To the shock of people in Canada and around the world, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on June 9 that most forms of bestiality are not illegal.

The ruling came in the case of R. v. D.L.W., a disturbing appeal in which a stepfather forced his teenage stepdaughter to have oral sex with the family dog, among other forms of sexual abuse.

Animal Justice intervened in the case to speak up for animals. But instead of stating clearly that all sexual abuse of animals must be illegal, the Supreme Court said its hands were tied by Canada's outdated laws. The Court decided that only intercourse with an animal is illegal, while other forms of bestiality are not criminal conduct.

The sexual abuse of animals is completely unacceptable, contrary to community values, and cannot be allowed to continue. The Supreme Court's ruling is a wake up call that Canadian laws protecting animals need to be overhauled. If we don't act soon, animal abusers will continue to have license to use animals for their own sexual gratification. 

The Supreme Court stated clearly in its decision that fixing our laws is a job best left to Parliament. Our government must take swift action to protect vulnerable animals from sadistic sexual abuse.

Please ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to act now. Tell them to support Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith's Bill C-246, which would bring animal protection laws into the 21st century and close the dangerous bestiality loophole.