country unified under God, surely they should follow Gods's laws? It has put me off going back to Florida - ugh!

Tuesday July 28, 2009, 12:44 pm
Some of the comments bother me as much as the idea some people would have sex with an animal. It would be wonderful if all people had normal sex and there were no deviants, but that will never be the case. With so much evidence pointing to animal abuse leading to human abuse including rape and murder, it sems a logical step to pass ths law. Sentence violators to mental therapy and at least reduce the likelihood they would progress to abusing people. I feel sorry for those who treat thi subject as a lark, and wonder about their reasons for doing so.

Tuesday July 28, 2009, 12:55 pm
THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST EVILS ACTS OF SIN.SICK TO MY STOMACH!!!! ITS ANIMAL ABUSE PLAIN AND SIMPLE.I CANT BELIEVE SOME PHYCHOTIC SICKOS CONDON THIS,AND THAT THERE I NO BAN.IAM PRAYING FOR A BAN TO THIS SICK HEINOUS BARBARIC FORM OF ANIMAL ABUSE!!!!

Tuesday July 28, 2009, 4:21 pm
I'm from Florida. What the hell took us so long????? I had no clue it WASN'T a law here. This is about as sick and twisted as you can get. I wonder how tough the penalty will actually be.(Never tough enough) And if they will actually enforce it. Unlike other horrendous acts towards animals. No one ever gets jail time, no matter how bad the abuse. Anywhere.

Tuesday July 28, 2009, 5:33 pm
Thank you all so much,I too read the comments and was disgusted.

Tuesday July 28, 2009, 8:30 pm
This story is disgusting, bu not surprising. There are many flavors of perversion, this being about the most repulsive. I say castration would be a justified punishment.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 1:20 am
I do have to say that I think this is rather silly. Feel free to flame me, but I honestly really doubt Spot minds. I have nothing against zoophiles, I'm friends with one. Trust me. They're normal people.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 1:59 am
Queue Three, I know you are just this to get a rise from people, but you are just an idiot.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 2:05 am
So true Nora so true.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 2:06 am
Nora - I'm not doing it to get a rise out of people. Not everyone has the same definitions of morality, just because I disagree doesn't mean anything.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 2:58 am
Queue Three - I have just looked at your profile. A 24 year old female who wants to be a good vet. I don't think I would send my animals to you, as you may loan them to your zoophile friends. "Not everyone has the same definitions of morality" - I think most DECENT people have roughly the same definitions of morality and sex with animals is definitely on the outer fringe. I really believe you have stumbled on this website inadverdently and you are in the wrong place. We are animal lovers, not people who have animals AS lovers.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:03 am
Nora - The statement "as you may loan them to your zoophile friends" seems rather immature, doesn't it? I presented my opinion respectfully, you've just insulted me. You have yet to actually give me any reason that I'm wrong, beyond the old mentality of "Well, everyone DECENT believes it!". That was the same mentality that let slavery exist. I love animals and I'm against animal cruelty, I just don't think bestiality is wrong WHEN the animals are being taken care of. I'm sorry you disagree, but you could be more respectful. Thanks.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:16 am
Everyone decent believes in it because it is indecent to have sex with an animal outside of your own species. Not to mention that It is gross and unnatural. I think you have a hide to call me immature when you condone this disgusting behaviour which is so disrespectful to animals, as they cannot voice their objection to it.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:22 am
Nora: "Everyone decent believes it because it's indecent"? You just said the exact same thing that I opposed initially again, the fact that you have no point at all. Animals can't voice their objection because they don't /have/ one, it's pleasurable to them and that's it. They're primal animals, they act on instinct. They don't HAVE "morals", they react based on their inital drive, to continue the species. Again, I've been respectful throughout this entire thing. You haven't been. I'm just asking you to be a bit more sociable. I have nothing against your conflicting beliefs, as long as you act as respectfully towards me in return.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:40 am
A pro 'zoophile' being allowed to work with animals is akin to a child molester being allowed to work with children. I consider myself as very broadminded, but any sexual acts involving animals & children do not enter the equation. You have much yet to learn Queue Three. Your z. friend is surely allowing slavery to persist. You claim to be against animal cruelty, sorry, but am finding this statement hard to come to terms with. Even sorrier that you feel as you do.
Anyway, back to the original article - almost unbelievable that sex with animals was, until now, lawful in Florida.
Tad off subject again, but in Tasmania (my home island), homosexuality between consenting males became legal in 1997. Oddly, it was never a 'crime' for female/female sexual acts.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:44 am
Gemma: Why do you automatically assume I'm a zoophile myself? I'm not, and the thought disgusts me on a purely PERSONAL level, but I just don't see anything wrong with it morally. Why do you find the statement hard to come to terms with? Why aren't either of you doing anything besides saying I'm sick and immoral, instead of, say, proving your point in any sense of the word?

