What about zoo-philia that does not involve sex?

[Barb Dwyer]

I'm asking about love for animals when there is no sexual element.

That's why I sometimes hyphenate "zoo-philia" because a love for animals can be just that, love and care. Maybe you own a pet and make the commitment to care for it and engage in a relationship of companionship and trust. Maybe you fill a bird feeder or otherwise set out food for animals that you don't own; you just want to give them some benefit and the only return you get is satisfaction.

The last dog we had would have nothing to do with anything sexual, but she was a fun sweetheart partner to have around. "Dogs are good for comic relief" as someone once told me.

Animals can bring a different perspective. We breathe the same air and see the same light and tread the same ground. But, same planet yet different worlds. Look at how many movies have some sort of animal sidekick who keeps the erratic hero in line. An animal partner can be a counterpoint to you. They might provide entertainment, or protection.

Some people regard animals as nothing more than tools. There is no love. That's why when I meet a service animal that's on the job I keep my hands to myself. Heh heh well I did once kiss a mare at the Indianapolis 500 infield who had an Indiana Highway Patrol trooper on her back. Anyway the point about that is, don't distract a trained animal from its task.

I chirp and squeak and whistle at animals. (Don Pardo voice) "Apparently, there was no law against that." I have a deep voice and I can bark like a Dane, but that's intimidating. Don't try that with a skunk.

 

[Bigpaws_Bear]

This is my favorite select type of Zoo-philia.

I've always believed that before I'd have sex with anything, that I at a minimum had some kind of "feelings" for them.
Human, animal doesn't matter, if you have no respect for the life of another, well then you need to be handed an "new toy/gadget" to play with instead. Cuz you have no business at all owning an animal of ANY type if you have not the most basic of love/respect for them.

 

[SigmaTheZeta]

I'm asking about love for animals when there is no sexual element.

That's why I sometimes hyphenate "zoo-philia" because a love for animals can be just that, love and care. Maybe you own a pet and make the commitment to care for it and engage in a relationship of companionship and trust. Maybe you fill a bird feeder or otherwise set out food for animals that you don't own; you just want to give them some benefit and the only return you get is satisfaction.

The last dog we had would have nothing to do with anything sexual, but she was a fun sweetheart partner to have around. "Dogs are good for comic relief" as someone once told me.

Animals can bring a different perspective. We breathe the same air and see the same light and tread the same ground. But, same planet yet different worlds. Look at how many movies have some sort of animal sidekick who keeps the erratic hero in line. An animal partner can be a counterpoint to you. They might provide entertainment, or protection.

Some people regard animals as nothing more than tools. There is no love. That's why when I meet a service animal that's on the job I keep my hands to myself. Heh heh well I did once kiss a mare at the Indianapolis 500 infield who had an Indiana Highway Patrol trooper on her back. Anyway the point about that is, don't distract a trained animal from its task.

I chirp and squeak and whistle at animals. (Don Pardo voice) "Apparently, there was no law against that." I have a deep voice and I can bark like a Dane, but that's intimidating. Don't try that with a skunk.

Owners of service animals do love them, but while they are on the job, they have to stay focused.

To love without sexuality is to have a romance, and I think it is quite valid for someone to say they are zoo-romantic.

 

[caikgoch]

I've tried it both ways. In the animal world there are plenty of males perfectly happy to use any convenient sperm dump they can catch. Darwin made them that way. The problem is that sex under those circumstances tends to be rough and unsatisfying for the "bottom" half. Getting the sperm in and getting away is the only priority.

However, a lot of species are more social than humans. Horses, for example, are herd animals and have extremely strong social instincts. Bonding is second only to breathing. It's not exactly the same kind of emotional relationship that humans have but it is better in many ways. I'm happy with it and have no trouble bonding with foals and celibate herd mates.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

I often say that sexual activity is maybe 10% of the time I spend with horses. The rest is just being with them.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

How about body rubs? Slow deep exploring. Massage the face, work down the neck.

When you do this to a canine, it will usually drop to the ground when you press between the shoulder blades or hips along the spine.

With horses, you can work the same areas and they love it, but they don't go down. They turn around and nicker and nip at you.

Cats will staple-punch you. I quit giving them any kind of massage.

 

[Zoo50]

For me, a love of animals (that does not involve anything sexual) is the fact that I'm a vegetarian. I don't eat animal-derived meat because I believe non-human animals are equal to humans morally -- and I believe other animal species are morally valuable (which means not treating them like objects, and not killing them).

 

[caikgoch]

How about body rubs? Slow deep exploring. Massage the face, work down the neck.

One of the games I play with my stud is to put his food right in front of him then start rubbing along the base of his mane. He looks at his food and drools but can't move away from the massaging. I don't torment him long but it's fun to prove that some things are even more important than food.

