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Zoophilia an Unrecognized Problem in Animal Welfare Legislation

Zoophilia an Unrecognized Problem in Animal Welfare Legislation

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<strong>Zoophilia</strong> – <strong>an</strong> <strong>Unrecognized</strong> <strong>Problem</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Animal</strong> <strong>Welfare</strong> <strong>Legislation</strong><br />

has to be considered, that today there are far more pets th<strong>an</strong> <strong>in</strong> earlier times (Goet-<br />

schel/Bolliger 84) <strong>an</strong>d access to such <strong>an</strong>imals is thus as easily possible for urb<strong>an</strong> people<br />

(K<strong>in</strong>sey, m<strong>an</strong> 621; Massen 137; Masters 35). Therefore, not only the total number of sexual<br />

relations with <strong>an</strong>imals c<strong>an</strong> be assumed to be much higher, but particularly <strong>an</strong> <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> the<br />

amount of women <strong>in</strong>volved as well (Dekkers 185).<br />

How big the number of affected people is <strong>in</strong> reality, c<strong>an</strong> only be guessed. The esti-<br />

mated number of unknown cases has to be much higher th<strong>an</strong> generally <strong>an</strong>ticipated. Because<br />

the topic is persistently hushed-up <strong>an</strong>d the scarcity of literature on this subject, it is under-<br />

st<strong>an</strong>dable that zoophilia is believed to be a rare phenomenon. But the m<strong>an</strong>y ads <strong>in</strong> the notori-<br />

ous magaz<strong>in</strong>es, as well as the overwhelm<strong>in</strong>g amount of zoophilic material that c<strong>an</strong> be found<br />

on the Internet prove that this is a false conclusion, provid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dications of <strong>an</strong> underground<br />

scene (Beetz 215).<br />

Legal Discussion<br />

Historical Abridgement<br />

From a judicial po<strong>in</strong>t of view, zoophilia has been judged <strong>in</strong> various ways <strong>in</strong> the course of time<br />

(Dekkers 155; Masters 37; Merki 28; Muth 43). Probably the oldest <strong>an</strong>d first mention is to be<br />

found <strong>in</strong> the Hittite compendium of laws (Massen 91; Muth 44) which dates back to approx.<br />

1300 B.C., where sexual acts committed by men – but not by women (K<strong>in</strong>sey, wom<strong>an</strong> 386) –<br />

with certa<strong>in</strong> <strong>an</strong>imals (e.g. cattle, sheep, pigs or dogs) were prohibited under penalty of death<br />

(Dekkers 158; K<strong>in</strong>sey, m<strong>an</strong> 619; Massen 91; Masters 39; von Hentig 16). The remarkable<br />

th<strong>in</strong>g is not only the severity of the penalty but also the fact, that other crimes, such as m<strong>an</strong>-<br />

slaughter, arson or battery were only penalized with f<strong>in</strong>es (Massen 91). After mono-ethical<br />

Judaism crowded out religious <strong>an</strong>imal cults <strong>in</strong> all societies, Mosaic legislation conta<strong>in</strong>ed ex-<br />

plicit b<strong>an</strong>s on acts of zoophilia (Hunold 43). In the Old Testament, as well as <strong>in</strong> the Talmud,<br />

zoophilia is considered a disregard of div<strong>in</strong>e Creation (Weidner 5) <strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>y party <strong>in</strong> such <strong>an</strong><br />

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