Sex with animals? It’s not uncommon
By Alexis Stevens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two men, two animals in two different states. And two separate arrests within the last week for having sex with four-legged animals
“Who would do that?” you might ask.
No one’s really counting, but probably more people than you realize, according to an Atlanta psychiatrist.
Last week, Edwin Robles of Jonesboro was arrested by Clayton County police for allegedly having sex with his dog. Bestiality is a felony in Georgia, and Robles could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
On Wednesday, South Carolina police said Rodell Vereen was arrested for the second time for having sex with the same horse. He could face up to five years in prison for the latest buggery charge.
“It’s not as uncommon as one would think,” said Tracey Marks, a forensic psychiatrist who practices in Atlanta. “Dogs and farm animals are probably the most common occurrences.”
Like most sexually deviant behaviors, “zoophilia” is more common in men, Marks said. And now more than ever, it’s easier for the curious to explore sexual options.
“Just as people consider marijuana to be a gateway to other things, the Internet has been a gateway for [bestiality] to becoming more ordinary,” Marks said.
But having sex with animals isn’t just a freakish fetish. Many consider it to be animal abuse.
Laws preventing sex with animals differ from state to state, according to animallaw.info. At least a dozen states don’t have laws at all.
“It is shocking. It should be illegal in every state,” said Stephanie Bell with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “It’s not a laughing matter. Even in cases where physical harm doesn’t occur to the animal, it’s still cruel.”
Because human sex with animals is not a topic many people are comfortable discussing, sometimes it takes a high-profile case to raise public awareness, Bell said.
In 2005, a Washington state man died after having sex with a horse. The 45-year-old suffered a perforated colon after being penetrated, according to police.
“It piqued the attention of the legislators,” Bell said.
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