Sexual
activities with animals are now legal according to a surprise ruling by the
Canadian Supreme Court. A British Columbian man with 13 counts of sexually
assaulting his stepdaughters, including a count of bestiality, had the latter
case dismissed as it fell short of a criminal act..
Bestiality
- according to attorneys - was only linked to sodomy. Criminal acts against
animals only begin with the 1892 criminal code.
According
to the court, bestiality was often subsumed in terms such as sodomy or buggery
where penetration was the essence. As the statement implies, a 7-1 majority
ruled that bestiality required penetration. In the case of the British
Columbian man, penetration with the animal was absent.
Justice
Rosalie Abella dissented against the decision. She said acts with animals that
have a sexual purpose are inherently exploitative whether or not penetration
occurs.
The ruling
could also propel the Canadian Parliament to reform outdated laws, according to
Animal Justice representatives who brought the appeal to the Supreme Court.
According
to Animal Justice Executive Director Camille Labchuck, Canadian law now grants
all animal abusers the right to gratify themselves through animals with the
decision. She said it was an unacceptable fact contrary to societal
expectations and "thus cannot be allowed to continue."
