Most bestiality is now legal in Canada (Picture: Getty)

Sex acts with animals are now legal in Canada as long as no penetration is involved.

A surprise ruling by the Canadian Supreme Court said an alleged offence can only be classed as bestiality if there is penetration.

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It came from a case involving a man who smeared peanut butter on his stepdaughters’ genitals and had the family dog lick it off, while filming the act.

The man, identified only as DLW, was convicted of 13 counts of sexually assaulting his stepdaughters, and jailed for 16 years.


The counts included one of bestiality – but he has now been acquitted of the bestiality charge.

The Supreme Court of Canada made the bizarre ruling (Picture: Alamy)

The court said: ‘The term ‘bestiality’ has a well-established legal meaning and refers to sexual intercourse between a human and an animal.



‘Penetration has always been understood to be an essential element of bestiality.’

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A 7-1 majority ruled that bestiality required penetration.

DLW, who also failed in attempts to make the dog perform intercourse on the stepdaughter, according to court documents, brought the bestiality conviction to the court on appeal.

Justice Rosalie Abella was the only judge to vote against the proposal.

She wrote: ‘Acts with animals that have a sexual purpose are inherently exploitative whether or not penetration occurs.’

Camille Labchuk, the executive director of charity Animal Justice, told Metro.co.uk: ‘The Supreme Court’s decision is a wake up call that laws protecting animals are severely out of date.

‘As of today, Canadian law gives animal abusers license to use animals for their own sexual gratification.

‘This is completely unacceptable, contrary to societal expectations, and cannot be allowed to continue.’