In recent years, several deeply disturbing cases of animal cruelty and sexual abuse in Pennsylvania have shocked the public conscience and exposed troubling gaps in our criminal statutes. These incidents have not only drawn national media attention but have also highlighted a dangerous nexus between animal abuse and more serious crimes, including sexual offenses against children and violent assaults against humans.

For example, in January of 2025, a couple from Georgia were charged with over 200 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and neglect after investigators rescued dozens of animals from a disabled school bus in Adams County.  According to the police report, one of the defendants encouraged other individuals to watch him engage in sexual intercourse with animals, including a pony and a bull, in exchange for money.  The police report further noted that this defendant videotaped himself having sex with animals and showed the footage to children.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, the defendant’s criminal history reveals a disturbing pattern of conduct, including prior charges of animal abuse in both New York and West Virginia.  Notably, the West Virginia case also involved an allegation of distributing obscene materials to a minor.[1] 


Together, we intend to introduce two bills aimed at addressing the brutalization of animals and the perverse behaviors that often accompany such abuse. This bill will create the criminal offense of sexual crimes against animals, which provides, in part, that an individual commits the offense if the individual engages in sexual contact with an animal; permits sexual contact with an animal to occur on premises under the individual’s charge; or organizes, promotes, conducts, aids, or participates in as an observer, any act involving sexual contact with an animal. 

We hope you will join us in support of this legislation as we seek to protect the animals of our Commonwealth.