Review Veterinary Forensic Pathology of Animal Sexual Abuse A. W. Stern 1 and M. Smith-Blackmore 2 Abstract Animal sexual abuse (ASA) involves harm inflicted on animals for the purposes of human sexual gratification and includes such terms as bestiality, zoophilia, zoosadism, animal sexual assault, and others. The prevalence of ASA is not known, although it may be more common than is currently perceived. Veterinarians have the skills required to identify and document cases of ASA. This article reviews the terminology, legal definitions and forms of ASA, and its social and psychological context. An investigative approach is outlined, including an alternate light source examination; collection of swabs for DNA analysis; sampling vaginal washes, rectal washes, and toenails for trace evidence and biologic analyses; radiographic studies; and a complete forensic necropsy, including histopathology. Gross lesions identified in ASA victims include injuries to the anus, rectum, penis, scrotum, nipples, and vagina; the presence of foreign bodies; and abrasions, bruising, and other evidence of nonaccidental injury. Specialized procedures, including examination using alternate light sources and screening tests to identify human seminal fluid within samples from ASA victims, are of potential value but have not been validated for use in animals. Keywords animal sexual abuse, semen, veterinary forensic pathology, reproductive, veterinary, bestiality, interspecies sex Animal sexual abuse (ASA) is also known by a variety of terms (Table 1). The term animal sexual abuse is preferred in the animal welfare field over zoophilia and bestiality. 50 Bestiality, zoophilia, and similar terms are used to explain the motives and behavior of the perpetrator. However, as perpetrator-centric definitions, they fail to convey a sense of the harm that occurs to the animal. Regardless of what terminology is used, as veter- inarians, our primary concern is the animal welfare implica- tions of human sexual contact with animals, the recognition of injuries, and the meticulous documentation of evidence. ASA, like rape, is the erotization of violence, control, and exploitation. 41 ASA includes the sexual molestation of animals by humans, including a wide range of behaviors, such as fond- ling genitalia; vaginal, anal, or oral penetration or oral-genital contact (from person to animal and vice versa); penetration with an object; and injuring or killing an animal for sexual gratification (zoosadism). The ways that ASA may result in a fatality or injury to the animal victim differs with the activity. ASA is an activity that may be perpetrated by men and women; however, only men can penetrate an animal with a penis and ejaculate on or in the animal. Because data for various crimes are not reported in any consistent manner, the frequency with which it occurs is unknown. The website www.Pet-Abuse.com reports crimes against animals (both alleged and convicted) collected from media reports and have 108 cases currently listed since 1989 where a conviction was reached in the case or a summary (civil) charge was issued with the abuse type ‘‘bestiality.’’ This listing describes convictions for ASA to dogs, horses, goats, sheep, llamas, pigs, rabbits, chickens, cows, and a guinea pig. Veterinary pathologists should consider ASA as a possible cause for genital trauma. While not always fatal, animals killed in the act of ASA may be presented for necropsy. This article provides an overview of ASA, including relevant laws with an emphasis on the United States, as well as a description of types of perpetrators, the forensic necropsy examination, and special techniques for identifying and collecting trace evidence such as semen. Laws Laws regarding ASA vary widely by state, and some examples of legal definitions are shown in Supplemental Table S1. In some states, bestiality may be a felony or a misdemeanor, whereas in other states, it may not be prohibited. For example, 1 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA 2 Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA Supplemental material for this article is available on the Veterinary Pathology website at http://vet.sagepub.com/supplemental. Corresponding Author: A. W. Stern, DVM, CMI-IV, CFC, DACVP, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Illinois, 2001 S Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61802, USA. Email: awstern@illinois.edu Veterinary Pathology 2016, Vol. 53(5) 1057-1066 ª The Author(s) 2016 Reprints and permission: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0300985816643574 vet.sagepub.com