BTW, I estimate less than 1% of our time together is spent on sex. Just being nearby is a comfort for both of us.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

Yes it is the companionship that matters most.

 

[MareButtUddrrLovrr]

I don't know if this counts, but I've fantasized a lot about nursing from mares...especially mares that recently foaled. Even though the act of breastfeeding and suckling from mammaries does have sexual meaning, I also see it as a companionship and guardianship position.

 

[doc]

I have to have an emotional connection to any higher order, sentient being to have any sexual intimacy. Can't say that I haven't had one-night stands, but damn few, far between, and unsatisfying.

 

[TheMareOnTheMoon]

This thread is beautiful!
I always fantasize about something like this. Living in the middle of nowhere with mare and having the most sappy relationship on earth with her.

 

[canecorso]

For me, zoosexuality is a kind of a catalyst. The "great motivator". I definitely paid much less attention to animals before I started registering them as potential sexual partners. And yet, it isn't all about sex to me. If you claim to love animals and only really do it for what could be very generously estimated to be 5% of the time you spend together, then what's the point, right? You simply gradually grow to love the other 95% as well - I'm honestly indulging myself in every cuddle, every kiss on the pawpad, every walk together. But I'm not gonna lie that somewhere deep down, sex still isn't the carrot on the stick that sets all the gears into motion. I will go the extra mile to be especially chummy with an animal if there's potential for some romantic development there.

I suppose that this is a form of "conditioning" on my part, like how you teach a dog a new trick with the looming promise of a doggy treat, and then they gradually stop caring about the reward and grow to enjoy doing the trick for its own sake... And yet, sex itself feels much better if it's with someone you truly love and care about. The sex and the nonsex are just so deeply entangled that they're inseparable from one another at this point.

 

[fractalelf]

I had a very lonely, difficult childhood and I basically could only talk to my dog about things when I got upset, as there was no one else around I trusted. As I got older, I grew more and more attached to her and honestly in love. She went over the Rainbow Bridge a few years ago and I miss her terribly.

For me, it is a sex thing, but also it’s a love thing. I wish I had taken our relationship to the next level when I had the chance but I missed out on it.

 

[scots06]

I have 3 dogs whom I love more than 99.9% of the people I've come across in my life.
Yet I have sex with only 1 because he's the only one that is interested.
Yet the one I bond with the most is the one I had since a puppy and he is just so much more emotional and personable (and silly) than the other two. And he isn't the one i have sex with. He has no interest so we don't even try.

 

[CritterFunatic]

Zoophilia (despite the word "philia" meaning "love") usually involves sexuality, as it is defined as a paraphilia involving a sexual fixation on non-human animals.

People who love their animals platonically (but neither romantically nor sexually) don't have a special name. I wouldn't even go so far as to give them one, as I feel that should pretty much be the norm, at least among people owning pets.

If the question is, if asexual zoophiles exist, who love an animal romantically but not sexually, I'm not sure. Never heard about that before. Would probably to few people though, to warrant a special name for them. Do they exist? I don't know. Probably. Maybe. I couldn't imagine a good reason, why that shouldn't be a thing...

 

[Barbtip]

For me, zoosexuality is a kind of a catalyst. The "great motivator". I definitely paid much less attention to animals before I started registering them as potential sexual partners. And yet, it isn't all about sex to me. If you claim to love animals and only really do it for what could be very generously estimated to be 5% of the time you spend together, then what's the point, right? You simply gradually grow to love the other 95% as well - I'm honestly indulging myself in every cuddle, every kiss on the pawpad, every walk together. But I'm not gonna lie that somewhere deep down, sex still isn't the carrot on the stick that sets all the gears into motion. I will go the extra mile to be especially chummy with an animal if there's potential for some romantic development there.

I suppose that this is a form of "conditioning" on my part, like how you teach a dog a new trick with the looming promise of a doggy treat, and then they gradually stop caring about the reward and grow to enjoy doing the trick for its own sake... And yet, sex itself feels much better if it's with someone you truly love and care about. The sex and the nonsex are just so deeply entangled that they're inseparable from one another at this point.

Honestly I think this explains my situation with so much clarity.

I mean the sex with my boys is great, and I love it. But if tomorrow I could only love them romantically I'd still be with them and still be zoo-exclusive. I love them with all my heart.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

I like the view put forth by the author Henry Blake, on working with horses: Promote the spirit that the two of you are going to go on an adventure together. It can work with dogs, too.

 

[pes]

I'm asking about love for animals when there is no sexual element.

One of the most satisfying relationship I have ever had with an animal was a non-sexual one. It was just pure deep love and respect. I knew that I could absolutely trust that animal and I think he thought the same about me. I have never had an animal come to me for help when he/she was in pain before.
Sadly that relationship did not last long.