Tougher laws call for animal sex crimes in Spain

ANIMAL rights groups are demanding a strengthening of laws after the case of a man accused of sexually assaulting his dog came to light.

National Police are investigating a man in Santiago de Compostela for animal cruelty in relation to the alleged sexual touching of a bitch.

Now animal groups Libera and the Franz Weber Foundation are demanding the full use of the law to prevent new cases, but say the penalties are currently not severe enough.

It was not until 2015 that having sex with animals was made a crime in Spain, but it now comes under the category of animal cruelty.

In cases where the animal lives and no weapons were used against it the maximum penalty is one year in jail and a disqualification from working with or keeping animals of up to 36 months. However, in Spain sentences under two years are automatically suspended if the defendant has no previous criminal record.

In this case the dog involved – a female Boxer – was taken to the vet several times for treatment for infections in the genital area and in other organs.

The Franz Weber Foundation and the Asociación Animalista Libera point out that currently “no person without a criminal record is in prison for cases of sexual exploitation of animals.”

They are demanding a tightening of the rules to send a strong message to “all degenerates who sexually exploit animals” and those who share images and videos of such acts on the Internet.