Douglas Spink

Douglas Bryan Spink
Born	Template:Birth date Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 23, 2020(2020-01-23) (aged 48)
Occupation(s)	Businessman, advocate, criminal
Known for	Advocacy of zoophilia, drug trafficking, animal cruelty convictions

Douglas Bryan Spink (March 17, 1971 – January 23, 2020) was an American figure known for his advocacy of zoophilia and involvement in criminal offenses, including drug trafficking across the Canada–United States border and allegedly managing a farm used for bestiality.

Early life

Born in Pittsburgh on March 17, 1971, Spink was the second child of Jack and Claire Spink. He was raised in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, where he developed equestrian skills and participated in fox hunting within a horse-oriented environment.

He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in cultural anthropology from Reed College in 1993 and completed an MBA at the University of Chicago in 1994. By the year 2000, he was enrolled in a doctoral program in systems science at Portland State University, concentrating on quantitative models of consciousness.

Spink's professional journey began in 1994 with roles as a consultant at Boston Consulting Group and as an analyst at Leo Burnett advertising agency. During the late 1990s, he co-established multiple early-stage Internet and technology companies based in Oregon. The successful sale of these enterprises resulted in his accumulation of multimillionaire status, although he filed for bankruptcy by 2002.

Criminal history

Toward the end of 2003, Spink relocated to British Columbia and engaged in smuggling operations involving cocaine and marijuana across the Canada–United States border, collaborating with regional drug trafficker Robert Kesling. In 2005, authorities apprehended him while transporting cocaine valued at $34 million (2005 USD). Owing to his cooperation with law enforcement, he received a three-year incarceration sentence followed by parole. At the time of arrest, investigators observed his peculiar attachment to a female German shepherd and noted pro-zoophilia decals on his vehicle; however, their primary focus remained on the narcotics charges.

In April 2010, Tennessee law enforcement informed Spink’s probation officer that he had made contact with zoophile James Michael Tait—associated with the 2005 Enumclaw horse sex case—to seek support amid a bestiality trial. On April 14, a team of 19 SWAT officers conducted a raid on Spink’s farm near Sumas, Washington, suspecting parole violations linked to his prior conviction. Authorities discovered numerous animals and suspected that the property was used for sexual activities involving animals. A man present at the scene later pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges. On July 16, 2010, Spink was found guilty of violating probation terms and received a sentence of three years in federal prison plus two years’ probation. Following his release in late 2012, conditions imposed included regular inspections for pornographic content on electronic devices, prohibition from voluntary contact with animals, and mandatory closure of any websites promoting zoophilia or bestiality.

On February 21, 2014, Spink reportedly took a dog named Ghengis from a neighboring breeder near Port Townsend, Washington, where he maintained a farm residence. He had been feeding this dog for approximately one year prior to its disappearance. After complaints regarding harassment from the farm’s owners, Spink was arrested on March 4, 2014, due to parole violations related to his earlier cocaine smuggling conviction—specifically for possessing a young dog and failing to register his residential address. Investigators also uncovered horses kept under an assumed identity. On May 9, 2014, he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment—the maximum penalty allowed—and subsequently received an additional three-month term for animal cruelty offenses. The dog's owner initiated legal action against Spink in December 2014; as of 2016, the lawsuit remained unresolved.

On August 9, 2015, Spink was detained in London, Ontario. Following an improper release and subsequent rearrest, he was deported back to the United States on August 12. He reentered Canada through Saskatchewan during September and later returned to Ontario. In November that year, police apprehended him in Port Stanley, Ontario after responding to a fire incident; during arrest he resisted and damaged a police vehicle window. He was deported once again to the U.S. on February 23, 2016.

In November 2017 while residing in Butler, Pennsylvania, Spink faced arrest on charges including aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct after threatening his dog with a machete. He pled guilty to lesser charges involving resisting arrest while armed and received a prison term along with two years’ probation.

Advocacy

During his adolescence, Spink adopted a vegetarian lifestyle that he described as lifelong, albeit not without imperfections. In the 1990s, he actively participated in the environmental activist organization Earth First!.

Spink openly expressed his conviction that animals are capable of giving consent to sexual activity with humans. His legal representative highlighted this perspective during a 2010 trial, stating: "He regards it as a sexual orientation, and the opposition to it mirrors the historical arguments used against homosexuality or miscegenation." Additionally, he shared details about a decade-long romantic involvement with a horse residing on his farm in a video posted on YouTube.

In addition to his personal stance, Spink engaged in initiatives aimed at combating "zoophobic bigots" and contributed to raising legal resources to support other "zoosexuals" facing prosecution. Reflecting on his public legal battles in a 2014 interview, he remarked: "An important precedent was established: zoophobes in this nation can no longer intimidate and silence individuals like me through threats of violence."

Personal life

Spink experienced marriage and maintained romantic relationships with partners of both genders. He disclosed having received a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and was recognized for his enthusiasm for BASE jumping. On January 23, 2020, Spink passed away due to complications related to cancer at his mother's residence. At the time of his death, he was engaged.