Sexual Activities Involving Animals
Knowingly engaging in sexual contact with an animal or committing another prohibited act described by the statute.
Florida Statute
§ 828.126
Sexual activities involving animals
Verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: September 14, 2026
Quick Summary
The statute has several conduct tracks graded as second- or third-degree felonies. Confirm the precise act, knowing state of mind, and applicable animal-husbandry or veterinary exception before selecting the charge.
Classification Matrix
Use this as a quick classification reference. Specific facts, statutory circumstances, and charging allegations may affect the applicable result.
Sexual Activities Involving Animals
F.S. § 828.126
Knowingly committing one of the prohibited conduct tracks in the statute.
Sexual Contact With an Animal
F.S. § 828.126(2)
Knowingly engaging in sexual contact with an animal.
Causing, Aiding, or Abetting Sexual Contact
F.S. § 828.126(3)
Knowingly causing, aiding, or abetting another person to engage in sexual contact with an animal.
Permitting Sexual Contact on Controlled Premises
F.S. § 828.126(4)
Knowingly permitting sexual contact with an animal on premises under the person's charge or control.
Promoting, Observing, Soliciting, or Facilitating
F.S. § 828.126(5)
Knowingly organizing, promoting, conducting, aiding, abetting, observing, advertising, offering, soliciting, accepting an offer, or performing a service in furtherance of animal sexual contact.
Animal-Sexual-Activity Images or Video
F.S. § 828.126(6)
Knowingly filming, distributing, or possessing a pornographic image or video of a person and an animal engaged in prohibited activity.
Sexual Activity Involving a Minor
F.S. § 828.126(7)
A person age 18 or older who causes or entices a minor to commit, or commits in the presence of a minor, a prohibited act under subsections (2)-(6).
Elements of the Offense
Elements of the Offense
Elements marked AND are cumulative. Elements marked OR identify statutory alternatives; one applicable alternative must be established when that theory is charged. Conditional elements apply only to the identified statutory track.
- Element 1AND — Required
The State must prove all of the following
The defendant knowingly committed an act prohibited by F.S. § 828.126.
Plain language: The defendant knowingly engaged in one of the statute's prohibited animal-sexual-activity tracks.
Jury Instructions
Jury Instructions
Instruction 32.4
Sexual Activity With an Animal
Covers the applicable conduct alternatives and exceptions under F.S. § 828.126. Prior to April 2026, this instruction was numbered 29.13(c).
View Official InstructionVerified against the official instruction source: September 14, 2026
Additional Notes
Additional Notes
Quick Reference
The 2026 statute grades direct sexual contact and knowingly causing, aiding, or abetting another person's sexual contact as second-degree felonies. Premises, promotion, observation, service, pornography, and minor-presence tracks are third-degree felonies. Review the statutory animal-husbandry and veterinary exceptions before charging.