A former animal rescue shelter employee has pleaded guilty in Louisiana for persuading a female co-worker into having sex with his dog.

In a crime against nature, Booker Thomas, 43, admitted to a Shreveport judge that he actively encouraged his co-worker, 24-year-old Celina Cabrera, to engage in sexual relations with his pitbull.

The pair first met working at the Caddo Parish Animal Shelter, in Shreveport, in 2016.

Cabrera allegedly went through with the act on December 9 the same year, but the incident went unreported until February 2017.

Shreveport police were alerted to the encounter when Cabrera came forward and told officers that Thomas had, after persuading her to go through with it, filmed the sex act on his cellphone.

Booker Thomas, 43, (left) admitted to a Shreveport judge that he actively encouraged his co-worker, 24-year-old Celina Cabrera, (right) to engage in sexual relations with his pitbull

The pitbull in question, along with another of Thomas' dogs, has been surrendered to the Caddo Parish Animal Control

During their investigation, police failed to recover any videos documenting Cabrera and the dog, but found additional footage of a different woman having sex with the same pet.

They also unearthed a number of text messages between Thomas and Cabrera, discussing the incident shortly afterwards.

Cabrera pleaded guilty to a crime against nature charge in June and was given an 18-month suspended sentence, and 18 months of active supervised probation.

Initially denying the depraved sexual scene ever took place, Thomas faced up to five years in prison and a $2,000 fine.

Shreveport police were alerted to the encounter when Cabrera came forward and told officers that Thomas had filmed the encounter on his phone

Thomas, striking a plea deal with prosecutors, was issued a three-year suspended sentence and surrendered his right to own animals for five years

The pair first met working at the Caddo Parish Animal Shelter (above), in Shreveport, in 2016

But striking a plea deal with prosecutors, he was issued a three-year suspended sentence and placed on three-years of supervised probation.

The 43-year-old was also ordered to surrender custody of all his animals, including another dog.

As part of his plea deal, Thomas also relinquished the right to possess or look-after any animal for the next five years; work in either a paid of voluntary capacity with animals for five years; and undergo a psychological evaluation for sex offenders, participating in any necessary treatment.