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 Kansas, bestiality is considered a crime under Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 21-6412. The law defines bestiality as knowingly engaging in any sexual contact or sexual intercourse with an animal. This includes any act involving a person's mouth, anus, or genitals and those of an animal, as well as other specified activities that are sexual in nature. The statute also criminalizes promoting, observing, or participating in such acts, as well as the possession, sale, or purchase of animals for the purpose of sexual contact. Violation of this law is a class A misdemeanor for the first conviction and a level 9, person felony for any subsequent conviction. Additionally, the law addresses the involvement of minors, making it illegal to engage in bestiality in the presence of a child under 18 years of age. The penalties for bestiality can include fines, imprisonment, and mandatory registration as a sex offender, depending on the severity of the offense and whether it is a repeat offense.