When it comes to laws involving animal abuse, neglect, and cruelty, the terms and language are lacking. In some instances, a person guilty of a crime against an animal is slapped with a misdemeanor and minor repercussions not fitting to the misconduct. The State of Ohio is working to stiffen their laws regarding animal abuse, especially when it comes to beastiality and creating anti-beastiality laws.
Case involving man having sex with dogs
When Salvador Rendon got arraigned on charges of sexual intercourse with Dogs, animal activists prodded forward to encourage an anti-beastiality law in the State Of Ohio. Their efforts were not taken seriously as they had to deal with jokes, snarls during a legislative hearing and the question if the animal is not hurt, then what is the harm? Rendon faced charges of having intercourse with two dogs, a female and male boxer that belonged to his daughter. The act occurred at least ten times over a six-year period. Authorities never saw a case like it before.
Because there are no beastiality laws, there were limitations on the possible charges, giving Rendon a misdemeanor charge with 30 days in jail and five years’ probation.
A push for anti-beastiality laws in Ohio
The Rendon case in Ohio prompted Ohio’s first anti-beastiality law with stricter penalties for criminals charged with sexual acts with animals, whether the animal is “harmed” physically or not. Eight other states including the District of Columbia still do not have anti-beastiality laws. The Humane Society of the United States, along with other activists got behind the law. They state that this is not just an animal issue but human violence and sexual act. Since 2005, these types of sexual incidents have risen, with numbers doubling over the past few years.
Studies show that there is a distinct correlation between animal abuse and other forms of abuse and violence with family members. Animals involved in these deviant acts includes larger dogs, horses and sometimes deer. Although there may be no apparent harm to the abused animal in a beastiality act, psychologists testify that they do suffer from anxiety, depression, and aggression. The animal victims are indeed harmed! All states need to have anti-beastiality laws for the protection of the animals involved in these horrific acts.