The HSUS Urges Florida House to Pass Companion Bill

The Humane Society of the United States commends the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee for advancing a bill today that would outlaw the sexual abuse of animals.

Florida S.B. 744, sponsored by Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, would prohibit a person from knowingly engaging in, causing or permitting certain sexual conduct or contact with an animal and sets substantial, felony-level penalties for such conduct.

"Although bestiality is directly linked to other sex crimes, Florida has no state prohibition against the sexual abuse of animals," said Jennifer Hobgood, The HSUS' Florida state director. "We thank Senator Nan Rich and the Senate Criminal Justice Committee for advancing this important legislation that would protect our communities from sexually deviant criminals, and we urge House lawmakers to follow suit."

Although Florida has no laws on its books prohibiting bestiality, 34 other states do. Nearby states Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia are among 21 states that consider bestiality a felony offense.

A 2002 study found that 96 percent of juveniles who had sex with animals also admitted to sex offenses against humans. The FBI says serial sexual homicide perpetrators commonly sexually assault animals.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.