In my experience when you try to deny a part of yourself, be it sexuality, identity, ect, it ends badly. It's just not healthy for an individual to do that, like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. You don't even really have to be "open" or "out" about it, but the simple act of accepting yourself and making moves to achieve or work it into your life does wonders.

I can't really say if I'm "content as a zoo" because I don't know any other way to be. Obviously it's hard, what with society being dumb as a sack of potatoes, but I feel like that's made me stronger in a way. I can handle more because it's hard, and I'm used to that.

What being a zoo has meant for me is a struggle, but also having a goal, a sort of cause to live for. I've never done anything wrong, legally or morally and dammit some day I'll make sure the world knows it. I hold out hope that when I'm a saggy old lady I'll finally see zoo recognition. Maybe not acceptance yet, but at least we won't be seen as sick freaks or complete unknowns.

As for what I'd tell others, that's pretty easy. It's about love. Zoos understand and respect animals FAR more than other people do because we genuinely care about them. It's love, they are our partners, our lovers, and our dear friends. From their personalities down to that hot bod of theirs, we want to keep them safe and in our lives for as long as possible.

For burgeoning zoosexuals I can say only this. "There's nothing wrong with you. You aren't sick, you aren't perverted, you're just in love, and there's a part of you that's enlightened enough to see beyond species to share it with someone."

Well, being a horse zoophile has affected my choice of profession. Although I finished school with pretty good grades, I decided to become a riding instructor instead of going to university. It affects my life constantly, I need to be around horses or else, I surely will die internally. I turned my back on mankind, I decided to change the "team". I became a vegan because of being a zoo.

Being a zoo basically means to get along with hardship, alienation and suffering. But it also means a different level of joy and love than what is experienced by "normals". Zoophilia is both, a blessing and a curse.

Yes, I feel content with my mare. There´s nothing more I want, nothing I have to "try out". She´s the one, I was born for her, she was born for me. But I´m not content how society´s perception of zoophilia is. I´m not content of how our community acts. I´m not content of the big drama that´s being made out of zoophilia by antis and wannabe zoos.I´m not content that zoophilia isn´t seen as a genuine sexual orientation by the majority of people, even many of those who count themselves in.

Encouraging words? I have none. There´s nothing that could ever prepare you for the journey you´re about to begin. There will be a certain point in a newbie zoos development when an epiphany of human nature will occur. On this point of no return, he/she will have to decide if he/she will stick to the bipedal team or change sides forever. The abbatoire/slaughterhouse you just drove by: is it a slaughterhouse...or do you see Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen still intact? The ISIS video showing one man slitting the throat of another man: What do you see? An act of terrorism that upsets you...or do you think "It´s done in our `´civilized´ country a billion times a year, but nobody bats an eye because the victim has four legs instead of two". Human? Or Yoooman? Fellow humans? Or perverted, biosphere killing furless monkeys? Mr Smith´s Cancer of the planet? If you decide to go all the way, anger will be your steady companion. Despair will accompany it.Be prepared for insights that will be hard to swallow. Be prepared for a life behind enemy lines. Zoophilia is serious business, in every thinkable way. Don´t take it too lightly, it´s not only about fucking animals for fun. Be aware that you´re one of the chosen few who have been given the ability to really see what the fuck is going on on this ball of rock spinning in space. But opening your eyes and overcoming the human within yourself (a.k.a. ego) will be hard and painful, a lifetime quest. Good luck to you. You´ll definitely need it to come out of this at least half sane.

For me it's often hard to separate what's because of my therianthropy and what is because of my zoophilia. For me, they are linked together.

Such as me specializing into plant biology instead of zoology. I thought it word ever came out that I'm a wolf therian, and/or that I'm attracted to canines, then probably any research I would have done with canines or other large carnivores would be considered biased. So I went with my other passions in science: plants and genetics.

