Actaeon's FAQ

Actually, not all of these are asked "frequently." Some have been asked only once (or not at all), but the answers are important, so here they are.

Contents:

Questions About Zoophilia in General
Questions About Me Specifically
Questions That Show the World You're Clueless
Questions About Other Things

Questions About Zoophilia in General

I'm so excited to learn I'm not alone. Is there anyone I can meet face-to-face to talk about this?

When someone asks me this in his first e-mail, I discourage the idea. Such things need to be handled very discreetly, and if you're so overjoyed by finding others that your first reaction is to talk to them in person, you need to take a step back and give yourself some time to think. Meeting strangers on the Internet has gotten some very bad publicity in recent years, and not without reason: there are indeed predators on the 'net, people who will lure in the innocent via e-mail and hurt them in real life. Be careful. Once you've found yourself, and accepted yourself as zoo (many people believe they are zoo but find out they aren't), look around the 'net and see if you can find what you're looking for (information, etc.) online. It's much safer. Most zoos don't want to show themselves in public anyway, for obvious reasons, and you can learn a great deal via e-mail alone, without drawing unnecessary attention to either of you. Remember, you'd be showing your face to someone who (probably) has sex with animals, and if discovered, neither of you will be very popular. Discussing the subject in a public place will draw angry stares and probably have you ejected from the premises. Yet, the standard rule for meeting people from the Internet is to do so in a public place, for the safety of both parties. It's a conundrum. And whatever you do, don't ask them if you can have sex with their animals or watch them in the act, don't ask for porn, and NEVER make sexual advances toward another zoo's animals. You won't make any friends that way, and if you try to get it on with someone's four-legged lover without full consent from the owner, you could get the crap beaten out of you: zoos tend to be very protective of their partners. Think of these contacts, whether by e-mail or face-to-face, as dates. You start subtle, showing great respect for all parties. If the relationship progresses, you can ask more detailed questions, but it's never kosher to ask for sex, either with them or with their animals. If, after all this negativity, you still want to meet other zoos, see the next question:

Can you put me in touch with other zoos in my area?

The best resource for this is Wolf's Online Zoo Meeting Place. It's organized by country and state, and is very extensive. Correspond by e-mail first, and be polite. Another site is Two's Zoo Meeting Place.

What's the difference between zoophilia and bestiality?

Well, here's where I may differ a little from my compatriots. Many if not most "zoos" (short for "zoophile" or "zoosexual") reserve the term "bestialist" to describe a person who is sexually intimate with an animal with little or no regard for the animal's feelings. Basically, casual and/or forced sex without the emotional context; the animal is to him a warm hole in which to get his rocks off. Zoophilia, OTOH, is used to describe consensual, loving relationships between two life forms who care for each other, even if it's for only a few minutes. I have no problem with that definition of zoophilia.

For "bestiality," however, I prefer the dictionary definitions, which are remarkably consistent (see my "An Idea" essay). Every dictionary I've found refers to bestiality as "sexual contact between a human and an animal"; this means, technically, everyone who has been sexually intimate with an animal is, by definition, a bestialist. I have no real problem with this, although when zoo-curious people ask me what I am, I don't say I'm a bestialist. I'm more than a bestialist; I'm a zoophilic bestialist. An animal lover who is sexually intimate with them. A "zoo," for short, and not at all ashamed of it.

You should be ashamed, though: what you describe is sick.

So many have said so, yet here we are. Being attracted to animals is no more "sick" than being attracted to pro wrestling, which is a far baser and more animalistic activity than making spoons with a Golden Retriever in front of a warm fire. Being homosexual or bisexual is still considered a sickness or perversion by many people, mainly because of misunderstanding. It's almost the 21st century; surely we've progressed enough to accept people who are different.

If you're approaching the subject of zoophilia from a strong religious point of view, I invite you to read my Open Letter to Religious Fundamentalists. If you still have questions, drop me an e-mail; I'm happy to listen. If you're planning to convert me, though, you'll be very disappointed. :)

How come non-zoos usually if not always associate zoos with always having sex with animals?

