                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SEXUAL ABUSE OF ANIMALS; PENALTIES (§ 18.2-361.01)

A. As used in this section:
			&#8220;Animal&#8221; means any nonhuman vertebrate species.
			&#8220;Obscene&#8221; means the same as that term is defined in &#xA7;
18.2-372.
			&#8220;Obscene item&#8221; means the same as that term is defined in &#xA7;
18.2-373.
			&#8220;Sexual contact&#8221; means any act committed between a person and an
animal for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, abuse, or
financial gain involving (i) contact between the sex organs or anus of one and
the mouth, sex organs, or anus of another; (ii) the insertion of any part of the
animal&#8217;s body into the vaginal or anal opening of the person; or (iii) the
insertion of any part of the body of a person or any object into the vaginal or
anal opening of an animal or touching or fondling by a person of the sex organs
or anus of an animal without a bona fide veterinary or animal husbandry purpose.

B. Any person who knowingly (i) engages in sexual contact with an animal; (ii)
causes another person by force, threat, or intimidation to engage in sexual
contact with an animal; (iii) advertises, solicits, offers, sells, purchases, or
possesses an animal with the intent that the animal be subject to sexual
contact; (iv) permits sexual contact with an animal to be conducted on any
premises under his ownership or control; or (v) produces, distributes,
publishes, sells, transmits, finances, possesses, or possesses with the intent
to distribute, publish, sell, or transmit an obscene item depicting a person
engaged in sexual contact with an animal is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

C. Any person convicted of violating this section shall be prohibited by the
court from possessing, owning, or exercising control over any animal.
Additionally, the court may order such person to attend an appropriate treatment
program or obtain psychiatric or psychological counseling and may impose the
costs of such a program or counseling upon the person convicted.

D. Nothing in this section shall apply to an accepted veterinary practice; the
artificial insemination of an animal for reproductive purposes; an accepted
animal husbandry practice, including grooming, raising, breeding, or assisting
with the birthing process of animals; or generally accepted practices related to
the judging of breed conformation.

E. For the purpose of enforcing this section, the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7;
3.2-6502, 3.2-6564, and 3.2-6568 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

HISTORY: 2022, c. 594.