By Lalinda De La Fuente

A Google search for beastiality yields disturbing results. In 0.08 seconds over six and a half million search results pop up with photos, videos, forums and web chats. There are entire online communities dedicated to the practice and sites that update content daily. I didn’t dare click on any of the search results, only reading the short descriptions that came with them. I don’t need to see the actual sites. Seeing the search results was disturbing enough.

Believe it or not, in the United States, in the year 2008, beastiality is only a crime in 34 states. According to the Humane Society of the United States, beastiality is not merely a sexual act but rather a cruel act towards animals.

What else did the HSUS uncover? Sexual abuse of animals is also an indicator of other violent and sexually deviant crimes. Youth who abuse animals are likely to engage in violent crimes when they are older. Likewise, the HSUS uncovered a 2002 study that found that 96 percent of juveniles who had engaged in sex with nonhuman animals also admitted to sexual offenses against humans.

Of the 34 states where beastiality is illegal, Florida is not one of them. Fortunately, legislation has been introduced to make the sexual abuse of animals a crime in the state. The HSUS is urging concerned Florida residents and take action by expressing your support of the legislation to Florida state senator Rudy Garcia and state representative David Rivera.

Forcing sex or sexually abusing another human is not only illegal but is also considered heinous and violent. Just because animals cannot talk back does not make sexual abuse toward them alright.

To learn more about how to support this legislation or about the animal cruelty laws in your state please visit the HSUS Web site. The HSUS also urges you to please also tell your friends and family in Florida to take action too.