Bestiality—also known as zoophilia or sexual abuse of animals—is the criminal offense of a person making sexual contact with a non-human animal. Bestiality laws vary from state to state, but a person generally commits the crime of bestiality if the person knowingly:

• engages in an act involving contact between the person’s mouth, anus, or genitals and the anus or genitals of an animal;
• engages in an act involving contact between the person’s mouth, anus, or genitals and the mouth of the animal;
• fondles or touches the anus or genitals of an animal in a manner that is not a generally accepted and otherwise lawful animal husbandry or veterinary practice, including touching through clothing;
• causes an animal to contact the seminal fluid of the person;
• inserts any part of a person’s body or any object into the anus or genitals of an animal in a manner that is not a generally accepted and otherwise lawful animal husbandry or veterinary practice;
• possesses, sells, transfers, purchases, or otherwise obtains an animal with the intent to be used for such sexual contact;
• organizes, promotes, conducts, or participates as an observer of such sexual contact;
• causes a person to engage or aids a person in engaging in such sexual contact;
• permits such sexual conduct to occur on property under the person’s ownership or control;
• engages in such sexual contact in the presence of a child under the age of 18; or
• advertises, offers, or accepts the offer of an animal with the intent that the animal be used for such sexual contact.

The criminal offense of bestiality may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or as a felony, depending on the state and the circumstances. Bestiality laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Delaware, bestiality is a criminal offense under Title 11, Section 775 of the Delaware Code. The law explicitly prohibits sexual acts between a person and an animal, including any contact between a person's mouth, anus, or genitals with those of an animal, and vice versa. It also criminalizes causing an animal to come into contact with human seminal fluid, inserting any part of the body or an object into an animal's body in a non-veterinary or non-husbandry context, and the possession, sale, or purchase of animals for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts. Additionally, organizing or promoting such acts, allowing them to occur on one's property, engaging in them in the presence of a minor, or advertising or offering animals for such purposes are also offenses under this statute. In Delaware, bestiality is typically prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor, which can result in fines and/or imprisonment. However, the severity of the punishment may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case.