I quite often run into bestiality fetishists online. You know, men who love watching porn with women being fucked by animals. To them, I always try to talk about love, affection, animal welfare, beautiful dog faces... Because dogs aren't sex machines, I refuse to see them as mere tools of pleasure, as a "taboo kink". They are companions, individuals.

What has being a zoo meant for you in your life?

Accepting myself as a zoophile has helped define me as a person. Of course, I never really cared much in the way of sexuality beforehand, but I can safely say it is a part of who I am now and who I will always be.

I have a few friends to whom I felt safe enough to tell them who I was, and thankfully they have had positive reactions - though I believe it is because I was friends with them that they listened as well as they did.

In terms of how it has affected my life? Very little. I've always been a sucker for other animals - friendly, playful, appreciating their company equally to that of another human - so after my realisation I didn't act any different from before, and my none-the-wiser peers saw me no differently either.

What would you tell others (Zoo or non zoo) about what it mean to be zoo?

Love. Pure and simple. It is a relationship where it is the time spent with each other is coveted and sex is a side benefit, no different than what is idealised as the typical human-human relationship, it's just that zoophilic ones transcend species barrier.

I can't speak for everyone, but another aspect I find attractive about this sexuality is this: this animal you have as your partner, it has the potential to do a lot of harm to you, but it doesn't and it sees you as a provider, a companion, and, with enough time and care, possibly a lover. It chooses to ignore that you are a different species and quite possibly a threat, and instead treats you as a friend. That is trust, as I see it, at its most pure.

Are you content as a Zoo?

Yes, very, though I must also say I was content with my life before discovering I was a zoo. Although I'm aware that it is against what our society deems morally acceptable, I've never felt anyone judging me or a pressure to be normal because I know no one knows, and those who do know I know I can trust.

What encouraging words do you have for the zoo that are just learning about their orientation?

I'm not good at giving advice but I suppose I can say this: don't lose heart. The arguments against zoos being tolerated are easily refuted, should a debate arise. If all that is left is "it's gross" then that's personal preference, not logic - I find snow peas gross where many others don't.

Too often I have heard that someone has become deeply saddened by discovering their attraction to other animals; it's time stories are shared that end on a high note.

EDIT: Spelling and grammar

Being zoo has had a lot of effects on my life, some negative, but most positive. It's given me some direction in terms of life-goals and values, and has made me very tolerant of the quirks of others. For example, before I knew I was zoo, I was a bit homophobic and smugly superior to others (it didn't help that I was some form of Puritan due to my own reading of the Bible). But I can't really think of other people as useless when I am, to many societies, of relatively low worth. Ironically, by accepting that I (mostly) don't want to have sex with them, my esteem for humanity has largely improved.

In terms of what it means, I'd say it means I am different from others in my priorities, but not in my overall human needs. Like anyone else, I need food and shelter, friendship, acceptance, and love. I just think that, for me personally, animals are a better fit for romantic and sexual feelings than people. That's all. I'm pretty much the same as others for something like 98% of my waking life, and I hope that the other 2% difference isn't enough to turn me from a friend to an enemy.

I'm not sure what you mean by "content as a Zoo." I'm comfortable in my own skin, more so now than ever. I still haven't gone all the way with an animal (trying to get my professional life in order first), but I am quite ready emotionally and intellectually, and think that I'll have a better experience now than if I had, for example, been less scrupulous when I was a teenager.

As for encouraging words... first, you aren't alone. There's probably a zoo within 10 miles of you, dozens to hundreds at your local furry or brony convention, and thousands to millions online in total. A lot of us are happy to talk. Second, my advice is to learn about it. Learn about the species you like, about what they like and how to care for them if you can. Learn a few things about science and history to dispel the more obvious stereotypes and bad arguments (clearly, I'm not an inbred bumpkin from the set of Deliverance). Third, be aware that your life will probably be a little harder because of this. There are a lot of hateful people out there who would love to see you burned at the stake, figuratively or literally, if they knew. But no one needs to know but you and your partners, human or animal.