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:50 am
I'm sorry if I offended you Queue, but to have a z.phile for a friend does note rate you well as a person in my books, Morals??

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:51 am
Gemma: Again, morality is subjective. Now you're claiming I'm immoral for someone ELSE'S actions? I can't even follow what you consider offensive anymore.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:58 am
Don't worry Queue, you do not have to consider my 'morals', just be aware of yours.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:58 am
Queue Three.....I notice you haven't got the gumption to use a photograph of yourself as your profile picture, or your real name. Hmmmm. I am NOT going to debase myself by getting into a back-and-forth with you, because I don't think you're worth my time, but suffice to say YOU DEFINITELY DON'T BELONG ON CARE2, and we certainly DON'T want you and those of your ilk in our community!!! You don't deserve our respect, and I can guarantee none of us who are serious about Care2 and the animals we fight to protect would want to be sociable with you under any circumstances. I do hope somebody somewhere knows who you really are, and advises the Veterinary ombudsman of your predilections.....I honestly believe you seriously don't have animals' welfare at heart, and therefore feel your choice of career is way off beam. So sad to be so sick and not know it.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:00 am
Queue Three - If you are going to quote a statement I have made, please do not quote only half of it, thus taking it out of context.

Animals choose to have sex with their own species to pro-create and because it is pleasurable to them; they do not choose to have sex with humans and when they do, there cannot possibly be mutual consent. How do you know they are enjoying it? Are you Dr. Dolittle? Have you asked them and received a favourable response? Your opinions are frightening and disturbing.

Also, I am trying to come to grips with your comment about continuing the species. What species are you referring to when a human has sex with a non-human animal? Where do you live? The island of Dr. Moreau?

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:01 am
End of discussion.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:03 am
Gemma: I am...? Thanks?

Merthyr: No, I don't have a real picture because I'd prefer that not to be on the internet. The reason I didn't use my real name is purely personal in the fact that I have very negative associations with it and hate it being used. Not even the people I know in real life use it. I'm not hiding it for any reason. If you want to know, it's "Julia Baker". Nothing will happen because I haven't actually participated in it myself and my opinion isn't criminal. Isn't that one of the greatest things about the country? Freedom of opinion?

And, yet again, you've done nothing but call me sick. Isn't it a bit said how you've essentially flamed me for being "immoral" when I'm the only one who hasn't participated in petty name-calling yet? I would have thought intelligent debating something instead of just being rude would have counted as a moral. I have nothing against you for YOUR beliefs, why do you seem to have something against me for mine?

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:05 am
I go back to my original thought. You are just trying to get a rise out of people and by denying it in the first place, you achieved your real objective. More fool me.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:06 am
Nora: Sex doesn't suddenly stop being pleasurable just because it's out-of-species, they have the same nerve endings. Saying that they can't consent is completely arbitrary, you only need "consent" if there's something amoral about the lack of it. Animals don't have morals. The comment about continuing the species was purely a remark on instincts, not an opinion of mine. Thanks for being a lot nicer this time around.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:08 am
I'm not trying to get a rise out of people for saying I'm not against zoophilia any more then you're trying to get a rise out of people when you say homosexual marriage should be legalized. It's an /opinion/. (I'm assuming the marriage thing, if it doesn't apply to you, you still understand my point.)

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:09 am
Nora: It seems too I have joined that 'ship of fools'.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:13 am
I am NOT TRYING to get a rise out of people! OPINIONS cannot be inherently RIGHT OR WRONG. They are PERSONAL BELIEFS. They CHANGE after some time in society. What happens today would get you KILLED a few hundred years ago. Please be respectful!

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:30 am
Respect? A little of it does go a long way - particularly where our fellow animals (particularly non-human) are concerned.
We do live in 2009, not 1909. 2099 will not be 2199. These are just numbers, miniscule in geological time.
You are right in that personal beliefs are just that.
Until the day I leave this earth, I believe that having sex with animals is just plain wrong.
End of my discussion in this matter.
So much to do, so little time.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:32 am
Gemma: That's fine. I can respect that. Why do you seem to think I'm just trying to get a rise out of you? Why can't we just have differing opinions?

