Changes to the law governing bestiality in Canada mean all forms of sexual activity with an animal are now illegal.
Karen McGeean is the Director of Marketing and Development at the Fredericton SPCA and serves on the board of Humane Canada, a strong supporter of these legislative changes.
Amendments to Bill C-84 make any kind of sexual activity involving an animal illegal meaning it’s no longer limited to penetration only.
“So this new bill that has just passed closes that loophole so, now anything to do with an animal for a sexual purpose is now illegal,” McGeean said.
Anyone convicted of bestiality under this new law will have their name added to the National Sex Offenders registry which McGeenan says will help other vulnerable people in our society like seniors and kids.
BEST NEWS! #BillC84, the Animal Fighting & Bestiality Bill PASSED! This Bill also protects vulnerable members of society, i.e children, as it'll ensure that those convicted of a sexual act with an animal, are listed in the National Sex Offender Registry #cdnpoli. Please RT pic.twitter.com/ESaLhyoBKY
— Humane Canada (@HumaneCanada) June 19, 2019
McGeean says the old law was archaic and needed to be changed.
“It’s never really been addressed because people don’t like to talk about, they don’t like to think about it and they don’t like to think it happens as often as it does,” McGeean said.
“There have been cases in the New Brunswick where there have been charges laid previous to this law but, the sentencing was not a criminal code matter.”
Other amendments include toughening the law surrounding animal fighting to include the promoting, arranging and profiting of it and the breeding, transporting and training any animal to fight which includes birds.
“This is such a happy time for animal welfare people that these laws have been put in place,” McGeean said, “I just hope the courts significantly recognize these changes and impose these tougher sentences.”
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