Section 959.21 | Sexual conduct with an animal.
(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Animal" means a nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian, either dead or alive.
(2) "Offense" means a violation of this section or an attempt, in violation of section 2923.02 of the Revised Code, to violate this section.
(3) "Officer" has the same meaning as in section 959.132 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Sexual conduct" means either of the following committed for the purpose of sexual gratification:
(a) Any act done between a person and animal that involves contact of the penis of one and the vulva of the other, the penis of one and the penis of the other, the penis of one and the anus of the other, the mouth of one and the penis of the other, the mouth of one and the anus of the other, the vulva of one and the vulva of the other, the mouth of one and the vulva of the other, any other contact between a reproductive organ of one and a reproductive organ of the other, or any other insertion of a reproductive organ of one into an orifice of the other;
(b) Without a bona fide veterinary or animal husbandry purpose to do so, the insertion, however slight, of any part of a person's body or any instrument, apparatus, or other object into the vaginal, anal, or reproductive opening of an animal.
(B) No person shall knowingly engage in sexual conduct with an animal or knowingly possess, sell, or purchase an animal with the intent that it be subjected to sexual conduct.
(C) No person shall knowingly organize, promote, aid, or abet in the conduct of an act involving any sexual conduct with an animal.
(D) An officer may seize and cause to be impounded at an impounding agency an animal that the officer has probable cause to believe is the subject of an offense. With respect to an animal so seized and impounded, all procedures and requirements that are established in section 959.132 of the Revised Code, and all other provisions of that section, apply to the seizure, impoundment, and disposition of the animal. References in section 959.132 of the Revised Code to "section 959.131 of the Revised Code," "companion animal," and "offense" shall be construed, respectively, as being references to "section 959.21 of the Revised Code" and to "animal" and "offense" as defined in this section, for purposes of application under this section only.
Available Versions of this Section
- March 21, 2017 – Senate Bill 331 - 131st General Assembly [ View March 21, 2017 Version ]
- March 31, 2021 – Amended by House Bill 24 - 133rd General Assembly [ View March 31, 2021 Version ]