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 6:20 am
Ditto Merthyr Stevens. queue three Get OFF Care2 you weirdo.
The thought of you working with animals horrifies me.You need help ,go see a doctor ASAP.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 7:30 am
Queue-ANIMALS DO NOT CONSENT TO SEX WITH HUMANS--IS THAT CLEAR ENOUGH TO YOU? It is the same as rape. I DO NOT believe that you are entitled to your opinion when you are spouting your disgusting point of view on an animal advocacy site. You know that you are upsetting people-go to another site and spew your crap. We on Care2 love animals and work very hard to save them-and beastiality is one thing that we try to save them from. You are a sick pervert if you have friends that do this disgusting act and you understand their doing it. That makes your views no better than theirs. You should be banned from ever having animals-you befriend people that rapes animals. You are a disgusting piece of crap. You are going to be reported and hopefully will be gone from here. How do you think any Vet would feel about your views? You are a sick POS--be gone..................

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 7:31 am
Queue Three, if you think "Spot" wouldn't mind...are you so sure? Unless you have a really tiny thing, but even so. Anyone who buggers an animal or a human, is causing damage to the rectal sphincter. So when "Spot" can't hold it in anymore and starts crapping all over your house, are you going to kill him? An anus is where poo comes out of. Maybe you are just trying to go back where you came from?

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 7:38 am
Queue--YOU HAVE NO MORALS-YOU DO NOT DESERVE RESPECT FROM ANYONE ON HERE. YOU HAVE SAID SOME VERY DISTURBING THINGS ON HERE.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 8:08 am
I have a cousin who was blinded in a hunting accident, while in his own backyard and even he is appalled by this perverted act. This person should never be allowed to have a guide dog ever again and needs to be punished for his sick treatment of his guide dog. It is costly and not every dog accepted for the program completes it successfully and to allow this to happen is beyond wrong. There are people on waiting lists for guide dogs who would not abuse them and this sick person was given a gift that he ruined. I feel sorry for this dog and hope he finds a person to serve who treats him right, if this experience has not ruined him from his training.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 9:17 am
I think the Senate said it best-

The Florida Senate voted 38-0 to criminalize bestiality, the act of having sex with animals.

The cringe-inducing topic was passed with no discussion or debate on the floor. The bill sponsored by Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to have sexual contact with an animal.

Currently, prosecutors can only go after people who commit bestiality under far less serious criminal laws, such as disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.

passed with no discussion or debate on the floor-

they recognized that there should be no need for discussion. IT IS RAPE-the animal has not consented now even been given to opportunity to do so. Case closed.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 9:44 am
Queue Three is a very sick individual and all the arguing and name calling won't help as this sick individual is getting his/her kicks by your diatribe. Ignore this low life creature and maybe it will slither back under it's dirty rock and someone will come along and step onit and put it out of it's misery. No matter what this person says that it never did the deed I believe that it did. Anyone who thinks that it is alright to have sex with an animal for any purpose has already done it and is a sicko sicko sicko sicko!!!!

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 11:11 am
When I logged on to my eMail account this morning I was amazed to find I had 27 new eMails. That may not sound like a lot to some, but I am more used to getting six or seven early in the morning. Came to find out 22 of them were comments to this article, with most of them back-to-back comments stemming from the initial posting by Queue Three which will cause me to do what I have done to similar situations in the past – unsubscribe from receiving new comments by eMail. The issue here is not whether we accept or do not accept bestiality, but whether the government of Florida does. There is a song of Limericks by a folk-music collector named Oscar Brand, one of which goes: There was a young woman named Myrtle, who amused herself with a sea turtle. And what was phenomenal, a swelling abdominal, revealed that the turtle was fertile. Now, to me, the purpose of sex is to reproduce, but in my opinion, the only thing that results from a human having sex with an animal is the sick pleasure the human gets out of it. I will respect QueueThree’s right to a different opinion, but hope Lucky finds a good, loving home with a more-humane owner.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 11:45 am
Thanks to Nancy for not immediately degrading me.

Just as a note, I don't disagree that what happened to Lucky was wrong... I don't think all of you calling me sick really understand what I'm getting at.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 12:34 pm
I thought nothing could shock me, but this is so horrible, mere words can't hide my disgust. I am ashamed to say I live in the State of Florida.
Shirley H

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 1:10 pm
Queue: You just wrote "Animals can't voice their objection because they don't /have/ one, it's pleasurable to them and that's it. They're primal animals, they act on instinct. They don't HAVE "morals", they react based on their inital drive" Yeah, you are righ: This mean that humans that act on instinct and don't care about morals are mor like animals.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 1:30 pm
Christoph: I don't disagree. :)

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 1:37 pm
No Animal EVER AGREES to sex with a human!
It is BENEATH THEM!
Just FYI... NO, they do NOT enjoy it!