Most people don't even know the word "zoo" or "zoophilia." They think bestiality: a farmer's son having sex with a heifer, or a shepherd with his sheep, or a woman getting laid by a German Shepherd on some porn movie, or the (fictitious) legend of Catherine the Great. It's a "wink wink nudge nudge" kind of thing: something to joke about rather than to take seriously. True consensual love between human and animal, and a lasting sexual relationship, especially in preference to a human relationship, can be more shocking to them than the sex act itself. Just like many men are aroused by a video in which two women are having sex with each other, but the idea that perhaps those two women really _do_ prefer each other over a man is somehow insulting to the viewer. Small minds make a small world.

Is there a secret handshake for zoos?

Not that I'm aware of, though if your hand smells like mare urine afterwards, it's a good bet you've met a zoo. Or, if two people shake hands, and their fingers lock together for 20 minutes while they stand around, back-to-back, whining and looking embarrased, while passersby throw water on them or bang frying pans together, they're probably zoo. :)

Why do so many people want zoophilia to be illegal?

Sometimes it's because they fear what we _might_ do. Some people think that people who are attracted to animals might also be attracted to children, or to being abusive to animals or people. Psychologists scoff at this attitude, since it's based on fear rather than research, but the fear is still there. If I were to be found out as zoo, I would probably be listed on the local police records as "someone to question if there's ever a child molestation or other sex crime."

Why are most zoos attracted to dogs and horses, rather than sheep, cows, and other barnyard animals?

Dogs and horses are closely related to us from a social standpoint, in that they give and receive affection and trust much like humans do. They are also easy to find and keep in most communities, which makes owning a dog or a horse a perfectly natural and normal thing for a person (zoo or otherwise) to do, and thus they don't attract attention like other species might outside of a rural environment. Dogs and horses also have a wild spirit that is largely absent from domesticated mammals, and this can be very appealing. Further, canines and equines are very sexually motivated, and if there is mutual trust and respect between them and their masters, sexual intimacy can follow easily.

How do you know when an animal consents to a sexual relationship with a human?

All higher animals have five ways to signify disapproval with something done to them by others:

1. Polite verbal discouragement. ("Please don't" or a whine or yip)
2. Impolite verbal discouragement. ("Get the *&$# away!" or a bark or growl)
3. Pushing the other individual away from them.
4. Moving away from the other individual.
5. Attacking.

When we pet a dog on the head, if it doesn't do one of the five things above, and is clearly pleased (wagging its tail, lolling its tongue, actively moving into the touch, etc.), it can well be said to be consenting. If we pet it...somewhere else, and we give it complete freedom to resist, complain, or move away, yet it chooses not to do so, it can be said to consent to that as well. Most animals that associate with humans have a strong social and sexual drive, and if an animal has come to know a person as a protector and friend, the animal is frequently open to being "befriended" on a deeper level.

Consent is therefore far less ambiguous with an animal than it is with a human. Humans can be emotionally coerced into doing something they don't want to do; animals can't: they have to be forced physically, which isn't part of zoophilia. If an animal isn't 100% into something, its instincts will kick in and it will resist. And that's a good thing, because without true verbal communication, we have to rely heavily on body language. Most animals go through distinct stages of disapproval, and knowledgeable zoos can tell when they're approaching the boundaries of what the animal is comfortable with, before they actually cross them.

When dealing with properly neutered pets, are pets really able to consent at all since they no longer possess the hormones that equip them with a sex drive?

<grin> Well, I know a number of animals which, though neutered, are obviously sexually aware and eager. It's possible they were "proud-cut," or incompletely gelded, but it's impossible to completely remove all hormones from the system, once those chemicals have had a chance to circulate. I know a neutered yellow lab who will hump his owner silly if given half a chance, and at least one gelding who gets erect, flares, and even ejaculates a little. Granted, they generally don't react as fully as intact animals do, and most neutered males, especially dogs, don't ejaculate, but the parts of the body that receive pleasure from stimulation are still fully functional, and if there is trust between an animal and its owner, there can still be a sexual bond. Also, neutering an animal doesn't take away its ability to react with one of the five signs of disapproval listed above, so the animal still has to trust you.

In summary, consent between a human and an animal is very possible (and quite the norm, in a trusting relationship). The main difference is that you have to read body language, because the animals can't actually speak to you. You look at the ears, eyes, mouth, tail, and other forms of physical expression. Making love in the dark is fine for humans, or for zoos who know their animals well, but if you don't know the animal, you can't tell what it's thinking until it's too late. You may wind up with a hoofprint on your forehead. :)

Questions About Me Specifically

Why did you create your website?

