Okay, so this guy was discovered having sex with a dog (which was understandably upset by this), his wife took photos of it, called the police, and now he's charged with a felony under a new bestiality law that was enacted in response to that guy who was voluntarily fucked to death by a horse (well, the fucking was voluntary; I rather doubt the dying was part of the original plan).

A felony?

He is charged with a felony for fucking a dog. In many states, a felony conviction means he can't even vote anymore. In this case, he's looking at a possible permanent disenfranchisement because he fucked a dog.

Now, I'm no fan of dog-fucking, and especially when the dog is really really not into it, but... A FELONY? We reserve this designation for only the worst, most dangerous, most life-altering-in-a-bad-way crimes. Murder is a felony. Rape is a felony.

But dog-fucking???

Who, pray tell, is hurt or even affected by such a crime? Tell ya what; everyone who was personally hurt by someone fucking a dog, raise your hand now (I said hand, Fido; paws don't count). Anyone? Didn't think so, unless there were some people who don't know the difference between the words "hurt" and "offended" or "grossed out."

Look, people. I love dogs. I like animals. It pisses me off to see them mistreated. But they are not people. They do not deserve human-level protection. The Constitution doesn't begin "We the Animals;" it begins "We the PEOPLE." Despite all the hooting and hollering we do about "animal rights," the simple legal fact is that animals HAVE no rights. They aren't human. That isn't to say that they aren't somehow sentient or intelligent or sensitive or whatever; it just means they don't occupy as high a place in human society as actual humans. And that is as it should be.

If this case were about a felony charge against a guy raping a child, I'd be right there with most people condemning his sick ass (because kids are people and are therefore provided rights such as the right not to be raped). But as it is, he was abusing his pet--you know, the thing he bought legally with money? It's just nowhere near the same.

At worst, this guy should have his dog taken away. Maybe some psychological examination to make sure there isn't something worse at work here. But just because he's nasty and mistreats animals doesn't mean he should be paraded in front of a court in a bullet-proof vest and be threatened with the loss of many of his liberties.

He may be a dog-fucker. But he's a person, too.