The public shock turned to outrage when King County prosecutor Dan Satterberg announced that neither Tait nor any other participants could be charged directly for bestiality. In the summer of 2005, Washington was one of roughly 17 U.S. states where bestiality remained technically legal, provided the animal did not suffer visible physical injury or death.
Tait eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal trespass, receiving a $250 fine, probation, and mandatory community service. He faced no felony exposure.
The public outcry provoked an immediate response in Olympia. State lawmakers mobilized during the 2006 legislative session to close the statutory gap. Lawmakers drafted Senate Bill 6417, sponsored by Senator Pam Roach and Representative Christopher Hurst. The legislation eliminated the requirement to prove overt physical harm to the animal, recognizing the act itself as inherently abusive and non-consensual.
The bill moved swiftly through committee hearings, passing the Washington State Senate with a 45, 0 unanimous vote and clearing the House of Representatives by 95, 1. Governor Christine Gregoire signed Senate Bill 6417 into law on February 1, 2006. The statute established sexual conduct with animals as a Class C felony carrying penalties of up to five years in prison, substantial fines, and mandatory psychological evaluation, establishing a precedent adopted by several other state legislatures over the following decade.