I wrote it for everyone like me, who feels a strong attraction to animals, especially a sexual attraction, or any person confused about the subject of zoophilia. I'm here to educate.

Why does it sometimes take more than a week for you to answer e-mail and/or update your website?

I get about 200 zoo-related e-mails a month. I try to answer them as they come in, but if I can't for some reason, they start to pile up in a hurry and I may have to save them for the weekend, unless they sound urgent or they need a response in a timely manner.

Wow. I can't believe I'm actually talking to the famous Actaeon.

<sigh> For your reading pleasure, here is a list of words and phrases I would prefer not to see associated with my name: "I can't believe I'm talking to" or "It's an honor/privilege to meet" followed by any or all of the following: "The," "great," "famous," "celebrity," "legend," "idol," and various synonyms thereof. I appreciate your opinions of me, and am grateful that my web site has been a positive influence in your life, but I put my pants on one hoof at a time just like the rest of you, and I'm not comfortable with the idea of being a "celebrity." My main claim to fame is that I have nothing better to do with my time than expand my website, which is nothing to brag about too mightily. :)

How and when did you realize you were a zoo?

I knew from an early age that I was "interested" in animals in a sexual way, but I was very discreet about it and didn't pursue it much, mainly for fear of being caught. The earliest memory I can put a date on was at summer camp when I was 13; I remember being very turned on by watching cattle urinate and defecate, and would watch them for hours waiting for them to do it again, in the hopes I might see their genitals. I was also keen to look out the school bus windows when we drove through farm country, hoping to see the same thing.

It wasn't until I found the Internet that I heard the word "zoo"; prior to that I just figured I was "different," but not in a way I could easily define. I also learned quickly that a fascination with animal bodily functions was not unusual, either.

You say in your personals ad that you would want your Significant Other to know you were zoo. Assuming she wasn't zoo to begin with, how in the _world_ would you ever bring up the subject?

Not surprisingly, I've given this a great deal of thought, and have prepared a little speech:

I made a promise long ago that if I ever found myself in a relationship that was moving from platonic to romantic, I would tell you my deepest secret, and listen to your thoughts about it. It's something I would want you to hear from me, rather than from a third party or find out on your own, and I wouldn't feel comfortable hiding it from you. It's something I think you would _want_ to know in advance, so you can make a decision with a clear head.

I would like to show you a photograph of someone very special to me, someone with whom I have had more than a platonic relationship, one I hope will _continue_ for years to come. You may be tempted to laugh when you see the photo, as my parents did when I told them, and I want you to know that's okay; I won't be offended. I need to know your true feelings, no matter what they are, because it may change how you think of me, and it's best for both of us to know that from the start. It came as a shock to my folks, but they're handling it well now, and I love them for it. If I've piqued your curiosity, feel free to guess; you may feel more comfortable being in control, rather than having it sprung on you.

After letting her play a guessing game (if she wanted), I would show her a picture of Gus, my German Shepherd friend. From there, I haven't rehearsed anything, because I'm sure I'll be ad-libbing like hell. :)

If you accidently found out someone was zoo, how would you handle it?

Ideally, I wouldn't. People with alternate sexual lifestyles are best left undiscovered, to protect their own safety. Many, if not most, will resent being "exposed," even if it is to just a single person. An exception I would make, though I don't expect it to ever happen, would be if I met someone to whom I was (or could be) attracted, and found out by accident we shared a common interest neither of us was able to voice. I would discreetly hand that person a nicely-designed card with the following text:
This world has room enough for people from every walk of life, including those who believe their numbers are so small they feel safest hiding from everyone, including themselves. No person is so rare, however, that another cannot be found, and sometimes they pop up in the most unlikely places. Occasionally, a person will discover a kindred spirit purely by accident, and not know how to make a proper introduction. This card is that introduction. Someone you know, or someone who knows you, has found in you a common interest of which few speak, and even fewer truly comprehend. This message is a gift from someone who wants to be a friend, to offer a sympathetic ear, if and when it is needed. Attached to this card is a small, nondescript token, to be worn on your person if and only if you would welcome such a friend. If silence brings you greater comfort, no further contact will be made. Remember always, you will never truly be alone. Someone understands.

How much you pay for your site, and how much space do you get?

I share my site with another zoo, to whom I am very grateful. Hopefully, the combined bandwidth will not overwhelm him. :) If I did not share, and had my own account, it would cost $60/year, which includes 5 megs of web space.