I'll leave you with a quote from the Armoured Skeptic related to how unhealthy it is to repress things this fundamental. He's talking about homosexuality here, but I think it applies to zoos too.

[W]hen a person is oppressed, when their beliefs or their feelings or their convictions are considered to be wrong, the things that they do they have to do in private. Bringing homosexuality to the forefront, giving these people the rights that they deserve, giving them the ability to build the life that everyone deserves to build for themselves, it won't just give them better rights. It'll give them confidence, it'll give them the ability to be themselves, to be smart about the decisions they make. When a person has to live in the shadows, they only think about the here and now. But when somebody can live out in the open, they have a chance to think about the future. They have a chance to think about the decisions they make and the effect that they will have on their future. When you give somebody the chance to live a normal, well-rounded, thought out life, you give them a life.

P.S. Just wanted to note that Woofles here introduced me to this subreddit about a year ago. Thanks, man, and your Saint Francis stories are getting very good and heartwarming.

It's about shagging animals, mostly. But in a mutually affectionate sort of way.

I think it shaped my attitude towards animals a lot. I wonder if I'd become a vegan and had developed the same empathy towards animals without being a zoophile. If there was a "treatment" to "remove" zoophilia, I would not take it, because I really wouldn't want to find out. Mentally I'm fine with how I feel towards animals. But I feel very uncomfortable with how everyone around me has so little care. Even the majority of zoophiles happily supports the animal product industries without being bothered by it a lot. Every time I go to eat something with friends I have to pretend I'm not bothered that they're giving money to those industries and eating the bodies of what I consider to be persons whose lives had inherent value.

Encouraging words... Not much. If you do no harm, there is nothing wrong with you. That is all.

My definition of a zoo is simple: Someone who has an emotional and romantic connection to animals.

I am not a zoophile myself but I would say what I have taken away most from the zoophiles I have met is their kind and compassionate loving for animals (even from a platonic standpoint). It is unmatched by almost all other people. A good chunk of my respect for them comes from the respect and love they have shown me those I have met have for animals. It makes it hard for me to believe that so many are so convinced that zoophiles are just running around raping every animal in sight, when it is just so clearly not true.

Zoophilia is the perfect cheat code for the life of a man. I believe this is why society-- the part of society that thrives on control-- hates it. It obviously has little to do with animal welfare since we live in a society with factory farming of the same animals and the only laws related to such animals are laws to prevent people from exposing the horrors.

As a zoo exclusive male, it allows me to eliminate very nearly all of the drama from my life. While my friends who are in normal human relationships vanish below the waves as they work to please their women, I work to stay afloat supporting quite a few animals. The reason they sink is that the animals don't tell me what I'm allowed to do, they don't prevent me from deciding how or how much I earn or spend money, they dont try to push me away from friends or spending my lifespan as I please. "Oh that sounds bitter!" So be it. But...

Society hates zoophilia because people like me give and take and participate in society, while never contributing to the future generations as there are no children. By spending our money on our selfish selves and pets, we live like kings while a family-man co-worker with the same pay is struggling to get by because he's supporting humans. Supporting pets is not important to society, while women and children is so very noble (and expensive).

We're non-contributing males-- Scourge of all societies in history. In the past we'd just be conscripted and eliminated through war, but it doesn't work that way now. Even ignoring the zoo solution to sex, lots of the younger generations are evading marriage and living single and just having casual sex or wanking these days. Zoos are the least of of the social problems coming up, so I don't think we'll ever get too much attention unless these single people (70% of people <35 are unmarried) start turning to animals in great numbers.

While being a zoo eliminates drama, it doesn't eliminate hardship. Our animals don't live that long. We still have emergencies and responsibilities and we must plan our lifestyle around our animals (land ownership etc). But thats just life happening, not drama. The drama may come only if we're busted and those drama-lovers that were excluded from our lives use the government to punish us.

Bonus thought: For proof of my "society hates selfish males" theory, just watch how these same people try to ban sex robots and punish people who create/use them just as harshly as zoos. Then you'll see I'm right.