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The Issues - The Fur Trade

Fur bearing animals pay a terrible price for the cruel fashion sense of a minority of our society. Fur bearing animals on fur farms are confined in small cages and denied their natural instincts to roam, swim or socialize with others of their species. Cages are often filthy and sometimes unprotected from the harsh winter elements. Animals on fur farms – including rabbits, fox, mink, raccoons, and others – will never leave their small cages until the day they are killed, and many go crazy exhibiting stress behaviors like constant spinning. The main methods utilized to kill fur-bearing animals are gassing, snapping their necks with bare hands, inserting a device in their genitals or anus that electrocutes them, strangling, stomping and poisoning. On some occasions an animal will survive these methods and the animal will be fully awake when their skin is removed. Typically 30 to 120 animals are killed for each fur coat.

Fur-bearing animals caught in cruel leg traps often suffer broken legs and infections, and sometimes chew off their leg in order to escape. If the animal does not escape, it may be left for as long as a week before the furrier returns to kill it. Trapping is also responsible for the death of many animals that are not useful to furriers, including companion animals and endangered species. In fact, furriers catch unwanted animals that are discarded more often than they catch the fur-bearing animals they seek.

Recently, undercover investigations by the Humane Society have shown that much of the fur trim in the United States comes from China, home to a booming dog and cat fur trade. Because not all fur needs to be labeled, or to say what animal the fur came from, it is likely that many fur or fur-trimmed coats – including some that say the fur is not real – contain fur from cats or dogs.

Many chain stores and clothing lines have eliminated fur and fur-trimmed products. For people who feel the desire to wear fur-style garments, there are plenty of faux-fur options available online and in some stores – but be sure to confirm that you are purchasing from a reputable dealer who can provide assurance that the garment is in fact faux fur. Better yet, say no to fur fashion and go fur-free with clothing and garments made from comfortable cotton, synthetic, or other natural plant-based fibers. For more information on fur-free stores and clothing lines, please click here.