Why do you use an anonymous remailer?

If you had sex with dogs and horses, wouldn't you hide, too? :) Seriously, there are a handful of people out there who would use my RL information against me if they could. Nothing personal against me, they're just bored and immature, and don't have anything better to do with their time.

How do you reconcile hunting with zoophilia? You must have thought about this and rationalized it in some way.

I hunt now primarily because I can no longer see myself not hunting: it has become such a part of my life that if I were to stop, I would feel I was stepping out of character, denying who I am and declaring that I felt I had "risen above" my nature. It would be egotistical, I think, for me to say I had "evolved beyond" the need to take lives in order to extend my own. I don't hunt simply for the fun or sport of it, though like most hunters I do derive some satisfaction from the pursuit itself, and feel no shame in saying so. When it comes to killing, however, my goals change: my first priority is as quick and merciful an end as I am able to deliver. If I can't kill the animal cleanly, I don't shoot. It's as simple as that.

It did take a while to come up with exactly the words I was looking for. The trick was in realizing that seeing animals as life partners, and also seeing them as predators and prey, were both extensions of recognizing that the barriers between being "human" and being "animal" were created by humans themselves. It occurred to me at that moment that it was possible to sympathize with both the hunter and the hunted, and to see the predator/prey relationship as being as long-lasting as love itself, and just as critical to their species' mutual survival.

Nearly all zoos are drawn to predators, such as wolves, lions, bears, and the domestic dog, but many of us fear that by taking on their roles we diminish ourselves and become less "human." Can we embrace animals in all their beauty without also acknowledging all that is primal in them? It is often the wild, pure nature of them that makes them so appealing. I choose to be an animal, and to accept the consequences of that decision. If recognizing the animal within me means that I have to do things I don't enjoy, so be it. Better to be a whole animal than to take only the good parts and run from the bad.

Questions That Show the World You're Clueless

Is this for real?

Yes, absolutely. People can and do have intimate sexual relationships with non-human animals (usually dogs and horses), and people can and do fall deeply in love with them, as deeply as they would with a human. It is as real to us as your love is to you.

Do you know where I can find animals to have sex with? Can I have sex with yours?

I'm not a dating service; you're on your own. And I don't share, especially with someone whose first question is "can I have sex with your animals?".

I'm a male zoo. I met another male zoo online who is bisexual [or gay] with animals. But he keeps resisting my advances. Why?

Just because he's interested in male animals doesn't mean he's interested in male humans, too. He may not be interested in humans at all. Respect his wishes and don't press the issue.

Can you help me train my dog to fuck my girlfriend?

"Training" is a myth. Animals who love and trust their owners will show their affection in their own way, and in their own time, without being "trained" to do it. Read my reply to someone asking me the same thing via e-mail.

Do you have any beastie pictures, .movs, .avis, .mpgs, magazines, stories or videos?

No, I don't, and I'm getting tired of being asked for them. If you want beastie photos, visit the newsgroups alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.bestiality or alt.sex.bestiality.pictures. The .movs, .avis and .mpgs are useless. Don't even waste your time on them: they're huge, they don't last very long, and they don't show very much. Zoo stories are available at a number of sites; check my Zoo Web Sites Page or my Fiction and Poetry Page for links to those. As for magazines and videos, I don't know where in the US you could buy them, since I believe it is illegal to sell such materials here, though some of the companies listed on the advertisements page may have info on them. For what it's worth, you're not missing much: commercial videos are of almost universally lousy quality, and you will almost certainly be disappointed in them. I know I was.

Aw come on, please! Send me some.

Which part of "no" don't you understand? :) I can't send images through my current remailer anyway, though I'm looking into alternatives.

What about those "free porn" websites?

All the so-called "free" websites (a few of which are listed on my Zoo Advertisements web page) are lead-ins to pay sites; there are no truly free collections of beastie materials. If all you're doing is looking for porn on the Internet, you're really not the sort of person my website is designed to help.

Aren't all those pictures fake?

The pictures are 99% real, though no photo can show the deep emotions we feel for our partners. Photos are generally crass and unimaginative depictions of the physical act, without addressing the sensual and spiritual side.

Questions About Other Things

How do I get on the Forest or some other talker?

You need a copy of Telnet or (preferably) some other MUD client.

Index -- Updated Tuesday, August 26, 1997 -- E-mail Actaeon