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 1:50 pm
A little humor for the subject:

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 1:50 pm
Hmmm... Let me try a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5diKFAiF3IY

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 1:53 pm
One more time: Billy Bob on Bestiality Ban

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 2:35 pm
Humans are the only animal that has sex for pleasure (although it seems that the Bonobo does too amongst other reasons), otherwise it is for reproduction or domination.

Bestiality is about domination too as is rape and child abuse. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but it should be an informed one.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 2:39 pm
Hubby says that he thought bestiality was for inadequate people!

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:26 pm
i read the reader responses in the atricle,and it sounds like there are a lot of people there who be upset now that it's illegal to do there pet!sad that this had to even come up,that it was ever legal in the first place.if there that desperate maybe they should have to try it with a water moccison(spell)

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 3:50 pm
sick...sick...sick...cat

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 4:41 pm
More animal abuse. Yes, he would probably abuse children but that shouldn't be the only criteria for banning. Exploitation of animals is just unacceptable.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 6:20 pm
I would like to see this sick individuals dog removed from his home and taking away his rights to EVER own another guide dog. This dog or any other animals for that matter hasnt a choice. Believe me if they did they wouldnt be with a human versus their ow...I too beleive that there is a close relation to sexual abuse of another human being...these are extremely sick people who are in dire need of serious help.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 7:45 pm
I feel so sad for Lucky(how inappropriately named). He trained how to protect this sick individual-and look at what happened to him----so sad. I have read of other dogs that have been raped-and when they were removed from the home-they were unadoptable. I hope that isnt the situation with all animals that have had to suffer at the hands of sick people. This freak would probably just get another Guide dog anyway. I have learned over the years that you can not expect normal behavior from an abnormal personality.

Wednesday July 29, 2009, 9:01 pm
Noted, I think Flordia SUCKS, first the horses skinned and THEN THIS??? I tought this went out with the DARK AGES with CAVE MEN and here it is and legal? We live in a truly Sick Society. MY GOD!!!

Thursday July 30, 2009, 11:41 am
In using's search to locate the article which has more recent comments than I got from the messages in my inbox, I learned bestialiity is also legal inmy own state of Arizona, plus Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut (the state I grew up in), Hawaii, Idaho, Kentycky, Louisiana, Missaouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jrsey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming, so Florida is only one of too many states allowing it. I didn't noice if there was an indication on how up-to-date this information was, so maybe laws have changed in some of those states. Queue Three, I was raised by my mother to never insult or demean anyone for any reason. I know you had stated you don't participate in or condone the action, but do not agree it is immoral. I might debate on legal versus illegal as that ismore black and white, but moral v immoral is an individual's call. I certainly wouldn't want someone to call me names and therefore do not do so myself. It may sound off the topic, but I watch small-claims court shows and hen litigants cannot control their language or tongue, it demonstrates they have an inability to control themsleves. I look on comments the same way. We all have freedom of speech, a precious commodity not all countries offer their citizens. I hope no one takes this means of expressing ourselves for granted.

Friday July 31, 2009, 3:59 pm
I think Queue Three's point could be stated in a slightly different way, in that 'beastiality' is a term which covers so many different things that it is dififcult to say ev erything described with taht term is inherntly abusive toward animals. It reminds me of a statement from a copunselor who advised her clients taht all heterosexual activity between humans was rape. Raping a guide dog annally is clearly an assault. There are other activities which can occur between a human and an animal which are sexual in nature which are no coercive. Without getting too explicit, if your dog licks you on the arm it is not beastiality. If your dog licks you somewhere eles, it is. Is that rape? That said, states should pass laws prohibiting beastiality in order to protect animals, but they also should be careful to define exactly what is and is not prohibited. That is the sort of debate and specification which is not likely to occur in your typical legislative committee, although if it ever did you can bet that the transcripts would be on Fox News and 10,000 Internet sites before the echo had died. So again, let's protect animals from abuse, but let's not be sloppy or lazy about how we do this. And let's at least acknowledge that there is a wide gray area between patting your dog on the head and buggering him annallly on parts of which some reasonable people might disagree. Just like "what is pornography", there is some difference of opinion on this.

Monday August 3, 2009, 5:29 am
How sick is this!!?!

Wednesday August 5, 2009, 2:13 pm
it never ceases to amaze me how we are truly the lowest form of life god ever made. (and for the religious ones out there, sorry to burst your bubble but it's recorded that even god himself regretted making our species)